DMR 0520404

1. Scientists Working Side-by-Side with TeachersWorkshops create new science lessons for the Syracuse City School District Over the past 2 years, scientists from Cornell University have partnered with teachers in the Syracuse City School District on the development of new inquiry-based science lessons. Funded by a Math Science Partnership grant from the New York State Department of Education, Cornell science faculty and graduate students worked side-by-side with teachers in their classrooms and after school to create lessons that meet the New York State Science Learning Standards. The activities covered topics ranging from fiber optics to rockets. Teachers indicated that the experience of working with scientists has “increased their ability to teach science in general as well as the specific science content.” As teachers’ confidence in science increased, they created their own inquiry-based lessons to be shared throughout the district. The new lessons included density of materials, air pressure and the many forms of energy. Clockwise from top left: Prof. Carl Franck (Physics) working on crystal radio experiment. Prof. Héctor Abruña (Chemistry) teaching electrochemistry. Cornell chemistry graduate student Chinmayee Subban explaining the chemistry behind the forensic science lab. Teachers sharing their inquiry-based curriculum ideas. DMR 0520404 For more details, visit the Cornell Center for Materials Research at www.ccmr.cornell.edu