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A Brief History

In September, 2007, ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center initiated a pilot science literacy program for 225 K-5 grade students at the former H.O. Wheeler Community School (now the Integrated Arts Academy) in Burlington. The program responded to teachers reporting uneasiness with teaching science content, classroom time constraints, and documented student limitations in science knowledge and inquiry skills. The intent of Inquiry Science in Schools (ISS) was to deepen student understanding of grade level science concepts, provide opportunities for elementary students to practice science inquiry skills, and to foster the value of environmental science and stewardship in the local community. In the fall of 2008, ECHO expanded the program to include CP Smith and Flynn Elementary Schools, and invited Saint Michael’s College pre-service teachers to lead the classroom outreach components of ISS.

Beginning in the fall of 2009, a two-year expansion of the ISS program to 2nd, 3rd and 5th grade students in Burlington, Winooski, and Milton School Districts was possible through funding from the AD Henderson Foundation, The Vermont Community Foundation, and a Museums of America grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Funding has also supported a partnership with Champlain College and the University of Vermont to integrate pre-service teacher training into the project.  ISS will serve over 1200 elementary students during the grant period. The participating school districts have reported a high level of satisfaction with the ISS curriculum, accessible delivery systems, and improved connections between science content and required content learning at the specified grades. The project has integrated ECHO into the local elementary school science curriculum and associated State and National Science Standards particularly as they relate to inquiry science process skills and their application to local environmental issues.

The evolution of ISS has illuminated a key component of its success - the training of the pre-service teacher.  While the elementary students and their classroom teachers are clearly beneficiaries, faculty and administration at the local college and university Education Departments have indicated how effective ISS has been in elevating the confidence of their students to teach science content and inquiry process skills.  ISS provides a unique opportunity for the pre-service teachers to teach required science content in the formal setting of a school classroom.  In addition, they are exposed to informal science education through training to lead ECHO's visitor experiences in demonstrations, field trips, experiential learning and exhibit interpretation - a whole new world of teaching opportunities beyond the classroom walls. ECHO's Inquiry Science in the Schools project was designed to be a sustainable partnership that allows for flexibility in science content, administration, and inclusion of new research in science literacy. The project aims to become an integrated part of both pre-service teacher science requirements and the local elementary science curriculum.

What Do The Elementary Students and Classroom Teachers Receive Through ISS?

Inquiry Science in the Schools trains pre-service teachers to implement the classroom outreach science experiences at the 2nd, 3rd and 5th grade level. The essential questions, program activities, and content topics by grade are:

GRADE 2

The 2nd grade experience is an orientation to ECHO, called Inquiry Science and the Lake, which is delivered in two parts: (1) a one hour interactive introductory experience for up to 45 students and, (2) a field trip to ECHO. Pre-service teachers act in a support role while ECHO Education staff deliver the program. Inquiry Science and the Lake as a theme provides 2nd graders a foundation for involvement with a science center and lays the groundwork for more focused content delivery in subsequent years of the program. The essential questions are:

1. What is a science center/aquarium? What is ECHO all about?
2. What is a scientist and how do they do their work?
3. Where is the Lake Champlain Basin Watershed?
4. What living and non-living things are found in the Lake Champlain Basin?
    

GRADES 3 and 5 The 3rd and 5th grade programs share a format but differ in their content focus. Currently, the content for 3rd Grade is Classification OR Properties of Matter. The content topic for 5th Grade is Geology OR Properties of Matter. Both grades are taught using inquiry science methods, which introduce and reinforce the Science Standards applicable to the grade level. The grade level team in each school chooses the content topic. The progression of experiences occurs over one semester (Fall runs October - December and Spring runs January - April) in coordination with the pre-service teachers' class schedules. The ECHO Field Trip component is scheduled by ECHO's ISS Project Director in the semester prior to involvement. ECHO is also responsible for scheduling and paying for the bus transportation. In one semester, 3rd and 5th grade classrooms/teachers/students will experience: Introduction to the Teaching Team (facilitated by the pre-service teacher) Introduction of ISS / Science Probe (30 min assessment in the classroom on the topic led by pre-service teacher) Pre-Field Trip Outreach Science Lesson (1 hour in classroom led by pre-service teacher) ECHO Field Trip (3.5 hours at ECHO 9:45am - 1:15pm) led by ECHO Educators and supported by classroom teachers, chaperones and pre-service teachers Post-Field Trip Outreach Science Lesson (1 hour in classroom led by pre-service teacher) Student Practical Science Assessment (Optional - led by ECHO Consultant) Evaluations by Participating Teachers and Pre-Service Teachers (online)

What Can the Pre-Service Teachers Expect to Gain from ISS?

Pre-service teachers focusing on Elementary Education are strongly encouraged to take part in the ISS program. The primary opportunities include:

• Training to lead classroom science lessons in both content and delivery methods
• Exposure to the design and delivery of science assessments
• Training to assist in the facilitation of ECHO school field trips
• Training as an ECHO Education Interpreter to engage visitors through hands-on science activities, demonstrations and exhibit interpretation
• Creation of lesson plans that support classroom science learning
• Opportunities participate in science professional development sessions with practicing elementary teachers

For more information please contact Molly Loomis, ECHO's Director of Education, at mloomis@echovermont.org or 802.864.1848 ext. 110.

Saint Michael’s College students interested in registering for the ISS Practicum should
contact Karen Donovan at kdonovan@smcvt.edu or visit http://academics.smcvt.edu/twhiteford/Practicum/Practicum.htm

Champlain College Students should contact Colin Ducolon cducolon@champlain.edu

University of Vermont Students should contact Leon Walls at lwalls@uvm.edu