Family Science & Math Night Program
2008 Spring
School Year
Family Science Night attendance record of 257 students and parents set by Barkell Elementary in Hancock on Oct. 23, 2007! See complete Spring 2008 schedule.
Each year, family math and science nights are conducted at nearly all 19 elementary schools in Houghton, Baraga, Gogebic and
Ontonagon Counties.
The program is sponsored by the Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education, with funding from the Wege Foundation and the National Science Foundation, with a grant from the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science. The program is conducted in collaboration with Michigan Technological University's Departments of Education and Civil & Environmental Engineering.
Family nights usually take place at the school from 6:00-7:30 pm. Students and their parents attend
two 40-minute inquiry-based activities led by Michigan Tech students.
Elementary students may have to solve a problem, do an experiment,
tackle an engineering challenge, conduct an investigation, or
do whatever creative lesson the MTU student designs. Family science
night programs offer something new and fun for both elementary
students and their families.
Most of the
Michigan Tech student presenters are enrolled in an MTU Department
of Education 2-credit semester-long course titled "Communicating
Science." (link to course syllabus/schedule) As part of the
course, the university students receive training in teaching methods,
classroom management, lesson plan development, and presentation
skills.
Why
Parents Attend Family Science Nights*
1. The kids
look forward to it, and it gets parents involved.
2. Interesting and fun for all.
3. Learning by doing is great.
4. Educational, fun, and hands-on.
5. Great chance for parents and kids to spend a fun time together and
it's free!
6. Kids get to do hands-on activities.
7. Teaches the kids about science in a different and fun way.
8. Gets the kids away from TV.
9. I get to see how my child learns!
10. Meet other parents!
* These responses were listed most often on parent evaluation forms,
when parents were asked why they attend.
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