Meet Dr. Babs McDonald

My name is Dr. Babs McDonald. I am a Social Scientist, a writer, and an educator with the USDA Forest Service. I write most of the articles that you read in the Natural Inquirer. I like writing the articles because I have to read scientific articles written by the scientists before I can rewrite them for the Natural Inquirer. I learn a lot of new things by doing this. I can also be creative, because I get to think up the "Reflection Section" questions! When I am not writing Natural Inquirer articles, I like to walk or run in the woods, ride my bicycle, swim, and lift weights. I also like to take nature photographs.

Dr. Babs McDonald's Presentations:

Note: When you click the file name, you will be given the option to open immediately or to download to your computer.  These files are large, so opening may take a few minutes.

Learn How to Write a Natural Inquirer Article:

1. Let's Get Started

2.  Introduction Slideshow to the Natural Inquirer

3.  The Mind of an Adolescent Slideshow

 4.  Science Education Standards Slideshow

5.  The Scientific Process Slideshow

6.  The Critical Thinking Slideshow

7.  The Intergration of Disciplines Slideshow

8.  Finding an Article

9.  File Organization

Note: You will need a scientific article from Babs to complete the next two training modules (Number 10 and 11).

10.  Reading a Scientific Article 

11.  Reading and Writing Science

12.  Writing "Thinking about Science" and "Thinking About the Environment"

13.  Writing the "Introduction"

14.  Writing the "Method" Section

Other Natural Inquirer Writing Files:

Template for Writing a Natural Inquirer Article

Natural Inquirer Glossary

Other Presentations:

• Hands On the Hand - Evaluation Presentation - This is a presentation given in April at the Hands On the Land workshop at the National Science Teachers Association, April 2006. The intent of this presentation was to provide an introduction to evaluation.
• Don Howlett Presentation
• Culturual Sensitivity Training - Module 1
• More Kids in the Woods
• Earth Then, Earth Now:
  Connecting with Climate Change Educator Conference 2008

Dr. Babs McDonald's Papers:

• FaceLook!

Dr. Babs McDonalds's Other Files:

• Worming Their Way In - Investi-gator Article - The Investi-gator is a new upper elementary journal similar to the Natural Inquirer. This is a DRAFT article being tested in classrooms (Spring 2006). The article has not been designed or approved for widespread distribution. If you pilot test this article, please send comments to to jnickelsen@fs.fed.us.