Teachers Go to University to Improve Science, Math Instruction

Sherri Wright and Kristi Rippy-Sigman create a 'Pickle-Oh'

Other teachers use LEGOs as part of a robotics exercise.

Rodney Fulton and Ann Saullo of Rogers program a computerized pipe-cleaner.

Exercises required computer programming for flashing lights, music and movement.

Who knew that pickles could make music? The lead instructor for University of Arkansas summer institutes did as science teachers used tiny computers to transform pickles into piccolos that "played" music by moving pieces of the pickle on a wooden skewer.

The workshop June 29 was part of a K-4 physical science summer institute at the STEM Center for Math and Science Education at the university.

Lynne Hehr, director of the center, brought out a big jar of pickles as well as other supplies such as LEGOs, fuzzy pipe cleaners, colorful modeling clay and small, fluffy pompoms for use with the programmable PICO Cricket computers. The teachers created other musical instruments such as an "electric banana" and a piano made with aluminum foil and clay. The teachers also worked on kinetic sculptures, bobbing puppets and other objects with parts that moved, flashed lights or played sounds.

This and other physical science lessons were part of three summer science and math institutes being funded in part by a $72,600 federal grant administered by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education under the No Child Left Behind Act.

"This exploration of simple robotics showed teachers how to incorporate technology into activities that engage children in creative learning experiences, providing children with new opportunities to explore, experiment, and express themselves using the concepts of resistance, force and motion, and computer programming tied to simple machines within a team-building, fun project," Hehr said.

The center is based in the College of Education and Health Professions and has received professional development grants for teachers for the past 17 consecutive years.

This year, 63 teachers from northwest and western Arkansas attended the three two-week institutes: "Algebra and Data Analysis for the 21st Century," "K-4 Physical Science Explorations" and "5-9 Explorations in Physical Science."

Ozark School District in Franklin County was this year's lead school district partner. Also attending were teachers from Bald Knob, Bentonville, Centerton, Elkins, Farmington, Fayetteville, Greenland, Huntsville, Mena, Mulberry, Norfork, Ozark, Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Rogers, Siloam Springs, Springdale and Waldron.

The Center for Math and Science Education staff provides instruction in the sessions based on state standards and frameworks and driven by content areas requested by the school districts and teachers. The institutes focus on inquiry-based lessons that blend math and science with literacy, measurement and technology components.

Following the sessions at the center's facility in the West Avenue Annex in Fayetteville, Hehr and her staff will provide several half-day and daylong workshops during the upcoming school year focusing on math and science content requested by participants of the summer institutes. These fall and spring workshops are open to home, public and private teachers and require registration through the center's Web site http://cmase.uark.edu.