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Sweet Briar College

Summer 2008 Courses

Find the Summer 2008 brochure here: Word or PDF.

This summer, we are offering:

Science and Math Courses (June 23 - July 2), 3-day, 1-credit graduate courses ;
Inquiry Methods in Math and Science (August 8 - 9), a 2-day introduction to Inquiry that starts the year-long, 3-credit graduate course, EDUC 656;
and the first of our Fall 2008 Academic Year Program workshops, Simple Machines (August 23).

All Virginia certified grade 3-8 teachers are eligible. Participants will 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

Science and Math Courses, June 23 - July 2
Teacher-participants in these one-credit, three-day summer courses will engage in in-depth exploration of scientific concepts, linked to a broad range of SOLs in grades 3 - 8. They will conduct experiments and interpret and present the data they collect, gaining a deeper understanding of science and math while learning activities that they can transfer directly to their classrooms. Participants will be expected to complete online pre- and post-tests and nightly homework assignments. Class will run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day for three days, with a one-hour break each day for lunch.

Enrollment is limited to 16. Participants in the three-day courses will receive 1 graduate credit and a stipend of $180 per course completed.

June 23-25, Art and Science
CHEM 500-level, "Chemistry by Inquiry: Art and Science"
1 graduate credit in Chemistry
Learn to teach science through art! We will investigate topics in physics and chemistry as applied to visual art, including light and color, solutions/solubility, and the chemistry of pigments, paints, dyes, and inks. Hands-on activities include making and using a shoebox spectroscope, synthesizing a pigment, mixing paint, painting a fresco and a "cave painting", and using chemical tests to separate and identify substances. Case studies will illustrate how chemistry can help solve mysteries in art.
Priority will be given to two-person teams that include an art teacher and a science teacher from the same school.
Instructors: Ruth Beeston and Jill Granger
SOL Science: 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.4, 5.1, 5.4, 6.1, 6.4, PS.1, PS.2, PS.9;
SOL Visual Art : 3.4, 3.12, 4.3, 4.4, 4.11, 5.2, 5.7, 5.16, 5.17, 5.19, 6.1, 6.11, 7.1, 7.15

June 23-25, Organisms
BIO 500-level, "Science by Inquiry: Organisms"
1 graduate credit in Biology
There are billions of organisms on our planet Earth, all interacting with and affecting one another and their environment.  We will explore the topic of organisms using hands-on and inquiry-based activities on classification, behavioral and physical adaptations, and food webs.  We will explore both the impacts of organisms on their environment and how organisms adapt to their surroundings.  Functions of the human body and population dynamics will also be discussed. 
Instructors: Robin Davies, Donna McLaughlin, and John Morrissey
SOL Science: 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.5, 5.1, 5.5, LS.1, LS.5, LS.8, LS.9, LS.10

June 26-28, Force, Motion, Energy
PHYS 500-level, "Physical Science by Inquiry: Using Math to Explore Force, Motion, and Energy"
1 graduate credit in Physics
By doing a variety of hands-on experiments with a small single-person hovercraft, hot wheels cars and tracks, and remote control cars (all available for teachers to borrow during the academic year) teachers will investigate topics in force, motion, and energy.  Participants will gain an increased understanding of the concepts of position, speed, acceleration, force, kinetic energy, potential energy and friction.  Emphasis will be placed on the mathematical skills necessary for data analysis and the applications of these skills to scientific investigations.
Instructors: Hank Yochum and Marcia Yochum
SOL Science: 4.1, 4.2, 6.1, 6.2, PS.1, PS.6, PS.10
SOL Math: 3.21, 3.22, 4.20, 5.18

June 26-28, Water
CHEM 500-level, "Science by Inquiry: Water"
1 graduate credit in Chemistry
The science of water soaks through the grade 3-8 curriculum in many and surprising ways.  This course will take a close look at our most valuable natural resource and what makes the little H2O molecule so special. Hands-on and inquiry based activities will be used to explore the properties of water and its role in living systems.  Methods of water analysis will practiced as applicable for real-world investigations that can be accomplished in the classroom using a simple hand-held device to collect data.  Connections to math will be made as the data is analyzed to answer student questions.
Instructors: Robin Davies, Rob Granger, and Abraham Yousef
SOL Science: 3.1, 3.9, 6.1, 6.5, 6.7, 6.9, LS.1, LS.4, LS.7, PS.1, PS.2

June 30-July 2, Light and Energy
PHYS 500-level, "Physical Science by Inquiry: Light and Energy"
1 graduate credit in Physics
This course will approach the fundamentals of light and energy through class discussions and hands-on investigations appropriate for the middle grades.  Topics will include the electromagnetic spectrum, behavior of light (basic optics), origins of color, and interactions of light and matter.  Teachers will learn to use simple equipment, including the spectrophotometer, that will be available for classroom use during the academic year.
Instructors: Hank Yochum and Jill Granger
SOL Science: 5.1, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, LS.1, LS.4, LS.6, PS.1, PS.2, PS.5, PS.6, PS.9

June 30-July 2, Measurement
MATH 500-level, "Math by Inquiry: Measurement"
1 graduate credit in Math
This class will explore meaningful measurement in the classroom setting.  Teachers will learn to incorporate measurement activities into their daily classroom routines.  They will become familiar with several different tools and measuring devices, using both customary and metric units.  This work will connect fractions to measuring and deepen number concepts and number sense.  Formulas will be explored to be understood, and questioning techniques will be modeled and practiced.
Instructors: Beth Williams and Gigi Sweeney
SOL Mathematics: 3.5, 3.14, 4.2, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 5.11, 6.9, 6.10

Inquiry Methods in Math and Science
August 8 - 9
(pending funding)
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
(pending funding)
Our first academic year Saturday workshop is scheduled for August 23! Participants will conduct experiments with simple machines linked to math and science SOLs in grades 3-8 and interpret and present the data they collect. Class will run from 9:00am to 4:00pm, 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.

August 23, Simple Machines
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