Stone Oak Park Project
Hooking youngsters, especially girls, on science The curriculum, which will take three years to
at a young age and keeping them engaged has long develop, centers on the understanding that the Earth
been a challenge for teachers, and it’s an issue that consists of a set of interacting systems – geosphere,
preoccupied Dr. Ed Roy, Pyron Distinguished hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere, and that it
Professor of Geosciences and vice president of is constantly changing from natural and man-made
academic affairs at Trinity. It occurred to him that activity. It also brings into account the effect of
San Antonio has an ideal living laboratory in Stone human actions upon the Earth’s systems, negative as
Oak Park, a natural area situated at the intersection well as positive.
of four ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau, South Once completed, 27 units of curriculum, three
Texas Plains, Cross Timbers and Prairies, and Post for each K-8 grade level, will be made available
Oak Savannah. As such, the area contains a highly online for free so any teacher or school can adopt it.
diverse group of plants, animals, rocks, soils and The pursuit of funding continues for digital cameras,
other natural features that ordinarily would require GPS devices, and backpacks and other technology
hours of driving to disparate sites to see. Also, it needed to implement the curriculum. So far, this
sits above the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. This effort has been supported by Trinity’s education
wealth of natural resources makes it perfect for department, the Northeast ISD department of
studying geology, hydrology, biology, environmental technology and the American Association of
science, topography, mapping, ethnobotany, ecology, Petroleum Geologists.
environmental science and weather and climate. Stone Oak Park is located between Canyon
Since outdoor, hands-on study is known to Ridge Elementary and Barbara Bush Middle School
increase student interest and academic achievement, in north Bexar County, but Dr. Allen says when
Roy and Dr. Laura Allen, associate professor of and if the program is fully funded, it will make sure
education, began working on curriculum and grants local Title I elementary and middle school teachers
to fund further curriculum development. Sadly, take advantage of the curriculum and the park.
before the first grant came through, Roy passed The final layer of the park project involves
away in 2007. However, the effort to gain funding development of a university course titled “Scientists
and develop curriculum has progressed and school in the Schools” which will immerse undergraduates
children have begun studying the park using the first in the study and development of curriculum for use
curricular unit, tailored to K-8 students. in the Outdoor Science Laboratory of Stone Oak
“Our goal is to develop three units per year to Park. This added element will provide mentoring
field test, aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge opportunities, ongoing curriculum enhancement
& Skills standards,” Dr. Allen says. “Then any school and recruitment of beginning teachers to the field
can use the park to study science.” of science.
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