DEVELOPING CURRICULUM MODULES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL LEARNING

Founded in 1966 on the campus of Duke University, the Duke
Lemur Center (DLC) is a world leader in the study, care, and
protection of lemurs—among earth’s most threatened group of
mammals. Educational resources for the middle-school age group
about Madagascar and its lemurs are scarce. Most materials are
designed for either very young students or professional audiences,
and often require an onsite visit to DLC facilities. DLC enlisted a
Capstone team to address these gaps in lemur-focused education by
developing comprehensive curriculum modules for middle school
teachers and students. The team conducted an environmental
scan on peer organizations, completed a literature review on
equitable and effective learning practices, and participated in a
behind-the-scenes tour of DLC. The team produced three lesson
plans that require no specialized knowledge or equipment and are
freely downloadable through the DLC educators’ portal, promoting
widespread use and availability.