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Incorporating Participatory Science in Elementary Schools: Teacher and Student Experiences with Outdoor Learning

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Title: Incorporating Participatory Science in Elementary Schools: Teacher and Student Experiences with Outdoor Learning
Language: English
Authors: Sarah J. Carrier (ORCID 0000-0002-6902-812X), Danielle R. Scharen (ORCID 0000-0001-6445-2741), Meredith L. Hayes (ORCID 0000-0002-7923-6715), P. Sean Smith (ORCID 0000-0002-1680-5044), Christine Goforth (ORCID 0009-0005-8087-1387), Laura Craven (ORCID 0009-0002-6032-3736), Lindsey Sachs (ORCID 0000-0002-6836-6354)
Source: Electronic Journal for Research in Science & Mathematics Education. 2026 29(4):81-101.
Availability: International Consortium for Research in Science & Mathematics Education. TCU Box 297900, Fort Worth, TX 76129. Tel: 817-257-6115; e-mail: ICRSME.Consultation@gmail.com; Web site: http://ejrsme.icrsme.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 21
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Grade 5
Intermediate Grades
Middle Schools
Descriptors: Elementary School Teachers, Elementary School Students, Grade 5, Science Instruction, Student Participation, Teacher Participation, Hands on Science, Experiential Learning, Science Activities, Outdoor Education, Data Collection, Instructional Materials, Teaching Experience, Student Experience, Teacher Attitudes, Student Attitudes, Learner Engagement, Educational Benefits
ISSN: 2692-241X
Abstract: Science instruction in elementary school provides a base for student understanding of the natural world, yet policies prioritizing mathematics and reading have marginalized science. In response, some teachers have enhanced their science instruction by introducing students to participatory science (PS) projects. Using data from a larger study that examines the development of educative support materials for two existing PS projects, this embedded mixed methods study focuses on teachers' and students' experiences learning outdoors. We compare teachers' weekly log data, surveys, interviews, observations, and student focus groups to document teachers' applications of PS in their science classrooms and outdoors. Teachers report benefits (e.g., purposeful science learning) and challenges (e.g., time constraints, testing pressure) of implementing outdoor PS projects. Teacher and student data document cognitive and affective benefits of students' participation. Implications support the potential for PS projects that include schoolyard activities to supplement elementary science teaching and learning.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1495596
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Incorporating Participatory Science in Elementary Schools: Teacher and Student Experiences with Outdoor Learning
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sarah+J%2E+Carrier%22">Sarah J. Carrier</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6902-812X">0000-0002-6902-812X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Danielle+R%2E+Scharen%22">Danielle R. Scharen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6445-2741">0000-0001-6445-2741</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Meredith+L%2E+Hayes%22">Meredith L. Hayes</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7923-6715">0000-0002-7923-6715</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22P%2E+Sean+Smith%22">P. Sean Smith</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1680-5044">0000-0002-1680-5044</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Christine+Goforth%22">Christine Goforth</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8087-1387">0009-0005-8087-1387</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Laura+Craven%22">Laura Craven</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6032-3736">0009-0002-6032-3736</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lindsey+Sachs%22">Lindsey Sachs</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6836-6354">0000-0002-6836-6354</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Electronic+Journal+for+Research+in+Science+%26+Mathematics+Education%22"><i>Electronic Journal for Research in Science & Mathematics Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 29(4):81-101.
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  Data: International Consortium for Research in Science & Mathematics Education. TCU Box 297900, Fort Worth, TX 76129. Tel: 817-257-6115; e-mail: ICRSME.Consultation@gmail.com; Web site: http://ejrsme.icrsme.com
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  Data: 21
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+5%22">Grade 5</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Intermediate+Grades%22">Intermediate Grades</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Teachers%22">Elementary School Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+5%22">Grade 5</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Instruction%22">Science Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Participation%22">Student Participation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Participation%22">Teacher Participation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hands+on+Science%22">Hands on Science</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experiential+Learning%22">Experiential Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Activities%22">Science Activities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outdoor+Education%22">Outdoor Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+Collection%22">Data Collection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Materials%22">Instructional Materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teaching+Experience%22">Teaching Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Attitudes%22">Teacher Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learner+Engagement%22">Learner Engagement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Benefits%22">Educational Benefits</searchLink>
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  Data: 2692-241X
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Science instruction in elementary school provides a base for student understanding of the natural world, yet policies prioritizing mathematics and reading have marginalized science. In response, some teachers have enhanced their science instruction by introducing students to participatory science (PS) projects. Using data from a larger study that examines the development of educative support materials for two existing PS projects, this embedded mixed methods study focuses on teachers' and students' experiences learning outdoors. We compare teachers' weekly log data, surveys, interviews, observations, and student focus groups to document teachers' applications of PS in their science classrooms and outdoors. Teachers report benefits (e.g., purposeful science learning) and challenges (e.g., time constraints, testing pressure) of implementing outdoor PS projects. Teacher and student data document cognitive and affective benefits of students' participation. Implications support the potential for PS projects that include schoolyard activities to supplement elementary science teaching and learning.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1495596
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 81
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 5
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Science Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Participation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Participation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hands on Science
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Experiential Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Science Activities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Outdoor Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data Collection
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teaching Experience
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
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      – SubjectFull: Teacher Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Learner Engagement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Benefits
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Incorporating Participatory Science in Elementary Schools: Teacher and Student Experiences with Outdoor Learning
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