Science Nights

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Science Nights

• Improving Science
• Through Parent/Child Cooperative Learning

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Mary Brown McGee

• Science Teacher - Inverness Elementary School

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David Carter

• Director - Institute for Effective Teaching
  Practices, Mississippi Valley State University

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Science Nights Sponsors

• Delta Area Physics, Physical Science
• And
• Applied Mathematics Projects
• Funded by
• IHL Eisenhower Professional Development Grant

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Key Features

• SIMPLE
• FUN
• CHALLENGING
• REWARDING
• INFORMAL
• FLEXIBILITY

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NEED

• Increase student interest in science
• Increase parental involvement
• Apply newly acquired technology

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History

• July 26 and 27 Initial parent /teacher meeting
  - 9 parents
• August 1st Parent/Child Science Night
• 14/8 families made electromagnets

1999
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1999 Events

• September 19/9 families made flashlights
• October 13 families made model cars
• November Astronomy Night (13 families)
• December 23 families made spaghetti structures

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2000 Activities

• August Parent/Child/Teacher Meeting - 16/25
  families
• September First Parent/Child Science Night -
  56/13 families
• October 68 families made flash lights

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Implementation

• Letters to parents
• Home visits
• Telephone contact
• Newsletters
• Family pictures
• Thank you cards

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Attendance

• Started small
• Tremendous growth
• Other parents want to get involved

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Sample Activities

• Flash light
• Electric Cars
• Graphing Calculator
• Astronomy
• Spaghetti towers

• Calculator Based Ranger Activities
• CBL Temperature and Light Intensity
• Electromagnets

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Flashlight

• 2 D-cell batteries
• flashlight bulb
• 3oz paper Dixie cup
• aluminum foil strip
• masking tape
• pencil
• activity sheet

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Electric Car

• 9 volt battery
• wheels
• styrofoam base
• small generator
• rubber band
• masking tape
• activity sheet
• pencil

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Graphing Calculators/CBR

• Materials from the Math and Science in Motion
  Activities for Middle School
• TI-83 graphing calculators
• Calculator-Based Rangers

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Graphing Calculators/CBR
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Spaghetti Structures

• Materials
• marshmallows
• spaghetti
• tape
• rules
• goals

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Activity Time
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Spaghetti Structures
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Spaghetti Structures
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Connections to Create Science Night

• Willingness to try new things
• Positive Attitude
• Energy
• Perseverance

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Addressing StandardsAbilities of Technological
Design

• Students identify problems for technological
  design
• Design a solution or product
• Implement a proposed design
• Evaluate completed technological design or
  product
• Effectively describe the design process

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Understanding Science Technology Spaghetti
Structures

• Straightforward, well-defined tasks
• Familiar setting in the home, school, or
  community environment
• Specified criteria of design and success

• Experiential task engage students to be able to
  understand technological design and realize that
  problem solving extends beyond scientific issues

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More Information

• www.olemiss.edu/projects/Eisenhower