Fellow-Teacher Pairs

Teaching Together:Harvard University – Cambridge Public Schools GK 12 Program

Personnel

Current Graduate Fellows: 9Current Teacher partners: 10Schools: Cambridge Rindge & Latin

HSTobin School (K-8)Cambridge, MA

Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, Biology, Astronomy

Grade levels: 9th-10th, 6th-8th

Faculty Involvement: Profs. J. Hutchinson (PI), E. Mazur, H. Stone, S. Martin, F. Abernathy; Dean VenkyNarayanamurti

Teacher Liaison: Maureen HavernProgram Coordinator: Kathryn

Hollar

Program Goals

Cambridge Schools• Assistance in implementing

Physics – Chemistry –Biology course sequence

• Support in heterogeneous classrooms that have a wide range of abilities

• Infuse curriculum with the excitement of science through Fellow-teacher developed activities

• Provide professional development for teachers

• Develop a sustainable relationship

Fellows• Increase facility in

explaining scientific concepts

• Develop pedagogical skills in inquiry-based, active learning

• Provide opportunities for professional development through workshops & reflection

• Become sensitive to needs of public schools

• Form interest in and strategies for future interaction after graduate school

Supporting Science in Cambridge Public Schools

9th – 12th grades

9th gradePhysics First, HN

10th gradeChemistry, HN, CP

11th or 12th gradeBiology, HN, CP

Level 2 Bio Courses•AP Biology•Contemp. Apps. of Genetics•Epidemiology•Marine Bio/Oceanography•Human Anatomy/Physiology•Ecology/Env. Science

Level 2 Physics Courses

• AP Physics• Applied Physics• Astronomy &

Meteorology• Principles of Design• Physics 2: Adv Topics

Level 2 Chemistry

Courses• AP Chemistry• CP Chemistry 2:

Mad Molecules for the 21st Century

HN=Honors OptionCP=College PrepFellow

Involvement

Regular Meetings with Faculty

Teacher Professional Development & Community Building

Science Fair Support

Teacher-Fellow Initiatives: •Honors Physics•Honors Chemistry•Wind Turbines

Barbara Dorritie(Physics & Bio)

Jason Bellorado(Electrical Engineering)

Joe Levin(Physics)

Marco Carbone(Computer Science)

Colleen O’Shell(Physics & Chemistry)

Emily Dunkel(Physics)

Kristin Newton(Physics)

Evan Hohfeld(Applied Physics)

Susana Castillo (Physics)Tara Trent (Physics)

Iva Maxwell(Applied Physics)

Margaret Hart(Physics)

Brian Murphy(Physics)

Tom McCarthy(Chemistry)

Izzy Raheem(Chemistry)

Margaret Farrar (Chemistry)Manjula Subramanian (Chemistry)

Julie Schlenker(Environmental Engineering)

Marian Levinstein(Chemistry)

Michael Sheehy(Chemistry)

TEACHER(S)FELLOW

Developing Honors Options Activities for the Physics and

Chemistry Curriculum at CRLS

Cambridge Rindge and Latin School TeachersHarvard GK12 Fellows

Science in Cambridge Public Schools9th – 12th grades

9th gradePhysics First, HN

10th gradeChemistry, HN, CP

11th or 12th gradeBiology, HN, CP

Level 2 Bio Courses•AP Biology•Contemp. Apps. of Genetics•Epidemiology•Marine Bio/Oceanography•Human Anatomy/Physiology•Ecology/Env. Science

Level 2 Physics Courses• AP Physics• Applied Physics• Astronomy & Meteorology• Principles of Design• Physics 2: Advanced Topics

Level 2 Chemistry Courses• AP Chemistry• CP Chemistry 2: Mad

Molecules for the 21st

Century

HN=Honors OptionCP=College Prep

Science Curriculum & Instruction in Secondary Grades

• The sequence of courses (Physics-Chemistry-Biology) is based on the premise that concepts in physics such as forces and energy underlie more abstract concepts in chemistry and biology.

• Curriculum is hands-on and inquiry-based• Classes are heterogeneous, with students of

varying academic and motivation levels

Goals of Honors Option

• Provide Enrichment Opportunities for motivated students

• Develop Accessible, Challenging Activities that encourage participation of not only the academically gifted, but students who are willing to work hard

• Give Fellows opportunity to develop curricular activities that enhance their knowledge of pedagogy

• Produce projects and activities that are sustainable after individual Fellow involvement

Chemistry Honors Project Overview

The Chemistry Honors Project is being developed to infuse the current Chemistry curriculum with the Fellows’ specialized knowledge. The project is a modular activity that will be introduced in several

segments during Spring 2004. It is designed to give motivated students a series of activities that enhances the current Chemistry Honors Curriculum through a unified theme: a case study of the water chemistry

and pollution remediation of the Charles River.

Fellows and Teachers InvolvedChemistry Fellows• Izzy Raheem• Julie Schlenker• Michael Sheehy

Chemistry Teachers• Marian Levinstein• Manjula Subramanian• Susan Costello-Alden• Margaret Farrar• Colleen O’Shell• Edward McGillicuddy• Tom McCarthy

Chemistry Teachers & Fellows discuss Honors Project

Modules in Charles River Case StudyWater Chemistry

•The Hydrologic Cycle•Chemical properties of water•Types of bodies of water•Measures of water quality

Environment Canada

The Charles River•The Charles River watershed•History & restoration of the river•Regulations affecting the river•Organizations & agencies involved•Citizen actions

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Water Pollution•Types of Pollution & Pollutants•Sources of Pollution•Chemistry of specific pollutants•Monitoring water quality

Honors Project Activities

• Selected readings from websites and papers– Short answer– Thought questions

• Graphic exercises– Interactions between various water quality indicators– Skill in graphing multiple variables

• Independent hands-on activities– Assessing water quality indicators for Charles River– Graphing and analyzing results

Physics Honors Option Overview

To support enrichment activities for more advanced students in the Physics First! Conceptual Physics Curriculum, Physics Fellows teachers at CRLS

designed an Honors Option for the course in Summer 2003. Fellows, in collaboration with

partner teachers and each other, develop challenging activities, worksheets, and demos to emphasize and expand on material covered in each term. Fellows provide instruction and extra help on worksheets

and activities on Tuesdays after school.

Fellows and Teachers InvolvedPhysics Fellows• Jason Bellorado• Marco Carbone• Emily Dunkel• Evan Hohlfeld• Iva Maxwell• Brian Murphy

Physics Teachers• Janira Arocho• Mike Borucke• Susana Castillo• Barbara Dorritie• Joe Levin• Janani Nathan• Kristin Newton• Colleen O’Shell• John Samp• Tara Trent

Physics Curriculum

• Term 1: Waves, Eyes, and Ears• Term 2: What’s Current with Electricity• Term 3: The Physics of Driving Safety• Term 4: Energy and Waterwheels

Term 1: Waves, Eyes, Ears• Shattering a Wine Glass• Waves & Interference• Wave Journals• Music & Sound• Physics & Guitars

Term 2: Electricity• Sound Boards• Invention of Transistors• Resistor Problem Solving• Superconductivity• Induction• Power & Current• kWh, Electricity Bills

Term 3: Driving Safety• Particle Accelerators• Scientific Notation, Significant

Figures, Unit Conversions in velocity and acceleration

• Kinematics problem solving• Circular motion• Angular momentum

Physics Honors Activities

Physics Teachers & Fellows discuss Honors Option Activities