University Days Brings 1,200 K-12 Teachers, Students to Campus for Interactive Science

A University of Arkansas education student adds baby oil to a miniature aquatic.

A University of Arkansas education student tapes the top of a plastic bottle before it's shaken.

Children study the life cycle of a frog pictured on blocks.

Children create the life cycle of a frog on paper.

A University of Arkansas education student works on paper rockets with University Days participants.

A university student shows children how to position their rockets for launching.

A participant in University Days stomps a plastic soda bottle to launch her rocket.

Children create a giant bubble to encase their friend at University Days.

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Stacked cubes show the life cycle of a frog for students attending University Days.

Students studying to be teachers in the College of Education and Health Professions, as well as faculty and students from the J. William Fulbright College of Arts, the College of Engineering, the Sam M. Walton College of Business, and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas were among the presenters of many activities for kindergarten through 12th grade students who attended University Days on the Fayetteville campus Feb. 18 and 19. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Washington County Environmental Affairs and Recycling, and NASA were also represented and gave presentations.

Researchers, students and staff in laboratories across campus presented lessons in science, math, engineering and technology during the event directed by Lynne Hehr, director of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education based in the College of Education and Health Professions.

One group of education majors taught students and their team leaders how to build and launch paper and plastic soda bottle "stomp" rockets. People outside the Arkansas Union watched the launches as students stomped on the bottles to send the rockets flying. The 118 sessions presented also included such topics as the life cycle of frogs, the human skeleton, the properties of soap bubbles, the solar system, electricity, magnets and natural disasters.