The most common form of mountain ranges, like the Rockies, are fold mountains. How are they made? Activity: Lay down a stack of towels, each one folded in half. If possible use towels of various colors. Put a box on either side of the towels. Push the boxes (continental plates) towards each other and observe […]
Tag: WashU
Stadium Wave
How does standing up in your seat and raising your arms turn into a stadium wave? Activity: The next time you are at the ballpark take notice of a few things about the stadium wave. You can try this with your hand. Lift one finger up at a time and put it down before you […]
Are All Leaves the Same?
Activity: Look for leaves on the way home. Notice, where they are – on a tree, a bush, a plant or maybe they are on the ground? Ask a parent if you can collect some, or take a picture on their phone. See how many different kinds of leaves you can find. Questions to ask: […]
St. Louis area educators attend leadership retreat at Washington University
It’s mid-June and while students are out on summer break, teachers never stop learning. Victorious arms shoot up in the air as towers of playing cards sway precariously on tables. This simple card activity is an example of how teachers can help students develop identities as STEM-capable learners. About 50 educators from school districts throughout […]
Never too late: MS in Biology program graduates first Texas cohort
Sara King was six years old when she started working in the fields. Born to migrant workers in Mexico that resettled in west Texas every summer – the pattern played out until she was 18. “It wasn’t easy,” recalls the now American citizen. “I would miss school. We would be out from May to September. […]
Sally Elgin: Lessons learned in a life of science
Nowadays Sally Elgin would probably be referred to as gifted or talented. But in the 1950s, a really smart girl was obnoxious or a nerd. “I come from a long line of nerds and it’s not always a good social position to be in,” explains Elgin, the Viktor Hamburger Professor of Arts & Sciences at […]
mySci program doubles in size 2 years in a row
Twelve years after its launch, the innovative mySci curriculum program developed by Washington University’s Institute for School Partnership (ISP) and local teacher leaders is seeing incredible growth, doubling in size two years in a row. This school year, St. Louis Public Schools will introduce mySci in all of its 45 elementary schools. The district joins 150 […]
Masters program nurtures nationwide network of biology teachers
Lauren Church joked it was going to be a photo finish. Her baby’s due date was May 15, and the recognition ceremony for her master’s in biology degree was May 16. The baby was born May 9 and seven days later Church walked across a stage at Washington University in St. Louis after earning a […]
ISP partners with foundation to support makerspace kits in classrooms
When packing for college, most students take bed sheets, maybe a shower caddy and a laptop. Josh Seidel packed a tool box – an obvious choice for an aspiring engineer. Also, a fortuitous decision as it immediately came in handy on his first day at the University of Missouri. “The first interaction I had with […]
K-12 Ambassador Spotlight: Aysswarya Manoharan
K-12 Connections is a partnership of the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, the Institute for School Partnership, and the Office of Government and Community Relations. It connects the Washington University community with volunteer opportunities involving high-needs urban school districts in the St. Louis area, primarily through classroom field trips to campus for enrichment experiences and exposure to college […]