Terry Sapp Osprey Clan
Sixth- and Seventh-Grade Math
tfsapp@seattleschools.org
Osprey Clan Syllabus
Pathfinder seventh-graders will participate
in expeditionary learning, an integrated, thematic approach to teaching
and learning that lies at the heart of the Pathfinder program.
A Big Idea, Guiding Questions, student
interests, and learning goals direct expeditionary learning. Expeditionary
learning is intended to be interdisciplinary and to provide for differences
in student learning styles, individual expression, creativity in both
teaching and learning, and self-discovery in the construction of knowledge.
The Big Idea in the Climate expedition
is:
- How do people and other animals
and plants respond to climate change?
Guiding Questions may be developed by
teachers, students, and family participants, but may include:
- What is climate and how do
we know?
- How has climate shaped how
we (and other things alive) live?
- Is the climate changing?
- What kinds of forces cause
large scale changes in the world?
- What can we do about changes
in our social and physical environment?
- What decisions do we each
wish to make about change?
Expeditions include authentic fieldwork.
Fieldwork will often require adult family support for transportation
and chaperone assistance.
Expeditionary Learning embraces ten central
principles:
- Discovery and self-discovery
- Wonderful ideas borne of curiosity
- Responsibility for learning
- Intimacy and caring
- Success and failure
- Collaboration and competition
- Diversity and inclusivity
- Stewardship in the natural
world
- Solitude and reflection
- Service and compassion
Pathfinder has embraced four features
of the learning wheel into its expeditions: learning, growing, becoming,
and sharing.
The Climate expedition will thread through
the four core classes throughout the year – social studies, language
arts, math, and science. Because the expedition will take place
within other classes, it will not be graded. However, work on
expedition may be considered part of the requirements of other classes
and may be graded as part of such class.
Expedition 7 will begin on Friday, September
7 with a trip to the Seattle waterfront where they will participate
in the “Salmon Homecoming” event organized by Seattle Public Utilities
and native tribes.
Students will prepare and present a science
project related to the Expedition at the Pathfinder Science fair in
January. Direction and support for the science project will take
place in science class.
Students will complete a study of their
interest by June and present the study in a speech supported by visual
aids.
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