Lovett Lower School Coral Reef Coloring Book Ariel Saltin & Annie Fee April 21, 2010 Ariel Saltin & Annie Fee April 21, 2010

Basic Concept & Purpose Concept  attention to Lovett’s Marine Biology Program  Marine Biology Education (not provided in lower school)  Exciting kids about conservation Coloring book  Entertaining & Educational  Spread Coral reef awareness  Aid in Conservation, profit goes to donation Concept  attention to Lovett’s Marine Biology Program  Marine Biology Education (not provided in lower school)  Exciting kids about conservation Coloring book  Entertaining & Educational  Spread Coral reef awareness  Aid in Conservation, profit goes to donation

Hypothesis  If children are presented with an entertaining way to learn about coral reefs, in a manner that attaches them to the characters or sparks an interest in further learning in the subject, then the children will be better informed about coral reefs and will be aware of the importance of conservation.

Questions  How can we interest kids in learning about coral reefs?  How can we create a book which is both readable by kindergarten students and interesting to 4th grade students?  How much information can kindergarten and 1st grade students understand?  How can we interest kids in learning about coral reefs?  How can we create a book which is both readable by kindergarten students and interesting to 4th grade students?  How much information can kindergarten and 1st grade students understand?

Questions cont.  How much do 3rd and 4th grade students already know about coral reefs?  How do other authors and teachers teach coral reefs and marine biology to kindergarten through 4th grade students?  Are there many other Children books or coloring books on coral reefs?  How much do 3rd and 4th grade students already know about coral reefs?  How do other authors and teachers teach coral reefs and marine biology to kindergarten through 4th grade students?  Are there many other Children books or coloring books on coral reefs?

Collecting Data  Meet with lower school science teachers  Research tank facts & education  Survey  Presentation  Follow up survey  Meet with lower school science teachers  Research tank facts & education  Survey  Presentation  Follow up survey

Research  Children’s cognitive processes  Previously published books  Children’s cognitive processes  Previously published books

Our Wiki  /

Our fishies

Page Order Outline  Introduction to oceans  Importance of coral reefs in oceans  Value of Aquariums as mini ecosystems  6 fish & tank helpers, tank family  Transition - Problems with the ocean  How we can help!  Introduction to oceans  Importance of coral reefs in oceans  Value of Aquariums as mini ecosystems  6 fish & tank helpers, tank family  Transition - Problems with the ocean  How we can help!

Data Research  Surveyed 21 kids in After School (6 per grade, 3 in 5th)  No information before baseline quiz  Integrated topics, explaining missed, and further explaining aspects of topics  Identical Second Quiz but with matching short answer to fully check understanding  Surveyed 21 kids in After School (6 per grade, 3 in 5th)  No information before baseline quiz  Integrated topics, explaining missed, and further explaining aspects of topics  Identical Second Quiz but with matching short answer to fully check understanding

First Quiz  Basic questions on basic topics: corals, fish foods, starfish, shells, clownfish & anemones, baby fish, salty water, ecosystem

Average First Scores  Good baseline  2nd graders had less knowledge  5th had far more  Good baseline  2nd graders had less knowledge  5th had far more

Average First Missed  Didn’t know exact ecosystem problems  Didn’t know baby fish aren’t raised by parents - Nemo…  Didn’t know exact ecosystem problems  Didn’t know baby fish aren’t raised by parents - Nemo…

Rough Outline  Broke down personality profiles into 2-3 pages per character  Worked in each of the topics that we found most important to the kids  connected 1 topic fact page to each character  Integrate introduction and conclusion problems to cohesively lead through the information  Broke down personality profiles into 2-3 pages per character  Worked in each of the topics that we found most important to the kids  connected 1 topic fact page to each character  Integrate introduction and conclusion problems to cohesively lead through the information

Second Quiz  Used same multiple choice questions  Added a short answer question to each question to see whether they actually understood the topic  Used same multiple choice questions  Added a short answer question to each question to see whether they actually understood the topic

Average Second Scores  Good Improvement  Great 5th graders, others evened out  2nd grade major advance  Good Improvement  Great 5th graders, others evened out  2nd grade major advance

Average Second Missed  Didn’t understand shell source  Factually don’t get ecosystem - too many problems  Overall still don’t understand babies  Didn’t understand shell source  Factually don’t get ecosystem - too many problems  Overall still don’t understand babies

Average Understanding  Lower than second scores  Bad listening skills  Lower than second scores  Bad listening skills

Understanding Missed  Didn’t understand plankton  Still didn’t understand baby  Didn’t understand plankton  Still didn’t understand baby

