GEISMAR – If adults can have fun with science, young students can, too.
That was the lesson learned during the five-day Science Teacher Enhancement Program held at Duchtown High Schol this week.
Instructors Lynn Hogue and Arlyne Sarquis of Miami University of Ohio demonstrated to teachers how science can be taught with toys and common, everyday items.
The National Petroleum and Refiners Association sponsored the workshop for K-8 science teachers.
The program has been held annually for ten years, and was held for the second year in a row at Dutchtown High.
The Shell Chemical Geismar plant sponsored the class, which is based on an award-winning program developed at The Center for Chemistry Education at Miami University of Ohio. Sarquis is the Director of the Center for Chemistry Education, and Hogue is the Associate Director.
The program promotes engaging students who may wish to pursue higher education in science fields.
Several teachers from Ascension Parish particpated, including teachers from Galvez Primary and Middle, Lakeside Primary, Duplessis Primary, Oak Grove Primary and Gonzales Middle.
Teachers also came from East Baton Rouge Parish, St. Landry Parish and as far away as Texas.
Companies sponsor each teacher by providing supplies, food and travel expenses.
The teachers can also earn college credit through the course.
The program utilizes fun and interesting science experiments to get students’ attention.
“Once we have their attention, it’s easier to teach the science concepts behind it,” Hogue said.
“We also try to apply it to real life,” she added. “If we love it, they’ll really love it.”
Students also can design their own experiments to test questions they have.
“Here they get a chance to make up their own experiments. They learn science and how scientists solve problems,” Hogue said.
The teachers learned that much of what is thought to be magic, can be explained through science.
The instructors explain the scientific principals behind the intriguing experiments.
One experiment that fascinated a group of Ascension Parish teachers involved dipping hands in three separate containers of water. One contained cold water, another warm water and one lukewarm. The teachers were surprised to feel the difference of the lukewarm water after dipping their hands in the warm and cold water.
“Learning can be fun,” Galvez Middle teacher Julie Lato said.
