Methods of Teaching Science Using Water Quality Studies

Presented by Robert J. Connick Jr.

B.S. in Biology and Chemistry; M.S. in Earth, Space and Environmental Science

Veteran Biology (all levels), Chemistry (Regents and Honors) and AP Environmental Science

Mahopac High School, Mahopac, N.Y.,

GLOBE Certified with over 30 years teaching experience

Target Audience: Living Environment, Environmental Science and Chemistry Teachers

This program is designed to assist instructors in developing lessons that can be taught to their students that involves the use of scientific inquiry using local flora and fauna. Educators will be lead through a variety of activities that will help them to develop a better understanding of how they can use local ecosystems to enhance their curriculum. Data that is generated by the teachers will be organized in such a way that it will be able available for them to analyze and manage during the upcoming year.

The following goals/outcomes of the course will be:

	Access various resources to learn about watersheds, aquatic biodiversity, and data analysis
	Develop coordination and standardization between the groups involved with monitoring water quality
	Encourage teachers to compare and use the information they collect
	Improve ability to gather and organize the data
	Gain experience in the use of water quality testing kits
	Use pH, dissolved oxygen and SCT meters to collect and generate water quality information
	Collect, identify and organize macro invertebrates
	Improve the ability of teachers to generate data that can be used by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and local communities for management purposes
	Identify local resources, such as Tea town Lake Reservation and the Saw Mill River Audubon Society, that can be used in helping develop lesson plans for the Living Environment curriculum and or chemistry curriculum
	Learn how to use research to promote responsible land-use decisions, protect water quality, and preserve the environment
	Learn the New York State Water Quality Standards
	Develop ways to integrate existing programs such as “Leaf Pack” and “Trout in the Classroom” into your classroom
	The program will include a tour of the Westchester County Environmental Laboratory Facilities

A physical habitat assessment survey will also be done using aerial photographs and soils maps as well as physically walking and observing the stream in front of Mahopac High School. Tree identification will be performed using a dichotomous key. When the above assessments have been completed suggestions for the preservation and/or restoration of the water body will be provided for the teacher and the results input into the Hudson Basin River Watch and the Leaf Pack Network Website.

The teachers will then be shown how these techniques can be used to get across the “Key Ideas” and how to assess students using the “Performance Indicators” found in the NY State Living Environment Curriculum. Copies of questions from past Regents exams will be distributed and a discussion of how to develop lesson plans to implement these acquired techniques into the classroom will take place. Suggestions for how to develop labs and where to get supplies and funding will also be given.

Teachers will be familiarized with state of the art programs that will allow them to expand the interest generated in their classroom to the surrounding communities. Programs that will be examined are GLOBE, Leaf Pack, Carey Institute of Ecosystem Studies: Changing the Hudson Project, Columbia University/DEC Snapshot Day, and Trout in the Classroom. Teacher will also be shown how a compromised wetland was turned into an outdoor classroom.

As project manager of the Genesis Project, I will show you how MCSD has generated over $150,000 in grant money and in-kind services to help restore the aquatic ecosystem in front of the high school into an outdoor classroom. It is presently being used by multiple science classrooms as well as other disciplines to expand the interest of topics being taught by using hands-on experiences with the students. Time for teachers to use what they have learned to develop their own lesson with the assistance of the instructor will be provided. Handouts for the activities will also be available for the teachers to use and modify as they see fit.

For those teachers who are interested in creating new and exciting ways for getting their students to become involved with the scientific process while enjoying some quality time with other interested educators.

Date: June 28th- July 1st, 2010

Time : 8:00 AM-3:30 PM

Cost: $595.00 Use online registration below

Place: Room 244, Science Wing, Mahopac High School, Mahopac, NY

Sponsored by : PWISTA.COM

Credit : A 30-hour certificate toward in-service credit will be issued for use according to your school district’s policy.

Manhattanville College - Three Graduate Science Education Credits available upon completion of Project at an additional cost.

SUNY Purchase -Two Undergraduate Biology Credits available upon completion of project at an additional cost .

For college credit information link:

Directions to Mahopac HS

Local Housing Accommodations ( approximately 20 to 30 minutes from HS)

Peekskill Inn

Hilton Garden Inn, Danbury, Conn.

Hilton Garden Inn, Fishkill, NY

Hampton Inn, Fishkill, NY

Local Housing Accommodations ( approximately 5 minutes from Mahopac HS)

Budget Motor Inn, 215 Route 6, Mahopac, NY 10541 845-628-6991

Payment instructions will be communicated upon completion of online registration.

Use online registration form below:

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