Melissa’s first post
Posted: February 10th, 2010
Author: Uncategorized
This is my first post!!
Update from GWCS
Posted: September 7th, 2009
Author: Deborah Morrison-Ibrahim
The last few weeks have been full of learning experiences. I have had a chance to write a lesson plan based on the modified Pill Bug Lab (that was demonstrated during the work-shop). Thank you Mr. Lewis for your help. The two biology classes that dd the lab proved to be VERY fun and raised a lot of discussion for the students. I have alos had a chance to work at one of the soccer games and see the GREAT GWCS soccer team in action. The big thing was the call-out for the Environmental Science Club. There are about 5 or 6 after school activites if which I was already warned the church providing the free food will be hard to compete with. I didn’t know about the first call-out for the clubs until the day of, and unfortunately couldn’t make it. I did attend the second call-out and ended up having five 8th graders come. We talked for a bit and they are interested in composting, field trips, and animals and the winner of the free raffle loved the notebookmade by an AIDS survivor in Africa. Tomorrow the clubs will know if they have any members for the first 9 weeks. No matter what - I will start “marketing” the club more for the 2nd nine weeks since I am becoming more familiar with how to navigate and move things along (as well as expectations).
Although some of the students (very few) are a bit “challenging”, I a learning a lot about how to deal a variety of backgrounds. This is in addition to trying to find time to get an inventory started so we know what is available in the lab to work with. All is good! Hope everyone else is doing great as well! Unfortunately I willnot be able to attend the workshop on the 12th if it moved to that day, so if I don’t see you all — have a great start of Fall!
summer’s over…
Posted: August 23rd, 2009
Author: Uncategorized
Hi all. Just wanted to say hello and wish you all the best in getting your fellowships started and settling into your classrooms. Remember, if you’re not having fun, the kids probably aren’t either!
First Week at George Washington Community School
Posted: August 16th, 2009
Author: Deborah Morrison-Ibrahim
Had a good week getting to the know the school by attending meetings/community partners lunch the day before school started. Turns out I have already met several of the school partners thru my thesis work in the area. I met the students in Mr. Brocius’s classes the second day of of school and helped the students with the triple beam balance lab (while injecting the importance of replicates and comparing answers). I was also asked to pick 5 students out of the Biology Honors class to go with me the next day to do some soil sampling on the football field since I was asked to run some other samples in the lab. These students were FANTASTIC and I used this time while sampling to talk with them about future goals and interest in science and who might be interested in helping me start up an ecology/earth science club. These 5 students seemed very interested. We talked about how they could be the leaders of the club and guide the topics and general theme. On Friday after sampling I was asked to help out Mrs. Harrison’s Biology Class. It was interesting to see the difference between the High School and Middle School students. Mrs. harrison asked me to talk about my project and what I do at the University and I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised at the type of questions being asked and the great interest. It was kind of a free for all with questions, so was really fun to answer the students. Mrs. Harrison also invited this class to use a sign-up sheet for interest in the Ecology Club, with several students (at the 8th grade level) signing up before the end of the class.
I also met with the vice-principal about getting the Earth Science class back on the curriculum for the Spring Semester. All in all, I am very happy to start my work in classroom and learning frommy teacher partners and I look forward to learning more about how to get more of these students interested in science.
Opening days
Posted: August 12th, 2009
Author: Terry Lewis
We have had a great first 2 days. Sarah was here both days and is a big help. On white days I have 2 science project students. Sarah has already given them some guidance in selecting projects.
Terry Lewis - SHS
1st day
Posted: August 11th, 2009
Author: Dee Ann Turner
So today was my first day at SHS. Melissa had me give my talk that I gave in the workshop today. Her block 3 Honors Chemistry kids loved it. They were engaged in it, they asked questions, and I didn’t have to do much to get them engaged. Her block 4 Honors Chemistry kids I think were somewhat interested, but they also had just come from lunch and they looked very tired and were not engaged as much into the talk as the block 3 kids. It took a little more work on my part to try to engage their prior knowledge about forensic science, bacteria, and ignitable liquids. Overall though, it was a good day! Tomorrow I get to give my talk to her regular chemistry kids…3 sections!!! 
Summer Workshop Follow-Up
Posted: July 27th, 2009
Author: Deborah Morrison-Ibrahim
Last Friday concluded our first interactions with our teacher partners and introduction to lesson plans as well the GK-12 Fellowship requirements in general. Not only am I very excited to work with Mrs. Harrison and Mr. Brosius, but with George Washington Community School students since they right in the middle of my study area. It was a pleasure to meet all my fellow “fellows” and teachers from the other schools as well. I must admit that I had no idea how much work went into thinking about and writing lesson plans, so I know where I will be focusing much my energies on for the first few weeks.
Dr. Filippelli has asked me to submit an abstract to the Geological Society of America (GSA) Conference to the session about Geology and Health. I am trying to come with a way to incorporate the GK-12 Fellowship into this abstract, but since its just the beginning I am not real sure how to do this.
In the past I have presented my project in San Diego and the National APHA Conference as a poster presentation and at GSA last year in Houston as an oral presentation. This year I will also be presenting my thesis project at the National Environmental Public Health Conference held by the CDC and ASTDR at the end of October.
Several other teacher partners have asked me to come into their classrooms as well and work on a project with their students. Let me know when would be a good to do this. Great week all and here’s to the new school year!
FYI: Here is the news reel from the IUPUI Home Pages of my project, (keeping in mind this was my frist news interview ever, the subsequent ones did improve): http://homepages.indiana.edu/asset/page/normal/6391.html
Shari’s First Post
Posted: July 23rd, 2009
Author: Shari Harrison
This is my first post.
Beverly’s First Post
Posted: July 23rd, 2009
Author: Beverly Randsell
This is my first post.
Carl’s First Post
Posted: July 23rd, 2009
Author: Terry Lewis
This is my first post.