The Department of Elementary Education prepares future educators to be innovators and leaders in the field. We are committed to ensuring that our teacher candidates understand the communities in which they are working and know how to reach and teach ALL children. Our community-engaged approach places teacher candidates in the field throughout their program, from their freshman year through student teaching. Our faculty are in the field with students, guiding and supporting their learning, as they grow into excellent teachers. Your donation to Elementary Education supports the award-winning programs offered by the department and the excellent education that our teacher candidates receive -- ensuring that our future elementary teachers will be the best that they can be!

Summer Learning Fun at Camp Adventure

Help combat summer learning loss and support long-term academic achievement through your support of the “Summer Learning Fun” program at Camp Adventure in Muncie! This day camp is held in June and run by Ball State pre-service teaching candidates. The camp is open to elementary-aged students who are residents of Delaware County. Children coming from under-resourced homes are able to attend camp for free, due to the generosity of donations and grant funding. Ball State candidates receive 9 hours of credit for planning and facilitating cross-curricular lessons based around IN academic standards in science, literacy, and math. Experiences include not only academics, but archery, low ropes courses, fishing, wagon rides, teambuilding, nature hikes, and cardiovascular activities. While attending camp, children receive breakfast, lunch, and two snacks. Your generous donation will help to support field trips, snacks, t-shirts, camp bags, children’s books, hands-on materials for lessons, science/STEM equipment, and special speakers. 

Join us in our mission to provide high-quality learning opportunities in a safe environment during the summer months in order to reduce the inequity in opportunities, resources, and academic achievement. We can make a difference together! For more information, please visit https://sites.bsu.edu/summerlearning/.

International Study Abroad Opportunities

There are few experiences that impact students’ lives as much as living and studying abroad. One student noted that she “rediscovered why she wanted to be a teacher” after participating in one of our international programs. BSU students majoring in elementary or early childhood education have had the opportunity to study overseas in a Mexico, Jamaica, Malawi, France, and in our EDEL-O program in England, which has been in existence since the mid-1970s. Students spend 6-8 weeks abroad, learning about the British education system and interacting with teachers and children in schools. BSU teacher candidates receive 9 credit hours of required course work in this program and come back with a renewed sense of self and commitment to the field. Dr. Scott Popplewell participated in the EDEL-O program to England as an undergraduate student and he, along with other faculty, now direct this program. The Scott R. Popplewell International scholarship focuses on assisting students who want to participate in the EDEL-O program to England, as well as other international programs within the department. Because of the additional expense to students, many cannot take advantage of these opportunities without some kind of support – a donation to the Popplewell International scholarship will give this opportunity to students!