Improving Natural Science Education in Rural Elementary Schools

这个项目是新墨西哥自然历史博物馆和新墨西哥州立大学农村教育中心的合作成果。它将科学家和教育家聚集在一起，目的是改善农村小学的科学教育。该项目将开发一些相关主题的动手工具包和工作模型。工具包将使用当地可获得的标本、背景材料、科学仪器和建议的活动来教授自然科学概念。将开发诸如展示地貌演变的流表和展示生态关系的微环境等工作模型。将编写教师手册，并举办讲习班，培训教师正确使用这些工具包。教师还将接受培训，编制适合当地情况的额外教材包。这些材料的设计将适用于多文化人群，并将以对农村儿童的现有知识为基础。活动还包括建立校外自然科学俱乐部。

This project is a cooperative effort between the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and the Center for Rural Education of New Mexico State University. It brings together scientists and educators for the purpose of improving science education in rural elementary schools. The project will develop hands-on kits and working models on a number of related topics. Kits will use locally available specimens, background material, scientific apparatus, and suggested activities to teach natural science concepts. Working models such as stream tables to demonstrate the evolution of landforms and terraria mini-environments to demonstrate ecological relationships will be developed. Teachers' manuals will be written and workshops offered to train teachers to properly use the kits. Teachers will also receive training in the development of additional kits specific to their local conditions. The materials will be designed for use with multi-cultural populations and will build upon existing knowledge of rural children. Activities also include the establishment of out-of-school natural science clubs.