National Education Goals
Mission Groundtruth-21 strives to enhance the following National Education Goals:
• The Nation's teaching force will have access to programs for the continued improvement of their professional skills and the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to instruct and prepare American students for the next century.
• United States students will be the first in the world in mathematics and science achievement.
National Science Education Standards
Mission Groundtruth-21 strives to enhance the following National Science Education Content Standards, or "what students should know, understand, and be able to do in natural science."
A. Science as inquiry Standards
The students will:
• Use critical thinking and scientific reasoning to study the natural world and propose explanations
based on the evidence derived from observation, questioning, inference as well as planning and
conduction scientific investigations.
• Develop observation, communication, research and analysis skills to become independent inquirers
about the natural world.
B. Life Science Standards
The students will:
• Identify the structure and function of two ecosystems and all associated living communities.
• Determine indicator and dominant species of two ecosystems.
• Investigate the biodiversity of a forest and freshwater ecosystem.
C. Earth and Space Science Standards
The students will:
• Investigate the geologic history of the earth as it relates to the formation of the ecosphere and other
ecosystems.
• Explore the three realms of the ecosphere and earth as a self-maintaining system.
D. Science and Technology Standards
The students will:
• Use the scientific method to prove or dispute various hypotheses concerning the Eastern Deciduous
Forest and Freshwater Stream Ecosystems.
• Use and manipulate state-of-the-art technologies to assess the health of ecosystems.
E. Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
The students will:
• Use critical thinking and problem solving skills to make ecosystem function and ecosystem value
decisions.
• Complete an environmental forum during Mission Groundtruth 21 as well as, with other schools.
• Practice interviewing skills while documenting historical changes to local ecosystems.
Integration of Subjects
Mission Ground Truth - 21 integrates the following subjects:
