Student Lesson Unit Plans Showcased at UCI's Second Annual Mini Conference on Sustainability

CalTeach undergraduates in Education 55: Knowing and Learning in Mathematics and Science shared their lesson unit plans and discussed their experiences during UCI's Second Annual Mini Conference on Sustainability, held December 6th in the School of Education. As part of their course work, the students had been asked to translate learning theories into design principles for effective teaching and learning and lesson activities.

Topics addressed by the student groups included the following:

• Group 1: Diet Choices and Carbon Footprint
• Group 2: Hydroelectric Energy
• Group 3: Food Waste
• Group 4: Plastic Pollution
• Group 5: Climate Change and Water
• Group 6: Roads and Wildlife
• Group 7: Ocean and Microfibers
• Group 8: Household Energy Efficiency
• Group 9: Water Desalination and Energy

The December 6th conference was organized by Associate Professor Rossella Santagata (School of Education) in collaboration with Dr. Jessica Pratt (School of Biological Sciences) and students enrolled in the Minor in Global Sustainability who have worked with the CalTeach students as “sustainability consultants” to design interdisciplinary lessons for middle and high school students. 

Education 55 promotes multidisciplinary study of knowing and learning in secondary school mathematics and science. Topics covered during the quarter include standards for knowing, scientific epistemologies, mental representations, problem solving, expert-novice studies, assessment, and domain-specific thinking, learning, and teaching. 

UCI's CalTeach Science & Math program recruits talented undergraduate science and math majors to prepare for a teaching career. The program, which is jointly sponsored by the School of Biological Sciences, School of Physical Sciences, and School of Education, offers undergraduate science and math majors an opportunity to earn a STEM degree plus a California Teaching Credential in four years. 
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