Meet James Miller

What do you love about teaching science?

The creative ideas that students produce for projects.

Part of your curriculum focuses on human anatomy. How do you get middle school students interested in the skeletal system? 

In my 6th grade life sciences class, we did a skeletal injury project. The girls were tasked with researching an injury usually obtained through a sport that they play. They were then asked to do one of two things, either redesign the body part so that the injury does not occur anymore, or to design a wearable item that would help prevent the injury in the first place.

The 6th graders are being asked to become bioengineers as they study the limitations of the human skeleton. This project always gets fun and interesting designs out of it and because the girls often research injuries that they have actually had; it provides some intrinsic motivation to get the project done.

Do you have a favorite AIS tradition?

I like going to see the school plays and musicals. It’s always a good time.

Tell us about a hands-on science experiment that sparked the girls' curiosity in class?

A literal hands-on experiment we did in 6th grade science was a lab on sweat glands. Students were asked to put their hand in a clear plastic bag for 10 minutes and record what happens to the bag and their hand. As their hand sweats, it slowly becomes humid in the bag and water begins to collect on the inside surface of the bag. 

I did not expect the excited reaction I got from the 6th graders when they returned the next day after doing this lab at home. Many of them were super excited to share what happened and were also completely shocked that their hands sweat that much in just 10 minutes. The discussion of why this happens lasted most of the hour-long class and even opened up opportunities to talk about how clouds are formed and why it rains. Despite those topics being tangential to the integumentary system, I saw many light bulbs go on in their eyes as they realized what clouds were and how it related to their hand in the bag.

What do you hope students take away from your class?

I hope they learn that science is fun and can be found in literally anything they can imagine.

What fun fact about you would surprise people?

Susan B. Anthony is my cousin. I did several reports on Susan B. when I was in school because I thought it was so cool I had a famous relative!

How did you get the idea to revitalize the already established Sustainability Garden in Honor of Sara Clark '11, located near the Lower School?

I got the idea to start the garden project after being stuck inside for most of the spring (because of the pandemic). It's my silver lining of the quarantine. I started building my own garden at home and during the process it became a no brainer to do it at school. The Clark Garden area had been unattended for years and I thought it would be a good way to teach my subject, Earth and Space Sciences, as well as revitalize what a student had started 10 years ago, honoring that student's AIS legacy. 

How do you think gardening has helped your students and how have you been able to incorporate it into your teachings?

I knew gardening would get the students off their computers and outside regularly into fresh air. I knew they'd be stuck in the same place most of the day and in front of a screen. Much of this idea stemmed from trying to reduce their screen time and introduce them to the nature that is in their backyards.

Gardening has so many connections to my units in ecology, geology, astronomy, and sustainability that it is easy for me to modify my old lessons for the outdoors and it is something that I think I will continue even after COVID is a thing of the past.

What has been planted in the AIS Garden so far, and what has been your favorite thing about gardening with the students?

This fall we planted, kale, broccoli, carrots, arugula, peas, and two types of cabbage. The broccoli and cabbage were the most successful crops and the peas failed miserably. But that is all part of the experience and learning from your failures so we have a better idea of what to plant this coming spring.

I like to tell the students that I am learning to garden with them. While I understand the science behind gardening - nutrient cycling, predator prey relationships, connections to climate change, etc. - I have never actually gardened before. It is a new and exciting experience for me as well, which makes going to "work," really, going to "play." 

Where will the garden grow in the future?

In the spring, the girls will be tasked with building their own gardens with sustainability as a theme. They will have the opportunity to design, build, and film their projects and present their mini documentaries at the science fair at the end of the year.

Find more on the creation of the garden beds here.