School Partnership: The Arnold Arboretum and the Boston Teachers Union School

Ana Maria Caballero brings students outside to study air using bubbles.

As both a natural history collection of Harvard University and a public park in the City of Boston, the Arnold Arboretum fulfills part of its educational mission through partnerships with Boston Public Schools (BPS). Field studies programs provide unique learning experiences in the Arboretum landscape for Boston schoolchildren, and are designed to complement BPS life science study for elementary school students. To amplify the impact of these programs and improve academic outcomes for disadvantaged students, the Arboretum also partners with a local school to provide life science instruction and enhance students’ scientific literacy through classroom engagement.

First graders look for organisms at Dawson Pond.

In the 2011-12 academic year, the Arboretum initiated a partnership with the Boston Teachers Union (BTU) School. In collaboration with teachers, Arboretum Science Specialist Ana Maria Caballero provided science instruction in preschool, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade classrooms throughout the school year, covering topics on plants and animals, earth science, weather studies, and physical science. Students in each elementary grade at the BTU School—as well as students in the eighth grade—participated in field studies at the Arboretum. In June 2012, the Arboretum hosted an open house for the families of BTU School students to showcase student achievement resulting from the first year of the partnership.

In the 2012-13 academic year, the Arboretum expanded its collaboration with the BTU School to enhance life science study in grades 3―5. Additionally, a new field study was created to complement the second grade classroom study of insects.