Radnor Middle School

"...But the greatest thing about Watershed is the experience you gain. I think it is so fun and cool to get taught by your teachers in school and then go experience it outside the next day. I never really understood what teachers used to teach me, until now that I can relate to it in the real world."

Alexandra N. - Class of 1992-93

Curriculum Description

WATERSHED is a fully integrated curriculum that has been in place since 1990 at the Radnor Middle School. This program is offered to seventh graders as an alternative to their regular course of study. Forty students are randomly selected from a group of applicants. All activites are related to the central theme of the watershed. Skills developed are reinforced by hands-on experiences. The watershed is studied in relation to its history, physical aspects, social relations and natural systems. The disciplines of math, English, science, social studies, history, physical education, music and art are all integrated in this one course of study. Numerous field trips and guest lectures help to reinforce concepts introduced.

The WATERSHED year is broken down into three units:

The six learning stations are: Cartography, Geology, Processes, Ecology, Photography, and Microscopy.

WATERSHED's basic tenets: Commitment, Cooperation, Courage, Caution, Caring

Springer, Mark (1994). Watershed: a Successful Voyage into Integrative Learning. National Middle School Association.

Contacts

Radnor Middle School

131 South Wayne Avenue
Wayne, PA 19087
(610) 688-8100 ext.271

Mark Springer, WATERSHED Instructor
Ed Silcox, WATERSHED Instructor
Woody Arnold, WATERSHED Instructor


This site is maintained by the Webmaster at wplp@pobox.upenn.edu

Last Update: 22 August 1997