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Treasure of the Rio Grande Delta: A South Texas Curriculum

Gorgas Science Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization committed to education and conservation. It is our firm belief that the key to effective conservation lies in the education of the general public and, more importantly, in the education of the young. In 1996, Gorgas Science Foundation, Inc. convened a large working committee of educators and curriculum specialists from across the South Texas region for the purpose of creating a locally relevant aid for teaching. The committee realized that

Rio Grande Leopard Frog

there was a tremendous need for practical and locally relevant curricula, especially in relation to natural science. Textbooks, created for a national market, cannot offer the extensive lessons tailored to the environment and requirements of a particular geographic area. Without proper resources, many teachers are not able to create specific lessons on their own. In this context, an initial curriculum was set forth to address these problems while fulfilling all state-mandated essential elements. This group of talented individuals volunteered many hours to provide teachers and students with an effective supplement to existing curricula. Using the film Treasures of the Rio Grande Delta as a touchstone, the committee developed an outline of lessons with topics of local relevance for middle school students in Valley schools. These lessons were then revised by two local natural history writers. Local artists provided the illustrations of Valley wildlife, plants, and other scenes. After several years of development it was field-tested and underwent peer review.

The endangered Ocelot of South Texas

Treasures of the Rio Grande Delta—A South Texas Curriculum presents a science curriculum that will excite and engage primary and middle school students using natural science and local natural resources as a vehicle. To further enlist and integrate students, this curriculum is both bicultural and bilingual. Its greatest strength is its focus—all examples are local. Furthermore, the curriculum uses natural sciences as a pathway to all other sciences. By focusing primarily on the natural sciences (zoology, botany, ecology) students are enticed to pursue other sciences. Numerous essays, small research papers, and creative writing projects enhance critical thinking, reading, and writing skills.

This curricula not only strengthens currently-used science curricula, but also provides teacher resources and support to make the teaching task more effective. Finally, it helps local school districts meet state mandates and prepares students for uniform assessment tests. Goals and Objectives

Formation of a Resaca

• Increase effectiveness of classroom instruction through teacher training packages and resources.
• Increase recruitment in secondary school bridge programs to scientific careers through natural sciences, supported by the bicultural, bilingual aspect of the curriculum.
• Increase interest in the sciences and advance preparation for secondary school science courses through an extensive variety of science texts, activities, labs, and projects.
• Improve literacy skills such as reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking through extensive reading and recall sections in each lesson and numerous writing activities, which leads to improved performance on standardized tests such as TAAS and other college-entry examinations.

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