BUILD YOUR OWN STREAM TABLE: INTERPRETING CURRENT RESEARCH THROUGH CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

The National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics (NCED) is an NSF-funded Science and Technology Center based at the University of Minnesota. NCED is a multidisciplinary research institution whose research is primarily focused on the physical and ecological processes shaping rivers and river networks. NCED is actively working to support in-service teachers in getting current research into the classroom relating to primary areas of research by developing the Earth-Science Teacher/Researchers Exploring Active Modeling (ESTREAM) program.

Practicing K-12 teachers and research staff at NCED develop materials that promote greater understanding of “source to sink” processes of erosion, transport and deposition for the K-12 classroom. Participants in the ESTREAM summer program are compensated and are active participants in current Earth science research. Program participants develop virtual fieldtrips, quantitative analyses, and stream table activities and more for the K -12 classrooms. A website and educator workshops provide ongoing support to educators. This session will highlight some of the activities developed by ESTREAM teachers and give you a blueprint for your own stream table.