From the February/March, 2007 issue of Tidings

CCMNH and the Lighthouse Charter School: Partnering for Science Education

In August 2006, the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History -- Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School-- Sylvia Howe Thompson Pilot Project was begun. The main focus of this partnership is to foster hands-on natural history field experiences for middle school students as a means of furthering the educational principles and practices embodied in teacher Sylvia Howe Thompson's work. A goal of the project is to develop curricula that can be used with other public school students.

Two specific programs have been developed for this year: a seminar course for a small number of students from grades 6-8 taught by Charter School science teacher and naturalist Peter Trull, and a monthly site-visit project involving all 68 sixth- graders at the Charter School.

The seminar program involves frequent visits by a small group of students to the grassland restoration project on Wing Island. While there, the students observe, identify and record plant and animal life during the changing seasons of the year.

The sixth grade program involves four scheduled site visits by four teams of students to specific ecosystems for the purpose of recording biotic and abiotic information during changing seasons. The first site visit occurred in October 2006. Teams of students observed and recorded data on the upland (Wing Island), the seashore/beach (at the end of Paine's Creek), the pond (in Nickerson State Park), and the salt marsh (at CCMNH). Assisting the students and teachers in studying the ecosystems are CCMNH volunteer field guide naturalists Todd Kelley and Sam Rocray (Upland), Bobbie Williams, Betsy Ferris and Kathy Sherman (Seashore), Nancy Wigley and Diane Smith (Salt Marsh), and Doug Smith and Fran Cormier (Pond). The next site visit is scheduled for January, with additional visits in April and May. An ongoing/changing exhibit of student work, including data recorded and original writing, is displayed in the museum's Marshview Room.

A series of presentations at the museum enhances the sixth grade program. Myles Marcus made a presentation on whales in December 2006. Nancy Wigley will make a presentation on the salt marsh ecosystem in February, and Irwin Schorr will make a presentation on bats in March. At the school, students are led through other activities by teachers Brain Bates, Josh Stewart, Joan Amaru and Katherine Wilkenson. Activities and lessons are designed to help students develop an understanding and appreciation of the natural history and biodiversity of Cape Cod. An Open House to which parents and guests will be invited and at which students will display and present their work will be held in June.

Funds from a grant from the family of Sylvia Howe Thompson are used to support this program. The three classroom spaces at the museum have been renovated and educational materials, equipment and supplies have been purchased. The rooms and materials are designed to be used by program participants and other students in pursuit of hands-on experiences in natural history. Programs for other school groups and our own programs such as KidSummer will greatly benefit from this project.

The CCMNH-CCLCS Partnership is coordinated by Bud Ferris (CCMNH) and Paul Niles (CCLCS) with oversight and direction provided by a Steering Committee including Bud and Paul along with Barbara Haines, Brian Bates and Peter Trull (CCLCS), and Bobbie Williams and Bob Dwyer (CCMNH).

Bud Ferris, CCMNH - Lighthouse Charter School