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Upcoming

USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Workshops
Hilo, Waimea, and Kealakekua, Hawai‘i Island
May 13-14, 2014

The Seventh Annual School Learning Garden Symposium
Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
June 7, 2014

ʻĀINA In Schools Garden & Nutrition Curriculum Training
Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
June 8, 2014

Kū ‘Āina Pā Summer Intensive
Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
June 9-11, 2014

Waimea School Garden Tours
Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
June 12, 2014

Natural Farming Certification Course
Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i Island
June 17-21, 2014





Recent News

The Honaunau School garden, run by Melissa Chivers and Jessica Sobocinski, is more than just a place where flowers and vegetables grow; it is a living classroom where students and teachers can observe, interact with, and learn about the natural world that is responsible for supporting human existence on this planet.
more

Almost two years since it was completed, The Kohala Center’s Health Impact Assessment on Hawaii County’s Agriculture Plan has garnered national attention and helped produce meaningful effects on the local food system.
more



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All rights reserved.

Hidden Jewels at Kohala Elementary School

Eight years ago, when The Kohala Center launched the Hidden Jewels (HJ) Program at Kohala Elementary School, there was no formal science education for students, no formal science curriculum or training for teachers, no special science materials or facilities, no linkages between science and math or science and literacy, and no after-school educational enrichment programs for elementary-age children in the community. When we conceived of the Hidden Jewels (HJ) Program, our goal was simple—to instill curiosity and a love of learning in as many students as possible, with an emphasis on science.

Master science teacher Susan Lehner spearheaded the development of a place-based, relevant and integrated elementary science curriculum for grades 1–5, a curriculum which has now been published and shared with other elementary schools on the island. The Hidden Jewels curriculum focuses on concepts students can observe or study here in Hawai‘i, how they relate to their lives on the island, and how they relate to the larger world in general. All HJ subjects are things that the children either see or hear of on a daily basis. First graders are presented with a general introduction to the sciences, second graders focus on Hawaiian forest ecology, third graders study ocean sciences, fourth graders study astronomy and Polynesian voyaging, and fifth graders study Earth sciences.

HJ lessons reinforce scientific thinking by consciously linking scientific concepts to literacy and math concepts. Science learning is further enriched through project-based art lessons. In spring 2009, Kohala Elementary School’s new Science Center was formally dedicated and opened its doors to students, and it now serves as the focal point for science learning and for a variety of HJ-sponsored after-school enrichment activities for students. As The Kohala Center works to improve educational opportunities for students in schools around the island, HJ serves as a model for successful science education at the elementary school level.

For more information, contact info@kohalacenter.org, or call 808-887-6411.