Woods Hole and Greater Falmouth Partnership

Falmouth Public Schools and the professionals in Woods Hole and the broader Falmouth scientific and research community partner together with genuine intent and ambitious vision to enrich and extend learning across all subjects - Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics - STEAM. Through this partnership, Falmouth Public Schools continues to create interactive hands-on learning opportunities both within our classroom lab investigations as well as by turning Falmouth coastlines and other local habitats into our living classrooms.
 
Through our shared efforts, our partnership aims to increase students’ awareness of the range of programs, careers, and continued learning needed to thrive within this community, engage with the global community, and understand their influence on their world. Our work focuses on environmental stewardship and scientific literacy. We maintain this partnership to create world class opportunities for all Clippers. 

Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL)

MBL welcomes students from Falmouth High School to experience authentic lab science during their three day High School discovery course held on the Woods Hole Campus. Past topics have included CRISPR, eDNA collection, and sequencing and visualizing oral microbiomes.

Grade 3 students are introduced to the wonders of the MBL Marine Research Center and learn about the important research they conduct. Students even get a chance to feed squid to the resident Striped Bass while learning about their migration. MBL scientists and volunteers also help to support students through Scientific research and mentoring in preparation for the FPS STEAM Fair.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI)

WHOI welcomes grade 3 students to explore the organisms and science that are utilized in their research and to tour the Science Discovery Center. Grade 7 students visit WHOI and NOAA to learn how scientists track the population dynamics of commercially valuable fish, how they age fish by looking at their otoliths, and the importance of conservation efforts to ensure the sustainability of future populations of these species. Students are introduced to ropeless fishing technology and tour the scientific research vessel, the Tioga. WHOI scientists and volunteers also help to support students through Scientific research and mentoring in preparation for the FPS STEAM Fair.

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (WBNERR)

Grade 2 and 6 students visit WBNERR to explore topics both in their indoor and outdoor classrooms. Grade 2 students explore the beachside cliffs looking for evidence of water, wind, and anthropogenic erosion, while grade 6 students study how density affects the movement of pollutants through the water cycle. 

Grade 6 students also learn about the ocean’s importance to the Wampanoag Tribe from tribal educators and spend some time inside a traditional Wetu. WBNERR scientists and volunteers also help to support students through Scientific research and mentoring in preparation for the FPS STEAM Fair. 

Zephyr Education Foundation

Zephyr Education Foundation is a strong supporter of Science Education in Falmouth Public Schools. They offer mentoring to student scientists and provide opportunities for students to explore diverse ocean species at sea. 

In collaboration with WHOI, Zephyr offers tours to grade 3 students and introduces them to the amazing scientific opportunities available in Woods Hole. 

Zephyr volunteers also help to support students through Scientific research and mentoring in preparation for the FPS STEAM Fair.

Sea Education Association (SEA)

SEA and their volunteer network are involved in grade 3’s Earth Day Celebration as well as grade 4’s Green Bus Tour. During these events, volunteers work with students on beach cleanups and teach the importance of keeping our beaches free of debris. Students learn the dangers of ocean debris and determine why “Trash Shouldn’t Splash” as they explore the diversity of our ocean shores. 

SEA scientists and volunteers also help to support students through Scientific research and mentoring in preparation for the FPS STEAM Fair.

Penikese Island School

Penikese Island School travels with grade 6 students from Morse Pond to the Elizabeth Island of Penikese, setting of Lauren Wolk’s book “Beyond the Bright Sea.” Students explore this unique bird sanctuary while learning about the dangers of ocean debris through beachcombing, observing the effects of climate change and sea level rise on island habitats, and seeing the physical remains and ruins of the cultural and social history of the island. 

Penikese volunteers also help to support students through Scientific research and mentoring in preparation for the FPS STEAM Fair.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Fisheries (NOAA)

Grade 7 students visit NOAA’s Aquarium and Scientific labs to learn how scientists track the population dynamics of commercially valuable fish, how they age fish by looking at their otoliths and the importance of conservation efforts to ensure the sustainability of future populations of these species. Students are introduced to ropeless fishing technology and tour the scientific research vessel, the Tioga. 

NOAA scientists also help to support students through Scientific research and mentoring in preparation for the FPS STEAM Fair.

Cuttyhunk STEAM Academy

Grade 8 students journey to Cuttyhunk to explore the ways in which STEAM manifests on an island. Students explore the glacially formed topography and geology of the island’s hills while experimenting with marine technologies and observing the native species that call Cuttyhunk home. Students tour Cuttyhunk facilities on both land and sea to see how they have adapted to make the best use of the limited non-renewable and renewable resources that are available on the island.

Coonamessett River Trust

Morse Pond’s grade 5 students visit the restored Coonamessett River Greenway to ask the question, “How do we know if a river is healthy?” 

Students complete physical, chemical, and biological testing along the restored river’s edge to find evidence to answer this question and support their reasoning.

Falmouth Marine Environmental Services (FMES)

FMES provides local oysters for grade 3 students to investigate the importance of these shellfish. WBNERR educators visit classrooms to allow students to observe the external and internal characteristics of live oysters. Students learn about oyster’s role in cleaning our local waters and model their abilities by utilizing coffee filter “oysters” to filter their own water.

Falmouth Education Foundation (FEF)

Falmouth Education Foundation supports the dreams and innovative ideas of Falmouth Educators. Their Grants program is unparalleled as they support new and continuing classroom activities. FEF grants can vary in size from smaller teacher grants that can be applied for all year to larger, more extensive projects that are reviewed yearly in April. Students can also apply for grants!

United States Geological Survey (USGS)

As part of the Falmouth Public Schools, Woods Hole, and Greater Falmouth Professionals Partnership, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and our Social Studies Department partnered to incorporate geospatial mapping into the curriculum. Teachers have introduced mapping and GIS (geographic information systems) software into several courses, showing how maps can tell stories about subjects ranging from urban planning to human geography to climate change. Teachers in other disciplines have also incorporated mapping into their lessons; for example, a math teacher taught students how to calculate the volume of the Pyramids of Giza using GIS mapping techniques and aerial photographs. 

USGS scientists also help to support students through Scientific research and mentoring in preparation for the FPS STEAM Fair. The USGS-FPS partnership continues to evolve and grow.

Woods Hole Science & Technology Education Partnership (WHSTEP)

WHSTEP partners with Falmouth Public Schools to help bring the Science of Woods Hole into the community. 

WHSTEP offers teacher mini grants, professional development, family science nights, and other resources to support STE education throughout Falmouth and beyond.

WHSTEP volunteers also help to support students through Scientific research and mentoring in preparation for the FPS STEAM Fair.

Woodwell Climate Research Center

Woodwell scientists and volunteers help to support students through Scientific research and mentoring in preparation for the FPS STEAM Fair.

Buzzards Bay Coalition (BBC)

We are in the planning stage to build our partnership around Wheeler Forest in Woods Hole.