Teaching Teams

The Teaching Teams program promotes science literacy among high school students and encourages the pursuit of careers in science by introducing them to areas of scientific study through interactive demonstrations brought into the classroom. Teams of graduate and medical students present the curricula of individual units and work with high school students in small groups, fostering an atmosphere where the students can feel comfortable discussing the specific area of scientific study.

Each team makes an effort to develop hands-on demonstrations, thus requiring students to pose their own questions, and to find answers through investigation and inquiry. The Anatomy Team, for instance, uses autopsy specimens of the human heart and vessels, requiring students to think about circulatory functioning and how pathological states such as the build-up of cholesterol can lead to heart attacks. Teams visit each class multiple times, thereby establishing close ties with the students. Each year Teaching Teams reaches hundreds of students in the Saint Louis City Public Schools. Current student teams include: