Teacher Opportunities with GK-12

2009-2010 Teacher Application

Deadline: February 1, 2009

The proposed program will build partnerships between scientists and the K-12 community by focusing on interdisciplinary environmental and watershed sciences. It will develop a solid framework for interdisciplinary teaching about water in the physical and human environments, making creative links between math, science, social science, and technology. Unique learning activities will integrate math, science, and GIS technology in the classroom with field experiences in order to address important societal issues in inland and coastal watersheds.

The program involves eight graduate Fellows, 16 classrooms, at least 16 teachers per year, in the Austin, Flour Bluff, and Port Aransas school districts. The program targets grades 5-8. The schools draw students from a spectrum of urban to rural settings. NSF disciplines include marine science, geological sciences, physics, chemistry, environmental science, biology, geography, and mathematics.

Highlights of our program include:

• Fellow-led field and classroom learning experiences for K-12 students
  
• A graduate-level summer field course in geosciences and marine science for teachers
  
• Continuing Education Credits
  
• Joint summer teacher and Fellow training in partnership with a nationally recognized pre-service training program
  
• Collaborative development and implementation of teacher in-service training days at under-performing schools
  
• Dissemination of activities and lesson plans developed by teacher-Fellow teams via comprehensive websites, workshops, and publications
  
• Innovative outreach lectures
  
• Edwards Aquifer Field Workshop
  
• Evolution and Intelligent Design Workshop
  
• Port Aransas Marine Science Field Workshop
  
• 8-year sustainability for GK-12 activities
  
• Stipends available for participating teachers

2009-2010 Teacher Application - Deadline: February 1, 2009