SCHOOLYARD LTER
GROUP SUGGESTIONS

• Kid's will remember the bad parts of the trip (hot, cold, ticks, long walking).  Try to keep their focus on the project at hand.

• Let kids know that the work they are doing is important to the research going on at KPRNA.  They will take a greater pride in their work if they know that they are contributing to actual research.

• Teacher may set up incentives for the students prior to the visit.  Such as "Best Researcher Award".

• Have students make a list of things that they observed.  Sights, sounds, smells.  Maybe have them describe 10 new things they learned on their trip.

• New teachers who have never been to KPRNA and want to become involved in the Schoolyard LTER program, should come to a workshop.  Teachers who may not know much about the tallgrass prairie ecosystem may feel intimidated by coming out here because of their lack of knowledge, which may hinder their participation.  The workshop will introduce them to the prairie and may help them feel more comfortable in their experiences at KPRNA.

• Teachers attitudes reflect on their students.  If the teacher is not into the visit, or may not feel like they can contribute anything, they may portray a negative image to their students.  Lines of communication should be open to teachers coming out here, to help them feel more comfortable in their visit.

• It's more important for kids to enjoy the project, than getting precise data.  If enough data is collected, it will average out the errors.

• Scientists should come to the classroom to "judge" oral reports by the students.