Project Team

Iron mailbox ornament in stone wall country near Brookfield, MA.

The project team consisted of

• faculty members at the Univeristy of Connecticut
• master teachers in the Mansfield School System
• graduate students in the school of education at UConn
• external consultants for evaluating the validity of the results.

INVESTIGATORS

Robert M. Thorson - Professor of Geology, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Department of Anthropology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Connecticut. (Principal Investigator). His current research interests are in historic impacts to landscapes. Professor Thorson coordinates the Stone Wall Initiative.

David M. Moss - Associate Professor of Curriciulum & Instruction, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut (Co-Principal Investigator). His current research interests aare in tandards-based science education reform and teacher education.

Wendy J. Glenn - Assistant Professor of Curriculum & Instruction, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut (Co-Principal Investigator). Her current research interests are in the areas of integrated curriculum, childrens literature, young adult literature, and teacher preparation.

LEAD TEACHERS

Nancy Titchen, Enrichment Coordinator, Dorothy C. Godwin Elementary School, Mansfield, Connecticut. Contact MMS

Dana Gnesdilow, Ph.D., Science and Reading Teacher, Mansfield Middle School, Mansfield, Connecticut.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTS

Thomas Swale, M.Ed. - Co-author of lesson plans. Currently a teacher in the West Hartford School System.

Elizabeth Reemsnyder, M.Ed - Co-author of lesson plans. Recent graduate (May, 2005) not yet places in a school.

EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS

Paul Bierman, Ph.D., Department of Geology, University of Vermont. Colleagaue external to the project, principally responsible for evaluating the validity of the science.

Douglass Kauffman, Ph.D. Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Connecticut. Colleague external to the project, principally responsible for evaluating the validity of the pedagogy.

INITIAL PLANNING PARTICIPANTS

In addition to the Principal Investigators (Thorson, Moss, Glenn) and Lead Teachers (Titchen, Genedsilow) , several other educators contributed their opinions and advice during a three day workshop. They were

Neil Christianson -- Education Director, Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge MA.

Richard Weyel - 3rd Grade Teacher, Goodwin Elementary School, Mansfield CT.

Shirley Reilly - 3rd Grade Teacher, Goodwin Elementary School, Mansfield, CT.