Engaging Elementary Students in Science Through the Stories of The Earth: Broadening Participation in Earth and Environmental Science

Abstract

Earth and Environmental Science (EES) issues are among the most pressing of our time spanning climate change, resource depletion, hazards, and human impacts. Yet many K-12 students do not have access to fundamental EES content in a way that inspires and sustains student interest, especially among underrepresented minorities. Our proposal aims to increase the awareness and inspiration for EES in diverse communities, focusing on K-5 children by providing an interactive storytelling platform to inspire wonder, curiosity, and responsibility for the Earth.  In 2020, Ethan Baxter created “Every Rock Has A Story” (ERHAS), a series of 49 YouTube videos designed to engage and inspire grade K-5 children about the Earth.  We will build upon the successful platform of ERHAS by adding the science educational expertise of Kate McNeill.  We will create new episodes and new instructional resources to assist educators and families in using the resources with children.  A critical element of the new episodes will be a diverse group of co-hosts to promote gender & racial diversity in EES.  We will use survey data and best pedagogical practices in developing new content.  Our goal is to spark the curiosity of the next generation of earth and environmental scientists and thinkers.  

Presentations

• Students as Storytellers, Massachusetts Association of Science Teacher Conference, November 2021 
• Every Rock Has A Story: Engaging and Broadening the Participation of Elementary Students in Science Through the Stories of the Earth, American Geophysical Union Meeting, December 2021.
• Baxter, E.F., (2023). Sharing the Geochemical Stories of Rocks and Minerals with Children on the “Every Rock Has A Story” YouTube Channel. Goldschmidt Conference, Lyon, France.
• Baxter, E.F., (2024). Every Rock Has A Story: Inspiring & Diversifying the Geosciences Through the Stories of the Earth. National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Meeting, Denver CO, March 20-23, 2024.  1-hour presentation.
• Baxter, E.F., (2024). Inspiring Wonder with the "Every Rock Has A Story" YouTube Series in Your Classroom or Informal Learning Space. National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Meeting, Denver CO, March 20-23, 2024.  Share-a-thon Presentation (Elementary School and Informal Education)
• Massachusetts Education Leadership Association (MSELA) Annual Conference.  Invited Speaker. October 27, 2023
  

ERHAS Themed Outreach Presentations

• Grade 5 Presentations for Westborough Public Schools, June 5, 2024
  • Ranger Day Geology Hikes – Grade 5, eight classes, ~200 students
• Grades K, 2, 4, 6 Presentations for Acton-Boxborough School system, including six different grade schools – May 7, 10, 24, 28, 30, 31, 2024. 
  • “Every Rock Tells a Story” – Grade K, sixteen classes, ~320 students
  • “The Stories of Fossils” – Grade 2, six classes, ~120 students
  • “Water” – Grade 4, seventeen classes, ~425 students
  • “The Rocks and Minerals of Climate Change” – Grade 6, eighteen classes, ~485 students
• Grades K-5 Presentations for Harvard Hildreth Elementary School, March 5&7, 2024 
  • “Every Rock Tells a Story” – Grade K, 1, 2, 3, sixteen classes, ~320 students
  • “Water” – Grade 4, two classes, ~50 students 
  • “Rocks of Climate Change” – Grade 5, two classes, ~50 students
• Grade 4 Presentations for Bedford Schools, December 11, 2023
  • “Water” – Grade 4, eight classes, ~190 students
• NSTA Science Update Webinar :Every Rock Has A Story: Life’s Evolving Relationship With the Earth”. December 7, 2023.  ~75 attendees on Zoom
• Discovery Museum, Acton, MA, Every Rock Has A Story presentation (~25 attendees, children and parents), December 1, 2023
• Lincoln School (K-8), Brookline, MA, Science Fair Exhibit & Presentation, March 31, 2023
• Peter Noyes Elementary School, Sudbury, MA, Science Fair Exhibit & Presentation, April 12, 2023
• Discovery Museum, Acton, MA, Every Rock Has A Story presentation (~50 attendees, children and parents), March 19, 2023
• Goodnow Library, Sudbury, MA, July 27, 2023
  • Story Time guest reader (~15 attendees, children and parents)
  • Every Rock Has A Story presentation (~70 attendees, children and parents)
• Grade 4, 5 Presentations for Westborough Public Schools, April 3-4, June 9, 2023
  • “Water” – Grade 4, fourteen classes, ~350 students
  • Ranger Day Geology Hikes – Grade 5, eight classes, ~200 students
• Grades K, 4, 6 Presentations for Acton-Boxborough School system, including six different grade schools – May 1, 2, 8, 9, 11, 12, 2023.  
  • “Every Rock Tells a Story” – Grade K, sixteen classes, ~320 students
  • “Water” – Grade 4, seventeen classes, ~425 students
  • “The Rocks and Minerals of Climate Change” – Grade 6, eighteen classes, ~485 students
• Grades K-5 Presentations for Harvard Hildreth Elementary School, April 25, 27, 28 2023
  • “Every Rock Tells a Story” – Grade K, 1, 2, 3, seventeen classes, ~340 students
  • “Water” – Grade 4 & 5, six classes, ~150 students
• Grade 4, 5 Presentations for Westborough Public Schools, May 25 & June 8, 2022
  • “Water” – Grade 4, fourteen classes, ~350 students
  • Ranger Day Geology Hikes – Grade 5, eight classes, ~200 students
• Grades K, 4, 6 Presentations for Acton-Boxborough School system, including six different grade schools – May 24,26, 2022.  
  • “Every Rock Tells a Story” – Grade K, four classes, ~80 students
  • “Water” – Grade 4, four classes, ~100 students
  • “The Rocks and Minerals of Climate Change” – Grade 6, eighteen classes, ~485 students
• Grades K, 4, 6 Presentations for Acton-Boxborough School system, including six different grade schools – June 2-4,6-8, 2021.  Virtual Zoom format.
  • “Every Rock Tells a Story” – Grade K, eleven classes, ~220 students
  • “Water” – Grade 4, eighteen classes, ~450 students
  • “The Rocks and Minerals of Climate Change” – Grade 6, eighteen classes, ~485 students

Additional Grants

• BC IGNITE grant obtained to film Season 3
• Schiller Institute FY24-25 SI-RITEA grant
  

Media

• Yale grad grows kids’ show that encourages diversity in science (WTNH news article)
  

Additional Accomplishments 

• Continuation of popular YouTube channel: "Every Rock Has A Story"
• 17 new episodes filmed in summer 2021 with the Center for Digital Innovation and Learning at BC.  Episodes posted weekly throughout the Fall 2021 semester. These episodes included diverse co-hosts and children in the studio. {funded by SIGECS]
• 8 new episodes filmed in summer 2022 with the Center for Digital Innovation and Learning at BC.  Episodes posted bi-weekly throughout the Fall 2022 semester.  These episodes included diverse co-hosts and children filmed in locations across the country. [funded by IGNITE]
• 9 new episodes of Season Four filmed in 2023-2024 with the Center for Digital Innovation and Learning at BC.  Episodes posted monthly from September 2023 through May 2024.  These episodes included diverse co-hosts and children filmed in locations across the United States and Europe
• 2,852 subscribers as of 8/20/2024
• 134,043 views as of 8/20/2024
• Open educational materials developed to accompany videos (linked here)
• Season Three of “Every Rock Has A Story” was nominated for a Boston/New England Regional Emmy Award in the Children/Youth category.
• Season Four (2023) nominated for a New England Regional Emmy Award