bringing the tropical forest to the urban classroom

Expanding K-16 LACS Programming to STEM and Beyond

LASAJune 1, 2013

Washington, DC

Bringing the Tropical Forest to the Urban Classroom

Julie KlineCenter for Latin American & Caribbean Studies

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Research Experience for Teachers (RET)

Funding by the National Science FoundationSummers 2010-2013

Project Director: Stefan Schnitzer (Professor of Biological Sciences, UW-Milwaukee)

Teacher Lead: Sarah Oszuscik(5th grade, La Escuela Fratney)

Project support: CLACS

Photo credit: Christian ZieglerBarro Colorado Island, Panama

•RET Panama

•Opportunity for selected K-12 teachers to live and study in a 1,560 hectares tropical forest

•Approximately 3-4 week experience

•Interaction with scientists from around the world

•Participation in research activities

•Access to Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) libraries and resources

•Collaboration to develop tropical ecology curriculum units

Open to teachers in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS)

Nine MPS teachers will have participated between 2010-2013

La Escuela Fratney (Sarah Oszuscik, Dana Thome): K4-5, dual language

Greenfield School (Veronica Ocampo): K4-8, bilingual

Mitchell Integrated Arts School (Angela Rich): K4-8, bilingual

Roosevelt Creative Arts Middle School (Marcel Piatek, Sara Wroblewski): 6-8

Rufus King Middle Years (Sue Browne): 6-8

Tippecanoe School for the Arts and Humanities (Sara Feider): K4-8

Vieau School (Armando Dominguez): K4-8, bilingual

MPS School Student Diversity

Latino/African-American

Limited English Proficient

Eligible for Free or Reduced-Cost Lunch

Fratney 59%/22% 28% 80%

Greenfield 92%/3% 40% 94%

Mitchell 77%/13% 35% 95%

Tippecanoe 28%/14% 2% 40%

Roosevelt 2% /90% 0% 76%

Rufus King 6%/69% 0% 50%

Vieau 95%/2% 55% 94%

Source: greatschools.org

Meet the Smithsonian Scientist Stefan Schnitzer

•Website

•Classroom activities / supplemental materials•Photos•Video•Teacher blogs

•Conference presentations

•Teacher workshops

•Public programs

Website

Photos

A Walk on BCIA Walk on BCI

Brief video clips with scientists

Mariah Hopkins: What questions are you trying to answer with your research?

Lilián Alba (Colombia): full interview

Beck Wehrle: What observations are you making in the field?

Brian Sedio: What tools do you use in your research?

Navasha Singh: Why Science?

Teacher Blogs

Classroom Activities

Conference Presentations

National Science Teachers AssociationIndianapolis

March 2012

Presenter(s): Sarah Oszuscik and Dana Thome (La Escuela Fratney)

Workshops

Tropical ecology nature photographerChristian Ziegler

Regularly featured in National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine,

and Ranger Rick

October 1, 2013

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

http://www.naturphoto.de/

Public Programs

Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

Photo credit: Christian Ziegler

LACS Outreach and STEM

•Reach to new subject areas

•Unique research experience for selected teachers

•Professional development support of educators teaching under-represented populations

•Opportunity to align with university campus STEM initiatives

•Access to STEM funding for future projects

NSF Research Experience for Teachers NetworkNSF Research Experience for Teachers Network

NSF RET Grant InformationNSF RET Grant Information

Bringing the Tropical Forest to the Urban Classroom

RET Panama

Center for Latin American & Caribbean StudiesUW-Milwaukee

Julie Klinejkline@uwm.edu

www.tropicalecology.uwm.edu