The following curriculum unit is designed to be used in a special education classroom within a small public secondary school located in an urban community. The school provides an alternative academic setting for pregnant teens and young mothers. Students, ranging in age from thirteen to twenty, are enrolled in grades six through twelve.
The special education population attending the school includes students who are mentally retarded, learning disabled, brain damaged, and or seriously emotionally disturbed. Ability levels within the special education classes cover a wide range. Most of the students have limited reading and writing skills. Some students tend to exhibit negative behaviors, which are best addressed in small groups within a highly structured setting.
This curriculum unit is planned for students who have a limited background in science education. Many have had little exposure to environmental studies. Often poor school attendance has resulted in large gaps in the academic education of these students. Whole sections of information may be missing from their fund of knowledge for various reasons. Therefore, simple basic concepts will be reviewed, along with the presentation of new information and ideas.
It would be appropriate to include all or selected sections of the curriculum in a high school parenting class or as a unit in a regular education general science class. Individual sections of the unit could be presented based on interests and needs of particular students.