The ConocoPhillips Rice Elementary Model Science Lab is located in Treasure
Forest Elementary School in Spring Branch ISD. The Rice Elementary Model Lab program
was created in 2006 in response to the need for science content and pedagogy
training for elementary grade level science teachers. The Lab serves 80
teachers each year representing nearly every school district in the greater
Houston area. The goal of the Rice Model Lab is to empower teachers to
"teach for understanding" and thus enable elementary students to learn and
love science. The inquiry methods employed in the Lab are the same methods
we ask the teachers to use in the classroom.
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The development of the Rice Model Lab program was guided by research
indicating that to be effective, teacher professional development must be
embedded in the professional work week. Thus, the Lab provides one full day
each week of professional development throughout the academic year for each
participant.
The Rice Model Lab has proven to be highly successful with many Lab
participants indicating that the Lab program changed not only how they teach
science (and other subjects) but also was a "life changing" experience.
Many of these teacher participants go on to leadership positions in their
campuses or districts. Importantly, the student achievement of Lab
participants has been enhanced and this positive impact on student science
achievement has been documented using scientifically valid research methods.
