Weather as a way of teaching science in middle school | ULM Forum 5-4-12

During the upcoming summer institute Outstanding in the Field, scheduled for July 22 - 28, middle school teachers will collect and analyze weather data, providing them inspiration to teach the next generation of science standards.

 

Dr. Joydeep Bhattacharjee and Dr. Anne Case Hanks will be working with area middle school science teachers working in the fields of biology, physical sciences and environmental science.

 

During the institute, teachers will build a weather station that they can eventually take back to their school sites. They will also create and use pre-set observation stations that allow students to collect daily data on biotic (life sciences) and abiotic (physical sciences) variables.

 

During the academic year, teachers will also participate in four seminars that focus on ways to integrate the common core state standards into science.

 

Bhattacharjee said, "While having teachers put together weather stations for their schools is an interesting feat in itself, the overarching idea is to create a network of smaller weather stations in our area schools where students will be collecting data on a regular basis and adding to a larger data base for the region.”

 

The project is open to all sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade science teachers teaching in Caldwell, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, and Union parishes and Monroe City Schools.

 

LaSIP, started in 1992, is designed primarily to enhance teacher quality and increase student performance through professional development for in-service teachers. A combination of Board of Regents’ funds, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education funds, and all Title II, Part A, No Child Left Behind funds help finance LaSIP’s efforts.