7th Grade Natural Selection and Adaptation Field Trip Recently, the 7th grade class has been studying populations and ecosystems, with a special emphasis on evolution. One thing we did was to look at different dog breeds in order to understand both natural selection (survival of the fittest) and artificial selection (dogs bred for specific purposes, e.g. hunting, companionship, etc.). When looking at a St. Bernard, for instance, the kids had a good laugh when I asked them if this dog might have originated in Kenya (it's far too big, heavy, and furry!) To demonstrate artificial selection, they were shown Russian wolfhounds, which were bred from greyhounds to be fast but mixed with collies so that they didn't freeze to death in the Russian winters. In this way, natural and artificial selection went from an abstract concept to something palpable and easily understood. To continue in this vein, the 7th grade will take a trip to the National Zoo to look at animals and their adaptations to the environment. Ms. Ray-Hill, the social studies teacher, has been teaching the students about geography. Therefore, this will be a combined trip where students look not only at the geography of where the animals live but also at how that geography has shaped their specific traits. Why do tigers have stripes while leopards have spots? Why do Indian and African elephants look very different? Why do jellyfish sting? The students will make educated bases about several animals and present them in an academic paper. In this way, evolution becomes much more than a textbook chapter; it becomes an experience. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE FACULTY AT CITY COLLEGIATE, 2008 - 2009: ENHANCING THE LEARNING CULTURE TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING At City Collegiate this year we have taken a number of steps to focus on providing our students with the most empowering and supportive learning environment that we can offer. City Collegiate is a community of learners, and our faculty will deepen their understanding of how to work with the students in their care by taking part in an ambitious year-long professional development program. A series of nationally recognized experts in their fields have generously agreed to work with the faculty over the course of the year on a series of crucial educational concerns. Monya A. Ruffin PhD, Senior Research Analyst at the American Institute for Research, will work closely with our science teacher, Kristina Van Doren-Schulkin. Steve Leinwand, Principal Research Analyst at the American Institute for Research will work with our math teacher, Sean Mulcahy. Terry Salinger PhD has begun work with the whole faculty on the issue of literacy across the curriculum. Dr. Salinger is the managing director and Chief Scientist for Literacy Research at the American Institutes for Research. City Collegiate is going to participate in a pilot program with The Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement that is designed to help individual schools conduct a comprehensive review of their programs. The review process is based upon nationally recognized best practices. Our goal is simple: we want our school to offer our students an education that challenges them to ask those questions for which there are no easy answers, and to support them in this vital process. This pilot program will help us hold ourselves accountable and make sure that we are living our mission.