The Young Scientists Program is a unique partnership between River Legacy Foundation and the Arlington Independent School District (AISD). Through this joint venture, more than 4,000 AISD fourth-grade students participate in a customized Field Investigation at the Living Science Center each year.
The overarching goal of the Young Scientists Program is to afford students a first-hand opportunity to compare their own schoolyard's ecosystem to the forest ecosystem of River Legacy Parks. Students explore key biological and ecological concepts of both ecosystems and the role of each forest layer within the larger forest ecosystem.
Prior to their classes' off-site visit to River Legacy Parks, AISD teachers receive materials necessary for their students to undertake hands-on explorations of their own schoolyard's ecology. New teachers also attend an in-depth introduction to the program during an all-day professional development session at the Living Science Center.
The Young Scientists Program is closely alilgned with the objectives of the National Science Education Standards (NSES) and the science concepts outlined in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). At the fifth-grade level, these concepts are assessed on the science portion of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). |