Overall Findings

Answers  How can we interest kids in learning about coral reefs?  Fun facts, aim to explain concepts they have always wondered about, invoke curiosity  Connection with characters and making them feel involved  How can we interest kids in learning about coral reefs?  Fun facts, aim to explain concepts they have always wondered about, invoke curiosity  Connection with characters and making them feel involved

Answers  How can we create a book which is both readable by kindergarten students and interesting to 4th grade students?  Found that it was too dificult.  K-1 can hardly read, so the dull text was uninteresting to older levels  Decided to direct towards higher education  How can we create a book which is both readable by kindergarten students and interesting to 4th grade students?  Found that it was too dificult.  K-1 can hardly read, so the dull text was uninteresting to older levels  Decided to direct towards higher education

Answers  How much information can kindergarten and 1st grade students understand?  Can understand basic concepts, but not always fully  Additional details only add confusion  How much information can kindergarten and 1st grade students understand?  Can understand basic concepts, but not always fully  Additional details only add confusion

Answers  How much do 3rd and 4th grade students already know about coral reefs?  Little if any curriculum taught in school. Mostly from personal experiences and understanding. Mostly media influence - Finding Nemo…  How much do 3rd and 4th grade students already know about coral reefs?  Little if any curriculum taught in school. Mostly from personal experiences and understanding. Mostly media influence - Finding Nemo…

Answers  How do other authors and teachers teach coral reefs and marine biology to kindergarten through 4th grade students?  Use basic yet interesting facts and relatable examples  Establish personal connections to materiall/characters and involve reader.  How do other authors and teachers teach coral reefs and marine biology to kindergarten through 4th grade students?  Use basic yet interesting facts and relatable examples  Establish personal connections to materiall/characters and involve reader.

Answers  Are there many other Children books or coloring books on coral reefs?  There were about 5  Mostly used online teaching plans  Are there many other Children books or coloring books on coral reefs?  There were about 5  Mostly used online teaching plans

Results If children are presented with an entertaining way to learn about coral reefs, in a manner that attaches them to the characters or sparks an interest in further learning in the subject, then the children will be better informed about coral reefs and will be aware of the importance of conservation. accepted but… If children are presented with an entertaining way to learn about coral reefs, in a manner that attaches them to the characters or sparks an interest in further learning in the subject, then the children will be better informed about coral reefs and will be aware of the importance of conservation. accepted but…

For The Future  Survey a larger group of students  Work more with the students  Add fieldtrip  Make book more interactive (with games or tactile aspects)  Speak with authors of coloring books  Add marine science to curriculum  Survey a larger group of students  Work more with the students  Add fieldtrip  Make book more interactive (with games or tactile aspects)  Speak with authors of coloring books  Add marine science to curriculum

Bibliography  Niesen, Thomas N. The Marine Biology Coloring Book. Napa, CA: Coloring Concepts Inc,  Castro, Peter. Huber, Michael E. Marine Biology Sixth Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). United States Department of Commerce. 28 September  World Watch Institute. Sources and Effects of Marine Pollution. GDRC. Global Research Development Center. 26 September  Cronk, Brian. A Study of Short-Term Memory Recall of Pictures, Words, and Pictures and Words Presented Together. National Undergraduate Research Clearinghouse. Missouri Western State University. 1 October  Soffer, Ruth. Coral Reef Coloring Book. illustrated. Dover Pubns,  Orr, Katherine. The Hawaiian coral reef coloring book. Stemmer House Pub,  Pierce, Terry. Coral Reefs A to Z Coloring Book. illustrated. Bess Press,  Gaarder-Juntti, Oona. What Lives in Coral Reefs?. illustrated. Super Sandcastle,  Niesen, Thomas N. The Marine Biology Coloring Book. Napa, CA: Coloring Concepts Inc,  Castro, Peter. Huber, Michael E. Marine Biology Sixth Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). United States Department of Commerce. 28 September  World Watch Institute. Sources and Effects of Marine Pollution. GDRC. Global Research Development Center. 26 September  Cronk, Brian. A Study of Short-Term Memory Recall of Pictures, Words, and Pictures and Words Presented Together. National Undergraduate Research Clearinghouse. Missouri Western State University. 1 October  Soffer, Ruth. Coral Reef Coloring Book. illustrated. Dover Pubns,  Orr, Katherine. The Hawaiian coral reef coloring book. Stemmer House Pub,  Pierce, Terry. Coral Reefs A to Z Coloring Book. illustrated. Bess Press,  Gaarder-Juntti, Oona. What Lives in Coral Reefs?. illustrated. Super Sandcastle, 2008.