Equitable Resources Funds "Math for High School in Algebra, Geometry and Basic Trigonometry"

On January 17, 2007, 40 teachers representing 23 school districts in western Pennsylvania participated in a professional development workshop that focused on integrating K’NEX Education manipulatives for hands-on lessons in high school mathematics.  Using the manipulatives, teachers developed a better understanding of the concepts behind mathematical theorems, definitions, rules and proofs.  In addition, teachers learned how to use K’Nex Education manipulatives as a diagnostic tool for performance assessment and as an instructional tool that supports PA Assessment Anchors and PA Academic Standards for Mathematics.

Funding from Equitable Resources provided all participants with K’NEX math manipulatives and materials to implement the lessons in their classrooms. 

Global Earth Day 2007: Climate Change—Solutions Campaign

Learning to understand the human impact on Earth’s system and the importance of systems within a system highlighted the 2007 celebration of Earth Day activities conducted in collaboration with Cook Forest State Park, Cooksburg, Pennsylvania on April 25, 2007. 

Although it was pouring rain,131 students from grades 6 - 12 and 16 teachers attended the event where they circulated through  learning stations of hands-on education activities from constructing a model wind energy turbine to learning to “leave no trace”.  Teams of 10 students with their teachers participated in hourly and two hour hands-on science activities through the designated earth systems learning areas led by science educators and environmental agency experts in their respective fields of study.

Learning Stations Topics included:

• Old Growth Eco-systems
• Acid Mine Drainage
• Reptiles/Amphibians
• Macroinvertebrates Identification
• Too Hot Not to Handle
• Build a Wind Energy Turbine
• Alternative Energy & Mining
• Groundwater Mpdel
• Leave No Trace
• Fortunes in Forest of the Future
• Environmental Coffeehouse
• Invasive Species of PA Forests
• Soil Conservation

Clarion River History

Clarion River History Workshop for teachers emphasizes integrating science and social studies disciplines. Looking for the remains of the logging and railroad era, role playing a French and Indian War battle, comparing and identifying vegetation, using the tools of early lumbermen and comparing with today’s tools all help participants to gain insight into how local history can be incorporated into the classroom in both social studies and science.

In addition to hands-on activities participants receive copies of “True Tales of the Clarion River”, “Dinkies, Dams and Sawdust”, Book #12 of the series Logging Railroad Era of Lumbering in PA.

August 9 & 10, 2007, seventeen teachers participated in the workshop held at Cook Forest State Park.

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