Math & Science Graduate Fellows in K-12 Education

Fellow: Brian Kram, M.S. graduate fellow in Biology
Teacher: Leslie Bucar, Fond du Lac Ojibwe School, 7-12 grade Life Science

Our main tangible accomplishments include: designing a wild rice lab, developing a maple sap science curriculum, and creating a protein bioinformatics lab.  Lesson plans for each of these activities are available by following the links below.

In addition to my work in the Fond du Lac science classroom, I joined Leslie as an instructor at fall and winter sessions of Gidakiimanaaniwigamig Environmental Science and Math Camp.  Here we taught lessons to 5-12 grade students, on topics ranging from watersheds and the water cycle, to snowshoeing and snowflake structure; all of these lessons were designed to incorporate various aspects of Ojibwe culture.

Leslie and I were given the privilege of representing the University of Minnesota Duluth at the annual NSF GK-12 National Conference in Washington, D.C. at the end of February 2008.  At this conference we discussed our GK-12 project at UMD and shared ideas with other project participants from around the country.  Workshops at the conference helped to promote lesson sharing and networking.

My participation in the NSF GK-12 program has given me a better understanding and appreciation of the job done by secondary school educators.  I have gained skill communicating science knowledge to diverse audiences and feel better prepared to represent science in a way that makes it relevant and meaningful to the general public. By sharing my enthusiasm for science, and desiring to make science-learning enjoyable for all, I aspired to improve the science education experience for Fond du Lac students..

Teams in Action

1. 2. 3.

Curriculum