Curriculum
EPI Curricula is divided into three parts: Pre-Course, On-Course with Core Components and On-Course with Optional Components. The core components are a part of every EPI course, and optional components are tailored by EPI instructors to your individual group. Here is a sample of what you can expect.
Pre-Course
Your group’s Sea Turtle Ecology curriculum trunk will contain:
• Sea Turtles: An Ecological Guide by David Gulko and Karen Eckert
• Easy Spanish Phrase Book (Dover Publications)
• Map of Costa Rica (National Geographic)
• Poster: “Sea Turtles – It’s not too late to turn the tide” (Conservation International)
• Inflatable Turtle
• Measuring Tape
• Curriculum Pieces:
-Species Account
-The Food Connection
-Pre-course student projects
-Post-course presentation
On-Course with Our Core Curriculum
Introduction
• EPI Goals and Mission
• Student Journal Introduction
Research Projects and Scientific Method
• Scientific Method
• Research Introduction
• Research Skills, Methods, and Protocols
• Data Review
• Research Presentations
Costa Rica Species and Ecosystems
• Leatherback Sea Turtles
• Rainforest Ecology
Community Connections and Transference
• How U.S. citizens affect both the cultural and the ecological environment of Costa Rica.
• How the endangerment of Leatherbacks relates to the U.S. ecosystem.
• The importance of international collaboration.
• The value of sharing their experience with local residents.
Team Building and Initiatives
• Name Games
• Group Creed
• Group Journal
• Pulse Check
• Closing Circle
On-Course with Optional Curriculum
• Species Account
• Vocabulary of an Ecologist
• Beach Art
• Senses Poem
• Solo Sit