Development of Hands-On Science Modules for Middle Schools

Matching the expertise of the CSEM faculty with curriculum needs in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), the Center is developing Hands-On Science Modules that address two targeted areas in the middle-school curriculum: chemistry and optics. The teams that design, construct, and test each 9-week instructional module consist of two CSEM professors, two PUSD teachers, two CSEM graduate/post-doctoral scientists, and one curriculum specialist from the Caltech Precollege Science Initiative (CAPSI). These modules will not only reach the PUSD students (80% under-represented minorities), but also be disseminated throughout California.