Education News
Survey Participates in University Day
The
Arkansas Archeological Survey presented three workshops on archeology
to K-12 teachers and students at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville,
during University Day, February 11, 2000.
The annual University Day program seeks to stimulate the science, mathematics, and technology curricula of northwest Arkansas schools with instruction and hands-on activities presented by faculty and staff. Each teacher attending brings two students, and the team can choose three sessions of interest from over 30 different offerings. Topics include chemistry, fossils, physics, forensics, robotics, molecular biology, astronomy, lasers, and maps. The sessions are designed so that teachers can replicate the activities in their classrooms. The lunchtime treat for the 2000 program included a slide show of incredible images taken by the Hubble space telescope.
Student-teacher
teams choosing the Survey's sessions played with an activity called "Trash
Box Archeology," in which a box of modern trash represents an archeological
site. Participants attempt to learn something about the people who left
the trash, using such scientific methods as inquiry, observation, analysis,
and interpretation. At the end of the session, teachers receive a lesson
plan and a teacher's packet filled with information on Arkansas archeology.
One teacher who participated last year had so much fun she brought her
students for "Trash Box Archeology" again this year; and another teacher
participating last year explained how she uses the activity in her class
at the end of a geology section.
University
Day is organized by Lynne H. Hehr, director of the University's Center
for Mathematics and Science Education (CMASE). For more information on
the Center's activities, visit the web site at www.uark.edu/~k12info/student/UDAY/index.html.
Mary Kwas
February 16, 2000
