Physics First Rhode Island
Summer Institute for 35 Teachers

July 5-14, 2006
Warren, Rhode Island

The East Bay Educational Collaborative played host to an 8-day summer institute for 35 9th-grade teachers from 5 pilot high schools in the Physics First Rhode Island Program.  "Physics First" is a concept supported by Governor Carcieri through a legislative appropriation as well as a grant from the National Governor's Association to reform the high school science sequence to begin with physics, then chemistry followed by biology - a sequence which make far more sense than the current sequence of biology/chemistry/physics.  In the Physics First sequence, students learn the general principles of how matter interacts with itself and with forces, then proceeds to the micro-scale concepts of chemistry, and finally the biochemical principles of biology.

The districts represented in the project were Providence, Woonsocket, Lincoln, Cranston, and East Providence, as well as invited teams from Portsmouth and Tiverton.  The course is being taught by two experienced physics teachers, Ron Kahn and Ron DeFronzo, both of whom have taught for a combined 47 years of high school physics, and were recognized as national recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching.  The course carries three-graduate credits from Rhode Island College.

The 9th-grade physics course uses curriculum materials developed by a company called CPO, originally formed in Cambridge, MA. by Tom Hsu, principal author and developer of the program.  Tom presented sessions along with his professional development team of Patsy Eldridge, Kat Woodring, and Mark Salisbury.

In the Fall of 2006, over 3200 9th-graders in 6 high schools will take the physics course, called "Foundations of Physics", using this highly inquiry-based approach to the concepts they will need to gain a better understanding not only of physics, but also of chemistry in their sophomore year.  Those two years will provide a much more structured experience for these student to understand the biology concepts in their junior year.  The senior year will be kept in place for more advanced courses in physics, chemistry, biology or environmental sciences.  Evidence from other projects around the country clearly indicates higher enrollment in advance science course including students taking 4 years of high school science and more students taking AP courses as well as SAT Achievement tests in science as a result of the Physics First approach

Although Rhode Island has no data or its own to support the effectiveness of this program, students will be taking the state's new science test beginning in the spring of 2008.  Physics First students will be the first group of students to take this exam after having the physics-chemistry-biology sequence.  According to program co-directors Ron DeFronzo and Ron Kahn, "when that data becomes available to the rest of the Rhode Island districts, it should be clear that this approach has a direct impact on improvement of student achievement, not only in physics, but in chemistry and biology as well."

Woonsocket teachers working with a motion experiment.

Scientist's Notebook is a vital component             Kat Woodring and the pressure lab               Mark Salisbury and Ron Kahn working with
 to the project                                                                                                                            East Providence teacher Larry Namerow

        Motion on an inclined plane                         Color mixing through "rainbow" glasses            Tom assists with the color mixing experiment

        Something worth looking at!                            Motion experiments with a digital timer

Downloadable Resources
CPO Website
Helpful PowerPoints from CPO
Linear Motion by Ron Kahn
Motion and Conservation Laws - Chapters 1, 2 and 3  by Patsy Eldridge
Work and Energy - Chapter 4 by Patsy Eldridge
Integrated Physics and Chemistry A to Z
Pressure and Gases - Chapter 8 by Kat Woodring
Matter and Energy - Chapter 9 by by Kat Woodring
Energy and Change - Chapter 10 by Kat Woodring
Electric Circuits - Chapter 13 by Kat Woodring
Magnetism - Chapter 16 by Kat Woodring
Simple Harmonic Motion - Chapter 19 by Kat Woodring
Periodic Table Blank Template
Common misconceptions about Physical Science
Common misconceptions about Earth and Space Science
Texas Assessment Test Formula Sheet