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Stepping Up To Science

Del Mar High School: Integrating Math and Science to Prepare Students for the College Track

Campbell Union High School District partnered with Silicon Valley Education Foundation to offer its first Stepping Up to Science (STEPS) integrated math and science program for incoming Del Mar High School ninth graders. The students took part in fun and exciting activities that incorporated concepts from both Algebra I and Physics. The goal of the 52-hour program was to prepare them for Geometry and Honors Physics, both courses that college-track students are expected to complete in their freshman year.

One of the many lab activities that students such as Luis Patiño, Alexia Huizar and Patience Sapiah participated in was an exercise on velocity versus distance. Using a motion sensor, students walked forward and backward to detect and graph their movements. Because of the integrated math and science instruction, students were able to relate their own movements to the underlying physics concepts.

“The program was an utter success,” said one of the teachers. “It worked best when we were up moving around graphing and measuring - the students were then able to explain the concepts. Most of the students have selected Honors Physics and Geometry as their freshman courses.”

Read about the STEPS students and the exciting hands-on projects that successfully prepared them for Physics and Geometry in ninth grade.

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STEPS | Del Mar High School | Luis | Alexia | Patience | Mr. Ellis and Ms. Hefflinger