The Londonderry School's Enviro-Exchange program combines observations of natural phenomena, collection of scientific data, and applications of mathematical principles. A particularly exciting aspect of the project is Londonderry's plan to develop a system of communication with students around the world.

We have already invited schools in Brazil, El Salvador, Italy Guatemala, Peru and Puerto Rico to become our pen pals for this project . We are continuing our efforts to build partnerships with these and other schools. Through the student-created Enviro-exchange website and through E-mail correspondence, participants in the program will exchange information they have collected about weather patterns and other changing scientific phenomena.

Students are especially interested in communicating with young people south of the equator, where the seasons are opposite to ours and the stars seen in the sky are different. The student-created website can be logged on by anyone with an internet connection.

A second-floor observation deck, which will serve as an extension to the classroom, has been funded by the Whittaker Foundation and built on our new facility.  From this observation deck, students will study a number of science and nature topics first hand.  These will include:

Wildlife and biology -including bird flight patterns

Meteorology -through a weather station

Conservation, Ecology and Environmental Science -including acid rain monitoring and participation in a nationally sponsored wild bird feeder count

Astronomy -including day and night observation and seasonal variations.

Observations will be enhanced by the purchase of scientific equipment to support the activities on the deck.  These will include a spotting scope, video projection system, video capture equipment and presentation software.  Digital and video camera equipment will record student experiments and the mathematical applications of the comparisons of the data.

Since the deck will be able to accommodate only about half the students in any given class it will be connected so the information and measurements collected on the deck will be made available to the classrooms .   Laptop computers will also be taken into the field , and will utilize wireless Internet connectivity .                   

Mathematical concepts will be included in the Enviro-Exchange as students use geometry and measurements to collect data and images.  All students observations, journal entries, measurements and images will be utilized for statistical analysis, spreadsheets and graphs.