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= ABSTRACT - Description of Program =

Thames River Connections (TRC), a successful, sixth-year interdistrict cooperative grant program, provides 375 middle school students from three neighboring districts (Bozrah, Montville, Norwich) a sustained, year-long program which uses science as a vehicle to increase student achievement and student engagement among minority and disadvantaged students. The program strives to promote positive interactions and understanding among diverse groups of students. “Connections” to and a respect for one another remain the focus throughout the program. Engaging academic enrichment and challenging integrated curricula emphasize the inter-relatedness and interdependence of all peoples and the environment. Throughout the project students are led to understand the importance of diversity, both in the natural world and in their own communities.

Partnerships are created among the four middle schools where students are paired for cooperative activities throughout the year to further promote the development of long-term relationships. These partner interactions include:


 * An introduction to oceanography aboard the Project Oceanology research vessel, a fully equipped, 55-foot research and classroom vessel for hands-on, on-the-water educational programming.
 * One teambuilding day for adventure-based experiential learning activities that promotes communication and cooperative problem solving skill development.
 * Two partner visits to each other’s schools where students participate in class meetings, reflect on their learning, and create collaborative projects related to their TRC experiences. Team-building and cultural awareness activities are infused in these partner visits.
 * A marine science “lab research day” where students engage in the study of marine environments and perform inquiry-based laboratory activities.
 * A geological field study of beach/rocky intertidal zones at Bluff Point.
 * A field study of local estuarine ecosystems and near-shore fish populations.
 * Site visits to community facilities such as: water treatment facility, wastewater treatment facility, fish lift, hydroelectric plant, and/or various mill sites related to the LIS watershed.
 * A culminating “Family Day” Event featuring displays of student writings and projects shared with families and communities.

In addition to the partner interactions, students will:
 * Research and participate in activities throughout the school year addressing the essential questions:
 * How does human use of local land and water impact water quality and the ecosystems of Long Island Sound? What measurements are taken in monitoring the local watershed? What plan can we develop to resolve issues/problems regarding the conservation, protection or restoration of natural resources in our communities? How is the impact of diversity in the natural world directly related to diversity in our communities?
 * Participate in two days of technology instruction at school sites where students generate further questions, form hypotheses and use student-collected data along with extensive Project O databases to create electronic graphs, analyze the data and communicate results.
 * Write their local and state legislators persuasive letters advocating better support of issues impacting Long Island Sound and its marine life and/or prompting their legislators to take action against the factors that are adversely affecting LIS.