Educational Television for Grade 4

Tune in to Exploring the Islands, an engaging and entertaining distance learning television series for fourth graders. The programs teach students about Hawaiian geology, geography, native plants and animals, Hawaiian culture and human interaction with the environment.

The series of 14 shows have been taped in beautiful locations including Kilauea Volcano and rainforests on the island of Hawaii, the southeast shoreline of Oahu, fishponds, streams, taro patches, and beaches.

Each show is hosted by MGF staff with fourth graders who describe the DOE Standards the program helps them to meet, answer Mystery Minute and Mind Power Minute questions, conduct experiments and demonstrations, and provide the program summary. The 14-part series features puppets, fantasy sequences, and hands-on activities as well as guest scientists, artists and specialists in Hawaiian culture. Video footage of unique and rare Hawaiian ecosystems and their inhabitants brings our special island home into the classroom.

The series is supplemented by the Ohia Project Curriculum, an environmental education curriculum about Hawaii produced cooperatively by MGF, Bishop Museum and the Department of Education with units on geology, geography, native plants and animals and humans and the environment.

Exploring the Islands instructor, Norbert Larsen, received a 3rd Place award for Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching for Grades K-12 from the United States Association for Distance Learning in 1999.

Download the lessons from the Teacher Guide!