| Summer Science and Math at the U of MN | |
| PSI Minnesota (Plant Science Investigation) | |
If you like the idea of a classroom alive with plants and with inquisitive students, join us! This 2-week workshop for elementary teachers, with three follow-up meetings in the academic year, focuses on the biology of plants and how to use plants in inquiry-based science. You’ll learn about seeds and germination, roots and shoots, leaves and photosynthesis, reproduction and flowers. In each of these areas, you’ll have a chance to try a variety of activities suited for classroom use at multiple grade levels. During the workshop, you also will design and conduct a simple investigation centered on some question about plants. By the conclusion of the two-week workshop, you’ll develop a specific action plan describing how you’ll engage your students in one observation and one investigative activity during the following school year. As you leave for the new school year, you’ll take with you a light stand for plants that you built yourself plus pots, soil, ideas, and resources.
Course dates and location: July 23-August 3, U of M St. Paul campus (8 days) & Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (2 days)
Instructors: Dr. Susan Wick, Dr. Emily Hoover, Dr. Thomas Soulen, Jane Phillips, Sandra Mackey, Arboretum staff, and expert elementary teachers.
All course fees, materials, per diem, lunch, and 2 graduate credits will be covered by a grant from the MN Higher Education Services Office, Improving Teacher Quality Program.
To apply, fill out an application form electronically (www.teachercourses.umn.edu) or contact Sue Wick. All participants must apply for admission to the course. Applications received by April 15, 2007 will be considered first, but applications will be accepted until the course is full. Because shared experiences make it easier to implement changes in your classroom, we strongly encourage you to come in teacher-pairs (or more!) from a school.