A brief geological history going back to the glacial period and its impact on Connecticut is also included. What the main thrust of the unit is however, is a hands-on approach to scientific research utilizing the City Point area as a classroom. Thus, field trips and specimen collecting along with all of the suggested Lesson Plans are very important. Clemente Middle School finds itself situated with a mile of City Point and therefore is very accessible to me for this type of a unit. However, other schools in New Haven will also find it very easy to find and in these troubled financial times, a very inexpensive way to have students interact with nature.
Students can have a first hand experience with a subject that is right in their own backyard.
The importance of New Haven Harbor is directly explained and many of the lessons herein are practical, exciting and with the teacher s guidance easy for the students to do. Many environmental lessons are also included, conservation and historical preservation is stressed. The Appendix is of particular interest, in that the teacher has a list of agencies upon which to call for help in the teaching of this unit. The slides of City Point study, which I developed, will be available at the Institute s Office. These are 35mm.