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Sweet Briar College

Fall 2008 Courses

Our Fall 2008 Brochure will be available soon. You can find the Summer 2008 brochure here: Word or PDF.

Inquiry Methods in Math and Science (August 8 - 9)
Teachers will work on understanding an Inquiry Approach to teaching and how to apply it to lessons that support Virginia SOL content objectives in math and science. The program will focus on fundamental aspects of investigation, such as variables, measurement, and data analysis, utilizing hands-on materials suitable for students. Teachers who enroll in the August workshop will initially be enrolled in a 3-credit graduate level course in Education, EDUC 656, “Inquiry Methods in Math and Science,” a course that continues through the academic year and finishes in Spring 2009.

Teachers who complete the course will get 3 graduate credits in Education, a $480 stipend for completion of the 3-credit course, and materials and supplies for hands-on science in the classroom. Teachers who cannot complete the course will get continuing education credits (that can be translated into recertification points) based on number of instructional hours completed.  Each day of the program will be 6 instructional hours.

Academic Year Program
Our academic year Saturday workshops run from 9:00am to 3:00pm, with a 1-hour break for lunch. Participants will get 5 continuing education hours that may be translated into recertification points and a stipend of $60. E-mail jgriffith@sbc.edu to register.

Simple Machines (August 23)
Starting with a variety of different simple machines, we will explore how they work and why they’re useful. Next, we will build machines using LEGOS and study their effectiveness through data analysis and observation. Your challenge will be to design and build your own simple machine. This is a great way to practice problem solving with math and science through direct application.
Instructor: Dorsa Sanadgol
SOL Science: 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, PS.1, PS.10

Exploring Plants in Your Science Curriculum (September 13)
In this workshop, we will explore the use of plants as models for scientific techniques and biological principles. We’ll talk about how to design experiments and what to do with the data,  and we’ll use plants as subjects for various types of measurement. We’ll also discuss plant development, and plants appropriate for year-round study in the classroom.  
Instructor: Janet Steven
SOL Science: 3.1, 4.1, 4.4, 5.1, 6.1, LS.1, LS.3b, LS4.a,c

Fractions, Decimals and Percents (September 20)
In this one day workshop, participants will explore fractions, decimals, and percent connections using multiple representations. Participants will solve problems involving rational numbers using reasoning alone, and then connect and explain the reasoning that underlies those procedures.
Instructor: Beth Williams
SOL Math: 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.9, 5.1, 5.2, 5.4, 6.1, 6.4, 6.6, 7.1, 8.1

Plant-Animal Interactions (September 27)
In all seasons, central Virginia is a wonderful place to observe interesting interactions between plants and animals. Pollination, herbivory, fruit production and seed dispersal are worthy of exploration in their own right. They also offer opportunities to teach many concepts in ecology, evolution, plant biology and animal behavior; to collect and analyze all sorts of measurements; and to design and conduct experiments. We will spend most of the workshop indoors but, weather permitting, we will also make field observations close to the science building. Please wear long pants, socks and comfortable walking shoes.
Instructor: Linda Fink
SOL Science: 3.1, 3.5, 3.8, 3.10, 4.1, 4.4, 4.5, LS.1, LS.7, LS.9, LS.12

We're All Downstream (October 4)
Hands-on, field-tested, SOL-correlated lessons will help make "watershed" a more concrete and comprehensible concept. Using indoor and outdoor settings, this workshop will showcase activities that help students become more accurate observers of watershed phenomena, better understand visible signs and probably consequences of human impact on watersheds, and recognize the importance of natural resource conservation.
SOL Science: 3.1, 3.10, 4.1, 4.8, 5.1, 5.7, 6.1, 6.5, 6.7, 6.9

Earth Patterns, Cycles and Changes: What Causes the Seasons? (November 8)
Participants will do hands-on experiments that lead to an understanding of why there are seasonal changes on the earth.
SOL Science: 3.1, 3.8, 4.1, 4.7, 6.1, 6.8

All Virginia certified grade 3-8 teachers are eligible for our courses. Participants get:
• graduate credit or continuing education hours
• supplies and materials for hands-on science in the classroom
• free lunch each day in the Sweet Briar College cafeteria
• free tuition plus a stipend of $60/day
• continuing support and in-class assistance from the Instructional Support Specialist in implementing inquiry-based instruction in the classroom