LITTLE ROCK — Twenty-five Glen Rose Middle School students did everything from identifying animal tracks to mapping constellations when they visited the South Arkansas Mathematics and Science Center at Henderson State University last week.
"It was a wonderful field trip, one of those where your students had so much fun that they had no idea they were learning important stuff," teacher Jean Anne Tabor said. "In a perfect world, it was what education would be every day."
Director Betty Ramsey and her staff welcomed the students to the center, where four stations had been pre-pared for students to rotate.
The students identified tracks of Arkansas wildlife and then created molds of the tracks, "which they were delighted to be able to take home," Tabor said.
At the Pro-scopes station, students used a lighted magnifier that projected the image of objects onto a computer screen. They were able to obtain "amazingly" close views of coral, sea shells, coins and many other objects, Tabor said.
Students used paper clips, coins and other objects to make predictions about water drops on a surface or the ability of a paper clip to float at the Water Olympics station.
Students used launchers to propel gliders over a measured surface at the Forces in Motion center and then made predictions about the distance the glider could travel.
Each student was given ajournal for the day in which they recorded the findings and results of all their experimentation and observations, Tabor said.
After a lunch break, the group visited the university's planetarium.
"Jim Duke, manager, provided an informative and very interesting program about the stars, constellations and Milky Way galaxy," Tabor said.
"I know from talking with other teachers that the Science and Math Center provides training opportunities for math and science teachers throughout the state," Tabor said.
"We are very grateful for these services and the support to public schools that Betty Ramsey and Jim Duke and Henderson State University provide."
Tabor e-mailed the following comments from students:
"Natalie Norwood enjoyed the Planetarium and was interested to learn about a star named Betelgeuse. She remembered it as bug juice. Natalie always makes me smile.
"Kelsey Beard's favorite part of the trip was using the Proscope because it let her see things that she can't see with her own eyes. Kelsey is our analytical thinker and is into details and perfection.
"Pake Clayton remembered learning there were more planets than the usual ones, as Pluto is now a dwarf planet, and we also have Ceres and Eris that are dwarf planets.
"Madison Dodd liked learning to identify animal tracks and making a mold of a bear track.
"Clay Holicer asked how our galaxy got its name, Milky Way. We came home and did some research on that one and found ourselves in a study of Greek Mythology."
Tabor added, "I have been teaching for 25 years now, most of the time in gifted education. No child is left behind, but this teacher is always at least one step behind these very smart kids. It is a privilege to watch them learn and grow, and thereis no doubt that all is well with our future in their hands."
With the mission to promote math and science, the South Arkansas Math and Science Center is a resource center for math and science teachers in the south central and southwest parts of Arkansas, Ramsey said.
In addition to Ramsey, the center's staff includes Deborah Roberts, math specialist; Lisa Anderson, science specialist; and Mary Jo Cooley, office manager. The center is an affiliate of Teachers' College at HSU and have been on campus since 1999.
In addition to assisting teachers, students are also served by the director and specialists going out into the classrooms to teach model lessons, team teaching with classroom teachers, working with students on campus and special presentations in schools, Ramsey said.
Any administrator or teacher may contact the center by visiting www.hsu.edu/samsc or calling (870) 230-5417.
Tri-Lakes, Pages 59, 63 on 06/07/2007