What is
RE-SEED?
RE-SEED is a Northeastern University program that prepares
retired volunteers with science and engineering backgrounds to assist middle
school science teachers with activity-based teaching. The program which
started in 1991 with six participants, has now trained over 230 volunteers in
five New England states and is continuing to grow rapidly.
The Training
Before being placed in a school, each retired volunteer goes
through a free comprehensive training program, consisting of twelve full-day
workshop sessions. In these sessions, the volunteers learn how to use
many hands-on activities to effectively engage middle school students and
facilitate their understanding of the basic concepts and principles of
physical science. Each RE-SEED participant also receives a free kit of
science materials and a sourcebook with over 200 inexpensive activities that
are appropriate for middle school students.
NEED AND IMPACT
RE-SEED volunteers possess talent and expertise that
complement those of science teachers. They bring with them a wealth of
knowledge and experience that allows them to make science interesting and
relevant to everyday situations. RE-SEED volunteers work closely with
the host science teachers to develop and conduct appropriate hands-on
activities that enhance their science curricula.
HOW TO BE A VOLUNTEER
For a RE-SEED application form and a schedule for training
programs in our area, please contact RE-SEED/Northeastern. Upon
completion of your training you will be placed in a school in a district of
your choice.
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE
RE-SEED is sponsored by Northeastern University and has been
supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the Noyce Foundation
and contributions from participating schools and local businesses. Local
businesses sponsor volunteers in particular schools and districts. To
learn more about sponsorship program, please contact RE-SEED/Northeastern, 716
Columbus Avenue, Suite 378, Boston, MA 02120 (671) 373-8388.
Meet Saint Michael's RE-SEED Volunteer
Mr. William Anderson
Saint Michael School is proud and honored to
have Mr. Anderson as part of our school family. We affectionately call
Mr. Anderson, our Science Guy. But here are a few more facts that you
may not have known.
Mr. Anderson, a proud husband, father and
grandfather, lives in nearby Burlington. He was a student at Reading
High School. He graduated from Northeastern University with a Master's
Degree and later a Ph.D in electronic engineering. In his career he
designed "advanced photo-optical and electro-optical camera systems for
use on airplanes and on spacecraft."
Mr. Anderson served in the United States Navy
and served his country for four years from 1948 through 1952. As a crew
member of the famous U.S.S. Salem, the nation's largest heavy battle cruiser,
he worked as a radar operator during the Korean Conflict and today is a
week-end tour guide for his former ship which is docked in Quincy, as part of
the United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum there.
In 1992, Mr. Anderson became an active member of Project
RE-SEED. This organization operated by Northeaster University and
sponsored by the National Science Foundation, is a volunteer program of retired
scientists and engineers who use their knowledge and experience to help teach
physical science in middle school classrooms. Now Mr. Anderson
"speaks the language of math and science to middle school
children." The RE-SEED approach to teaching relies heavily on
hands-on experiments which proves very successful with school children.
Mr. Anderson currently works with approximately 1,500 students in five schools
in the Merrimack
Valley. Mr. Anderson works in collaboration with the Quincy Public
School, bringing students on-board the U.S.S. Salem for instruction.
Talk about sharing your time, talent and treasure!!!
At Saint Michael School, we are excited that Mr. Anderson has agreed to
expand his program to include our 4th and 5th graders. Parents, friends
and visitors are invited to visit during any of Mr. Anderson's
demonstrations. Be prepared to be in awe and excited about
science. Check out our upcoming topics:
Simple Machines
This topic introduces the
principles of simple machines. Learn how you can lift heavy objects with a
minimum of energy. There will be lots of hands-on demonstrations involving every
student - who knows you might even be lifted off the ground with this
demonstration..
Density
Students will be asked to
identify the composition of a number of substances and comparing the numerical
ratio to a scale of Densities to identify the object. Specific Gravity will be introduced as an alternative means
of determining Density when the ability to measure the volume of the object
becomes mathematically difficult. Archimedes
Principle will be explored via the Golden Crown Experiment.
Buoyancy will be introduced and demonstrations will be conducted showing
the relationship between Buoyancy and Density.
Electro-Magnetic
This topic introduces the
theories of Magnetism, Static Electricity and Electricity.
Each one of these topics will be investigated thoroughly and similarities
between them will be identified and explored.
There will be lots of hands-on demonstrations involving every student.
Newton’s Laws of Motion
The subject of motion has
been studied by some of the greatest scientists and philosophers for over 25
centuries, and for most of that time they had it wrong.
Not only did they have it wrong, but as Galileo said about Aristotle, the
truth was often the exact opposite of what he thought to be the case.
It can be said, therefore, with some confidence, that the laws of motion
are not obvious. Students will be
using experimentation, imagination and discussion to learn more about the Laws
of Motion.
Pressure
The many amusing and
instructive demonstrations of pressure will be supplemented with problem-solving
exercises in order to effect the transition from concrete to formal thinking.
The major areas of investigation will be Air Pressure, Liquid Pressure,
and Atmospheric Pressure.
Space
The scientific revolution
began with the realization that the Earth is just another Planet in orbit around
the Sun. Although nothing can be
less obvious, satellite photography have made all the planets, including earth
familiar to everyone. We will study
the sun and understand how important it is to all forms of life including the
life and earth of the star and the origin of black holes. We will review our concepts of the Universe from the days of
Erastothemes to Stephan Hawkings. We
will review the concepts of the two greatest forces in the universe, that of
gravity and momentum.
Science of Bubbles
This lecture and hands-on
demonstration will explore surface tension, soap as a lubricant, and seeing just
how big we can expand the skin of the bubble. This is a fun exercise in physics.
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is the study
of air as it moves around objects. The air may flow around a motionless
object, such as wind blowing around a house. Or the object may move
through air, such as an airplane. The important condition in aerodynamics
is motion between the air and the object. Scientists use the principle
aerodynamics chiefly in designing airplanes. But the flight of birds
demonstrated the principles of aerodynamics long before man learned to
fly. We will investigate the principles of flight from Leonardo De Vinci
to Bernoulli's principle of lift.
"Before the 6th
grade went down to see you, I had some doubt. I really dislike Science. After
you were done, I was in shock and began to enjoy Science by the minute. For
the whole week, I told everyone, everything I knew about magnetism. Thanks to
you I am now enjoying Science and getting better grades. Please come again
soon! My whole class loves you!" ---a 6th grade student
"Mr. Anderson gives an intriguing presentation. He really knows how to
explain science concepts with hands-on activities and stories that the kids
relate to. I hope he'll keep coming back." -- Mrs. Krebs
(4th grade teacher)
"My home-room students were very excited to have Mr. Anderson back at St.
Michael's. They made it a point to get to his class first for the good seats
and hoped he would call on them to be a demonstrator. I was pleased to see the
students make the connection with science and math so easily. Mr. Anderson's
real life stories show what a genuinely nice man he is - using his knowledge
of science to help people solve science problems. " -- Mrs. Gill
(7th grade teacher)
