SAMS

JEF is very excited about our latest project, the Science and Math Scholars program (SAMS). Funded by a $200,000 appropriation from NASA, SAMS is a new partnership between JEF and Lawn School to generate enthusiasm for math and science, improve student performance, and encourage students to pursue careers in these fields. The new SAMS curriculum will span sixth through eighth grade.

In the 6th grade, the curriculum will focus on Sustainable Living; newly updated units on ecosystems, endangered species, aquaculture, hydroponics, eggs and chicken-hatching are being implemented this year. Each unit includes new connections to real-world research at local universities, farms, and businesses.

For example, students will travel to Roger Williams University and to Matunuck Oyster Farm to explore these nationally-recognized aquaculture facilities and use them as models for their own aquaculture efforts in the classroom. Science teacher Deborah Barone has installed a brand new 300-gallon aquaculture tank that will enable her students to grow guppies, salmon and seahorses. The salmon will be released into Rhode Island streams helping native populations increase their numbers, the delicate seahorses will be maintained at the school and the guppies will populate student-made mini ecosystems. In addition, students will work closely with local meat, poultry and produce farmers, learning how their businesses fit into a sustainable living model.

When appropriate, experts in their fields will come in to the school to further enhance students’ understanding of what scientists are doing to explore sustainable living practices. New SmartBoards™ were installed in the sixth grade classrooms in December, giving students the technology necessary to maintain these connections, utilize interactive lessons and tap into the web for further research and exploration. “This takes children out of the classroom and into the real world,” explained Barone (to the Newport Daily News on 3/6/10), describing one of the goals of the SAMS program.

The 7th and 8th grades teachers are developing an updated curriculum focused on Renewable Energy. Starting with learning how electricity is generated, students will begin a new unit on magnets and motors. Science teacher Jim Kaczynski will have students take apart old motorized items – radios, hairdryers, whatever they have – in order to see how it uses energy. Grant money will be used to purchase solar car kits and small wind turbines, allowing students to learn about these alternative forms of using and producing electricity. National Grid, one of the SAMS partners, spoke to the science classes in March about electricity generation and usage to give students a real-world perspective on local energy consumption.

The school has a newly installed WeatherBug™ station gathering local data on top of the school roof. WeatherBug™ will become an integral part of the new weather curriculum as it feeds meteorological data such as wind speed, temperature, rainfall rate, barometric pressure and dew points into a classroom computer. Students will have the chance to be “weatherman for a day” as they check the daily data and report on the morning announcements.

SAMS students will also have the opportunity to design and develop their own SAMS website. A web master from Rhode Island School of Design will guide students through the process, resulting in a website they can update and maintain on their own. New digital cameras and computer equipment will enable students to document their SAMS excursions and research and aid in publishing their work.

Originally intended to be implemented at the start of the current ’09 – ’10 school year, SAMS’ funding and implementation was delayed until mid-year. However, since then, we have made good progress toward the roll out of the full program, expected to occur during the 2010-2011 school year. JEF and Lawn School are excited to see the full program develop.