Abstract
This article is about teaching ecoliteracy/ecopedagogy in K-12 classrooms throughout North Alabama. Rather than present the information to students as a standalone science program, this research advocates for a cross curricular approach that grounds ecoliteracy in the social justice issues that necessary to teach about sustainability. This research employed a mixed method design as the current agriculture and biology curriculums were modified for cultural relevancy. The qualitative methods consisted of case studies and the quantitative methods consisted of analyzing the data collected utilizing the Connectedness to Nature scale, which was developed in 2004.
DOI
10.5642/steam.20200402.07
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Campbell, Argie and Padgett, Gary
(2020)
"Ecopedagogy in the Fourth Grade Classroom: Reflections on Implementing a Multidisciplinary STEAM Program,"
The STEAM Journal:
Vol. 4:
Iss.
2, Article 7.
DOI: 10.5642/steam.20200402.07
Available at:
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/steam/vol4/iss2/7
Author/Artist Bio
Argie Campbell teaches 4th Grade at Kilby. After graduating from Samford University in 2010, she taught 6th Grade Writing at The Soulsville Charter School in Memphis, Tennessee. During her time there, she served as a department chair, team leader, and mentor teacher for two teaching residents from Union University. In addition to a B.S. in Human Development and Family Life Education, she has an M.A.T. from Christian Brothers University. Mrs. Campbell especially loves teaching fourth graders to prepare for the challenges that middle school will bring, and helping all students flourish into productive, passionate young people. Her classroom philosophy centers on developing students into effective and reflective collaborators who value lifelong learning. Gary Padgett has earned a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction and his research interests involve multicultural education and ecopedagogy. He has worked in magnet schools, Title I schools, renaissance schools, and in tribal education systems. He is proud to have served as a Title I liaison and as a Title VI teacher representative. He is currently an Associate Professor in Secondary Education and the Director of the South Eastern Ecoliteracy Project.