September 27, 2019, by admin

In September, we launched a new program, Science with Math (SWiM), a New York Life Foundation, Aim High grant funded program that connects exciting science experiences with relevant math exercises to improve math understandings for middle school students.  SSSC education staff are fortunate to work with Sitka School District teacher, Kate Mullin and retired teacher, Bobbi Jordan on this project. 

What does it look like in practice?   Well, our first unit is underway and this is what we have done so far!  On Monday, Sep 9, a cohort of 7^th graders swarmed into the egg take shed to help our hatchery staff measure fish.  With the direction of hatchery staff, Brian and Hailey, the students measured the length and height, and the weights of pink and chum, males and females.  They also learned to sample eggs to create a fecundity count for both pink and chum salmon. 

The very next week, those students gathered again but this time in Mrs. Mullin’s classroom where they participated in hands-on activities about statistical analysis strategies and worked with their data to begin calculating means and to use numbers to support observations and predictions.  They will provide that data back to the hatchery.  Each week, students will amplify their understandings about statistics by using fish measuring data in many different ways.  Science with math
is interesting and fun!