1. Environmental Education in Belize Melody Bessett, Kate Riley, Kaetlyn Kerr

2. The Issue: Lack of appreciation for biodiversity. Lack of appreciation for biodiversity. Lack of education about environmental importance in Belize. Lack of education about environmental importance in Belize.

3. The Goal: Educate children about their natural environment. Educate children about their natural environment. Encourage exploration of new environmental topics. Encourage exploration of new environmental topics. Create a program that will be continued. Create a program that will be continued.

4. Contributing to the MDG’s MDG’s- Ensuring environmental sustainability. MDG’s- Ensuring environmental sustainability. Our Project- Our Project- “Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs; reverse loss of environmental resources” http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/# http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/#

5. Background Research Catherine McLinn’s study- no environmental curriculums in all of Cayo. Catherine McLinn’s study- no environmental curriculums in all of Cayo. Belize Botanical Garden and Valley of peace. Belize Botanical Garden and Valley of peace. Plenty Belize- organic gardens in Toledo. Plenty Belize- organic gardens in Toledo. Sustainable Schools Project- educating teachers. Sustainable Schools Project- educating teachers.

6. Addressing the Problem: 1. Develop a curriculum for all schools in Belize 2. Help bring environmental projects to schools 3. Expose children to their natural environment through hands-on experience and field trips

7. Project Partners: St. Barnabas Primary School: Create a three week curriculum for standard I/II St. Barnabas Primary School: Create a three week curriculum for standard I/II Belize Botanic Garden: Gain information and organize a field trip Belize Botanic Garden: Gain information and organize a field trip BENPRO : Will receive curriculum binder to continue out reach programs BENPRO : Will receive curriculum binder to continue out reach programs

8. Project Description: The Pilot Curriculum: –Three in-classroom lessons, each 90 minutes –The program concluded with a field trip to Belize Botanic Gardens

9. Lesson Content Each lesson explored three environmental topics: Each lesson explored three environmental topics: Lesson 1- Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Endangered Animals Lesson 2- The Water Cycle, Pollution and Global Warming Lesson 3- Life Cycles, Plants and Symbiosis

10. Lesson 1- Ecosystems Ecosystems Ecosystems –food chain and food webs –relationships between plants and animals –ecosystems in Belize Biodiversity Biodiversity –Two posters Endangered Species Endangered Species –How and Why animals become endangered Game- illustrated 4 necessities in ecosystems Game- illustrated 4 necessities in ecosystems

15. Lesson 2 Water Cycle Water Cycle –Poster Water and Air Pollution Water and Air Pollution –Poster Climates and Global Warming Climates and Global Warming –Differences between weather and climate. –Thermometer Worksheet.

20. Lesson 3 Life Cycles Life Cycles –Frog and Butterfly worksheet. Plants and Animals Plants and Animals –Differences –Symbiosis –Importance of Plants- poster. Xate Planting Xate Planting

25. Botanical Garden Field Trip Tour of native plants of Belize Tour of native plants of Belize Made Ricado Made Ricado Scavenger hunt Scavenger hunt Exposure Exposure

30. Effective Teaching Methods: Interactive Visual Aids Interactive Visual Aids Verbal Instruction Verbal Instruction Worksheets Worksheets Hands-on projects Hands-on projects Group Work and discussions Group Work and discussions Outdoor Games Outdoor Games

31. Success! A foundation for future environmental education in Belize includes: –A preliminary curriculum that can be expanded upon –A Written report –An opportunity for future environmental UVM projects

32. Results-What They Learned Students were enthusiastic for each lesson Students were enthusiastic for each lesson Students were introduced to new ideas Students were introduced to new ideas Retained knowledge from one week to the next Retained knowledge from one week to the next Appreciated and enjoyed lessons and field trip Appreciated and enjoyed lessons and field trip

33. Results- What We Learned Patience. Patience. Creating partner relationships Creating partner relationships Skills for planning lessons Skills for planning lessons Organization and Budgeting skills Organization and Budgeting skills

34. Future Recommendations Create lesson plans for older groups. Create lesson plans for older groups. –Expand on previous topics –Pursue topics in more detail Field trip- serves as a reward Field trip- serves as a reward –Santa Familia Environmental Education Center –Belize Botanical Garden –Guanacaste National Park More lessons over a longer period of time More lessons over a longer period of time Different schools Different schools

35. Possible Future Lessons Permaculture Permaculture –Organic food production –Agroforestry Climatology Climatology –Climates –Hadley cells Ecology Ecology –Trophic Levels –Carbon Cycle

36. Program Binder Guide for future UVM groups and partners. Guide for future UVM groups and partners. -Background information. -Future suggestions. -Future suggestions. UVM Service Learning Class UVM Service Learning Class St. Barnabas St. Barnabas Belize Botanic Garden Belize Botanic Garden BENPRO- Santa Familia Environmental Education Center BENPRO- Santa Familia Environmental Education Center

37. Binders Include: Introduction- Mission Statement Introduction- Mission Statement List of partners, schools, and contacts List of partners, schools, and contacts Our 4 lesson plans Our 4 lesson plans –Worksheets –Poster layouts –Game descriptions Topics for future lesson plans Topics for future lesson plans Places for future field trips Places for future field trips Websites and references for help Websites and references for help CD with photos and power point presentations CD with photos and power point presentations

38. Lesson 1 To all of our partners; St. Barnabas Belize Botanic Garden Professor Gary Flomenhoft Fellow Students And… Thank You!

39. Standard I and II!