MITS
Museum Institute for Teaching Science
2010 North Shore Region Summer Institute
The North Shore’s beauty and natural treasures are a special resource for residents and visitors; they also provide unique habitat for seasonal visitors such as the striped bass. Traveling from their spawning grounds as far south as Chesapeake Bay, stripers migrate north each spring. Why do they make this trek? Where do they spend their time once they get here? Uncover relationships between abiotic and biotic factors that impact stripers as well as other local populations of fish, plankton, and marine species. Examine the life cycles, food chains/webs and the habitats of Atlantic cod, halibut and haddock. Investigate why groundfish and the fishing industry are found in this region. Explore the New England fishing industry and how it has both adapted to and changed the fish populations in the region. Investigate how the introduction of a new species can impact the ecosystem balance. Learn simple methods for monitoring invasive species such as Asian shore crabs and purple loosestrife. Explore the mechanisms and cycles of phytoplankton growth and distribution. Is there a relationship between these cycles, global climate change, and recent increases in red tides and related harmful algal blooms in Massachusetts Bay coastal waters? Design and build models and experiments to demonstrate how the elements of larger systems such as sun earth and moon generate the tides, seasons and ocean currents and how in turn these influence many smaller systems. Each day you will engage in hands-on, minds-on inquiry-based science activities to take back to your classroom.
This workshop will meet the needs of upper elementary and middle school teachers. Open to high school teachers.
Click for Regional Flyer.
A PDF syllabus will be available soon.
Partners:
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- Mass Audubon Society Endicott Wildlife Sanctuary-lead
- Mass Audubon Society Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
- HOBBES Inc.
- Schooner Adventure
- Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center
Callback Dates:
Wednesday,
October 27th, 2010 and Wednesday, March 9th, 2011, 4:00 -6:00 p.m.
Graduate Credits Offered:
Participants of the North Shore Region Summer Institute have the option of receiving 4 graduate credits from either Cambridge College or from Salem State for an additional $200 or $280, respectively, if they complete all requirements. Payment for graduate credit is due before the first day of the Summer Institute and the check should be made payable to MITS, Inc.