PGE/LCP: Sport Science: Using Sports as a Vehicle for Science Learning

Temple University, Philadelphia PA

Investigators

Abstract

Sport Science addresses the needs of urban girls in gaining equitable access to science/mathematics education. Through sports, girls will not only develop science/mathematics discourse, but will build rapport and trust, thus achieving both an intellectual advancement in science/mathematics and a psycho-social-emotional connection. The overall goal of the program is to design, implement, evaluate, and disseminate a field-based program for fostering the resilience of girls in science/mathematics through the vehicle of sports. The project is designed as a three-year intervention involving 540 girls from six middle schools over a three-year period, teachers, college students, minority athletes, and mentors. The sport science curriculum will be standards based and have an equitable focus. The entire curriculum will include 40 science/ mathematics standards driven activities that feature a sport as the vehicle through which the science/ mathematics is learned. The 10 sports to be featured in the program include: (1) five team sports - volleyball, basketball, soccer, hockey, and softball; and (2) five individual sports - fencing, golf, tennis, track (running and throwing). The project will achieve the goals and objectives through five components: (1) after school programs, (2) Saturday academies, (3) special sport day events, (4) academic and summer internships, and (5) career connections.