Animal Habitats of the World

Elementary students are innately inquisitive and curious about the natural world surrounding them. The online supplemental science course is designed to enhance and motivate our young learners interest in science. The coursework will include interesting and colorful interactive educational games and tools to serve as an extension of the traditional lecture style format of Hawaii’s elementary school teachers course presentation. The intent to develop an online course with a focus on interest- and standards-based scientific curriculum is important based on the needs of Hawaii’s children and the importance to create technology savvy learners for Hawaii’s future. The course will include weekly assessments with a final hands on cumulative project.

Developed to supplement Hawaii’s elementary school (specifically grades 2-3) students, the science curriculum will introduce a technology-based course design that allows for both synchronous and asynchronous learning. The curriculum was based on a combination of both Hawaii Content and Performance Standards (HCPSIII) and national Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), as well as the first-hand experience from Grade 2 teachers, (Yoshimoto and St. Onge). As Hawaii’s elementary school teachers are becoming more pressured to cover additional course content with limited classroom hours in school, technology based coursework will allow students to complete STEM coursework independently from the classroom setting, yet will still have the opportunity to remain strongly connected and supported by their homeroom teachers in the traditional physical school setting. There is also the recognized need to increase knowledge and interest in science to provide future STEM career opportunities to keep up with the rapidly changing global technology advancements.