Teaching Math and Science Through Sailing: A National Pilot Project

The National Sailing Hall of Fame & Sailing Center, Anne Arundel County Public Schools and Hudson River Community Sailing are partnering to teach math and science through sailing in Anne Arundel County Public Schools to further develop an adaptive STEM-sailing model for use around the country.

Based on the premise that students would find math and science more interesting and less abstract if concepts were tied to the practical applications of sailing, Hudson River Community Sailing developed and implemented a successful afterschool accredited program in New York City.

Using that program as a format, the NSHOF and AACPS have begun developing a curriculum for teaching applied mathematics and science critical thinking through sailing to meet the needs of a pilot group of AACPS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students. The pilot materials and student achievement results will be added to the Hudson River Community Sailing data base to design an adaptive model for school and community use elsewhere. Interest has already been expressed in San Diego, CA and Nantucket, MA.

"This is a very exciting adventure that we are embarking upon, and we're thrilled to have the National Sailing Hall of Fame & Sailing Center and Hudson River Community Sailing as partners in this journey," said Dr. Maureen McMahan, Director of Advanced Studies for AACPS. "We fully expect this program will meet with the same successes as other STEM programs have."

Student activities have begun and will include a six-week STEM problem -based learning model, a two week STEM Summer Bridge Program and a yearlong AACPS Co-Curricular Sailing Club based on the math and science of sailing and sailing challenges beginning in October 2010.

Among the boats being utilized for the program are the replica 19th Century Sandbaggers BULL and BEAR on loan from the New Jersey based BULL and BEAR Sailing.

For Further Information:
Dr. Maureen McMahon, AACPS  
410-222-5365

NSHOF Education