UMaine Professor Using State’s Forests to Teach High School Students Science and Math
Contact: Aimee Dolloff, (207) 581-3777; William Livingston, (207) 581-2990
ORONO, Maine — A University of Maine professor is leading an effort to use Maine’s forests to help teach science and math to local high school students.
William Livingston, UMaine professor of forest resources, received a $77,352 one-year grant from the Maine Department of Education as part of the federal “No Child Left Behind” program. The funds will be used to provide professional development and new opportunities for teachers to utilize Maine’s forests as a teaching tool.
Livingston is the head of a partnership involving Edward Little High School in Auburn, Lewiston High School, Lewiston Regional Technical Center, Maine Tree Foundation, and Acadia Partners for Science and Learning.
“Maine’s forest is an integral part of our state’s economy and way of life,” Livingston said. “The complex nature of the forest system also provides many opportunities to study mathematics and science right outside the classroom. Our hope is to use the forest as a unifying theme that will help students better understand mathematics and science while at the same time seeing the connections between this knowledge and our everyday life.”
The teachers already have established study sites in the forests next to their schools, and potential uses include not only studying trees and wildlife ecology but also modeling randomness of tree size and location, using math to calculate slope and erosion rates, and using tree movement and falling to study the physical nature of motion. Another potential project would have high school math classes working with Technical Center students to estimate how many products could be made from a tree and then go through the process of actually making the products.
During the coming academic year, partnership teachers will be involved in Web-based discussions and attending conferences and workshops. The process is designed for teachers to set the priorities for their professional development activities.
Professional development and learning activities also will take advantage of the community groups and professionals who deal with the area’s forest resources.
The proposal for the grant, was written by Livingston with assistance from Shelly Mogel and Nancy Trembley of the Auburn School Department.
Other schools in the regions who are interested in joining the partnership should contact Dr. Livingston at 581-2990 or williaml@maine.edu.