School Partnerships

Early Elementary Science Partnership (E2SP)
The Field Museum, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago Children’s Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, CPS Office of Science and Northwestern University have partnered to develop the Early Elementary Science Partnership (E2SP), a new school-based professional development program focused on improving K-3rd grade teachers’ ability to effectively engage their students in learning science. As the program evaluator, the Center for Elementary Mathematics and Science Education (CEMSE) from the University of Chicago. Together, we will collaborate to provide E2SP teachers with:

• Professional development at partnering institutions that enriches the Chicago Math and Science Initiative (CMSI) endorsed science curricula for K-3 teachers.
• University-based coursework in science content, pedagogy, and inquiry-based methods for Teacher Leaders.
• Teacher collaboration in vertical (K-3) and horizontal (grade-alike) teams.
• Focused field trips for participating E2SP schools at partnering informal science learning institutions.

In 2009, E2SP began working with 10 schools from CPS Areas 7 and 9 to implement an intensive two-year program consisting of 76 hours of professional development. This initial work will impact an estimated 100 teachers and 3,000 students. Each school identified a Teacher Leader who commits to taking an additional 180 hours of Northwestern University course work, earning a Northwestern certificate in early elementary science education and leading towards an ISBE Teacher Leader Endorsement and/or masters degree in advanced teaching. E2SP also works with school principals to ensure the success and sustainability of science reform in the schools.

In launching E2SP, we aim to:

• Improve elementary teachers’ science content knowledge, understanding of science, understanding of and ability to teach science through inquiry.
• Improve elementary students’ science content knowledge, understanding of science, and ability to do science through inquiry.
• Strengthen elementary teachers’ ability to use museums and other informal learning resources to teach science.
• Build capacity of teacher leaders to create a learning community of early elementary educators.
• Pilot collaborative partnership between school district, school communities, university, and informal learning institutions to improve teaching and learning.

Questions? Email educators@fieldmuseum.org

The Early Elementary Science Partnership is generously supported by the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust, the Polk Bros. Foundation, and Motorola Foundation.