Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) 2021/22!

Mr. Morris: nmorris@alberton.k12.mt.us

Mr. Nick: nehlers@alberton.k12.mt.us

How do we survive?
A journey into the lives of bighorn sheep and Alberton youth as they grapple with pandemics
(sheep=pneumonia, youth=COVID), predators and the everyday struggles to survive

(Petty Creek Bighorn Sheep & Alberton 7-12 students, Photos by Emma, Kaelynn & Mr. Nick)

Community Partner(s)
● Liz Bradley - Wildlife Biologist with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MT FWP)
● Ken Grinde - The Roxy Theatre & The International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF)

Overview
Students will use telemetry, observation, trail cameras, sampling techniques to monitor and
better understand the Petty/Graves Creek bighorn sheep herd. While at the same time diving
into what it means to survive as an Alberton youth.

Products (established by students/student interest)

A documentary (in collaboration with The Roxy & the IWFF), popular/scientific articles, a
children's book, a series of poems, GIS mapping, a new wildlife tracking collar (less expensive,
longer lasting...) and museum quality reconstructed skeleton displays.

Assessments
Relentless Personal Reflections (RPRs)
Project/Product Critique and Refinement

Weekly Routines
● Mondays/Wednesdays – field research with small groups of students (~6), in class project
work time, bighorn sheep readings, visual vocabulary, RPR assigned and due every month.
Montana Content Standards (identified for and by students throughout our project)
Science:
Technology Integration:
Computer Science:
Career and Technical Education:
Mathematics:

Semester 1 Project Timeline (Subject to change understanding that Project-Based Learning is

often a “moving/rotating target”)

Week Topics

Week 1: Aug 30 Building Classroom Culture

Exploring STEM

Week 2: Sept 6 9/6 - No School (Labor Day)

Project Launch
Critical Thinking
Relentless Personal Reflection (RPR) #1

Week 3: Sept 13 Project Field Day

Week 4: Sept 20 Liz Bradley - Wildlife Biologist (MT FWP) Class Visit
Relentless Personal Reflection (RPR) #2

Week 5: Sept 27 First field day with Liz at Petty Creek

Week 6: Oct 4 Relentless Personal Reflection (RPR) #3

Week 7: Oct 11 Project Product Critique and Refinement

Week 8: Oct 18 10/21 - No School (MEA Teacher PIR)

Relentless Personal Reflection (RPR) #4

Week 9: Oct 25 Project Product Critique and Refinement

Week 10: Nov 1 Relentless Personal Reflection (RPR) #5

Week 11: Nov 8 Project Product Critique and Refinement

Week 12: Nov 15 Relentless Personal Reflection (RPR) #6

Week 13: Nov 22 Project Product Critique and Refinement

11/24 & 11/25 - No School (Thanksgiving)
Week 14: Nov 29 12/1 - Student Learning Exhibition
Relentless Personal Reflection (RPR) #7

Week 15: Dec 6 Project Product Critique and Refinement

Week 16: Dec 13 Relentless Personal Reflection (RPR) #8

Week 17: Dec 20 12/22-12/30 - No School (Winter Break)

Week 18: Dec 27 12/22-12/30 - No School (Winter Break)

Week 19: Jan 3 Student Presentation of Learnings (POLs)

Week 20: Jan 10 1/13 - End of Semester 1

1/14 - No School (Teacher PIR)