Wednesday, March 25, 2026

BFCCPS PCO announces 3rd Faculty Grant Recipient


"The PCO proudly announces our third of four Faculty Grant recipients, Rebecca Nestor! She was approved for a $593.50 grant (partial funding) towards triple beam balances for density instruction.
"As we examined our MCAS test results this year, we continue to see students struggling with the concept of density. This struggle spans multiple classes and remains consistent over consecutive testing cycles. Density is a critical foundation for understanding broader Earth science concepts, including how differences in density drive convection currents and influence the behavior of oceanic vs. continental crust.
BFCCPS PCO announces 3rd Faculty Grant Recipient
BFCCPS PCO announces 3rd Faculty Grant Recipient
Currently, our science department is unable to provide consistent lab-based density instruction. We own six triple beam balances; however, all six are broken and nonfunctional. Without working measurement equipment, students cannot accurately determine mass, calculate density, or observe the relationship between density and material properties. Teachers are forced to rely on simulations or teacher-led demonstrations, which do not provide the direct experience students need to master this topic.
Because density is an abstract and mathematically driven concept, students learn best when they can physically experiment, measure, and record results themselves. Access to working balances will allow students to collect real data, observe patterns, and apply those concepts to models of Earth systems."