Biology Outreach Program
About the Program
 |
 |
| Former outreach coordinator Linsey Arnold '06 looks on as the experiment progresses. photos by Orin Basshoff '04 |
Reed Biology Outreach is currently supported by a grant from the Rose Tucker Trust. The focus of the outreach program is to develop an inquiry-based science curriculum with Reed biology faculty and place Reed students into local Title I elementary schools. A Free and Reduced Lunch rate of 40% or more qualifies the school for Title I funding.
The objectives of the program are:
- To develop and present inquiry-based science units in elementary and school classrooms that will provide students with positive and engaging experiences with science.
- To provide Reed students an opportunity to engage students in the larger Portland Community and serve as role models to students.
- To supply classrooms with up-to-date science curriculum and equipment and provide teachers additional support.
We currently work with 15 classrooms at five schools in the Portland area: Lewis, Grout, Beach, Humboldt, and Lincoln Park Elementary
How the program works...
Biology outreach send teams of 2-4 Reed students into the same classroom once a week for eight hour-long lessons each semester. The Reedies strive to encourage students to explore concepts through hands-on, inquiry-based activities and to limit lecture-style teaching. Because of Biology Outreach's team approach, small group interactions are maximized and individual students receive personalized attention. Reed students form a bond with the students that they teach every week and many Reed students go out of their way to rearrange their class schedules so that they can work with the same students for multiple semesters.
We teach units on a wide variety of topics including ecology, genetics, microbiology, neurobiology, and many more. The program works with Reed faculty to develop curriculum that is up to date with the latest science and consults with teachers to create activities that are age-appropriate and meet Oregon state science standards. All the units place an emphasis on understanding science as a process. Check out examples of past curriculum...
If you would like the program to come to your classroom, contact Kristy Gonyer at gonyerk@reed.edu or 503-788-6625. (Our programs is currently at capacity for the 2011-12 school year. In the spring we will look into whether we can expand into new classrooms/schools for the next school year!)