Elementary students learn about life science

By BILL RICHMOND

City editor

Department of Natural Resources (DNR) scientist Steve Thompson Thursday gave life science demonstrations at Deerfield, Baker and Willard elementary schools. Thompson's visit was paid for through a $90,000 professional development grant to promote elementary science and literacy in Randolph Central schools.

Thompson said students connect with and retain information better when they can actually see and experience what they are studying. This was especially evident when he showed children a giant green iguana during a discussion of animals that are vegetarian. The students were awed by the large exotic animal.

Randolph Central curriculum director and grant writer Lisa Chalfant said the How Scientific! program will bring three additional scientists to local elementary schools throughout the school year to supplement the corporation's science lesson plan. She said the scientists will coordinate their presentations with the curriculum to inspire students to think of the subject differently.

"We hope it will develop little scientists out of our students," Chalfant said. "We hope we will capture their attention and provide a connection to their classroom lessons. The other wonderful part is we've been trying to find a way to involve parents and community members in the project. We're just thrilled to death about this program and we think it's neat for the kids."

Chalfant said representatives of the CLASS (Connecting Learning Assures Successful Students) program came up with the idea to create a focus on strengthening science skills with an emphasis on literacy.

"The state people who run the CLASS program heard the money was available and asked if we would be interested in partnering with them if they came up with a science program that promotes literacy," she said. "It was an easy decision to make.

"I took it back to our teachers. We have a longstanding involvement with CLASS. They were ready to move to the next level in their training. We are the only school corporation that is partnering with CLASS to do this project, so we feel honored."

Randolph Central School Corporation received notification this summer that it was approved for the grant for students in preschool through fifth grade.

Baker Principal Cindy Winkle said the How Scientific! program will lend a lot to local students overall perception of science and how they look at plants and animals.