Aloha ‘Aina workshop for isle teachers set

KIHEI - A teacher workshop on curriculum about Hawaii's unique environment will be held March 18 and 19 at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The Project Aloha 'Aina Curriculum Workshop for grade-3-to-6 educators offers creative ways for students to excel in science, math, social studies and language arts while learning to care for Hawaii's natural resources.

The curriculum meets Hawaii Content and Performance Standards and Na Honua Maoli Ola guidelines. Each grade-level unit builds on a foundation of culture- and place-based learning, while immersing students in scientific inquiry and related social studies explorations. Math and language arts skills are incorporated so students may interpret and express their findings.

The educational project fosters foundational learning experiences that reflect Native Hawaiian culture and core values.

The Aloha 'Aina and Kahea Loko (Hawaiian fishpond) curriculum were created by the Pacific American Foundation, which the Department of Education recognized with a 2007 "Partner in Excellence Award."

The foundation offers this workshop, which includes a teacher's guide with standards-based lesson plans; student activity sheets; rubrics; related media; pre-post tests to help measure student achievement of standards, and a half-day field excursion and lunch.

Cost is $20.The first day's session runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m; the second day goes from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Register at Web site www.thepaf.org. For more information, contact Joylynn Paman at joy@mauifishpond.com or 359-1172.