Place Based Science Lessons
By
Emily B. Roseberry
A Project
Presented to the Faculty
Of the University of Alaska Fairbanks
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
For
the degree of
Master of Education
Master's
Project
Excerpt:
I am the daughter of Arnold and Emily Brower Sr. from Barrow,
Alaska. Both of my parents were predominantly raised in an Inupiaq subsistence
lifestyle family. My father was half Inupiaq and half Caucasian. My mother
was three quarter Inupiaq and one fourth Caucasian. They both spoke fluent
Inupiaq and it was their first language. They also spoke fluent English. During
my early childhood years, I recall being raised in a subsistence home and my
first language was Inupiaq. The Western influences were present and strongly
growing. By the time I was a teenager, most families relied more on the Western
lifestyle and economy while continuing to subsist. Today, many if not most,
of the community relies on the Western lifestyle. Few Inupiaq families rely
completely on subsistence to support their families.
I have chosen to develop
place based science lessons for my master’s
project because I believe that more culturally relevant and engaging material
within the sciences could be offered that could positively impact student learning.
Research has shown that student awareness and level of concern rise when learning
material relate to their environment and to their daily lives. As a teacher,
there is nothing more satisfying than when students are engaged and learning
about their environmental surroundings.
Acknowledgements
I would like to express my most heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to my
husband, Mark, and
My children, MJ, Katie and Aaron, for their love, support and patience. I couldn’t
have done this without their support.
I would also like to extend my appreciation to the North Slope Borough School
District
For the support and encouragement they have shown throughout the years I have
Taught as a teacher. The support of the school board and administration of
the NSBSD
Has been much appreciated. All I have learned and gained from teaching has
been
A result of teaching in my home school district.
I would like to thank my master’s committee, Ute Kaden, Ray Barnhardt,
and Gail Changnon for their guidance, encouragement and support
Throughout the writing of this project.
Quyanaqpak!
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