UA, Crestmont Elementary Partner for Interactive Learning Night

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Moms and dads: Have you ever wondered how your children are learning science and social studies? If your child is a student at Crestmont Elementary School in Northport, you’ll have a hands-on opportunity Thursday, Oct. 24.

In a joint effort between The University of Alabama College of Education and Crestmont Elementary School, more than 250 parents and students are expected to take part in Family Science and Social Studies Night Thursday at Crestmont Elementary.

Students and parents will learn about mirrors, symmetry, Bernoulli’s principle, density, sound and other science concepts, as well as participate in social studies centers focused on different countries and a culture center for preschoolers where English and Spanish speaking UA students will read to children.

The concept is simple: Give parents and their children an interactive experience while engaging in active learning of science and social studies concepts. The goal, too, is to generate student enthusiasm for science and social studies through engaging,  “hands-on, minds-on” interactive activities in both disciplines, said Dr. Dee Goldston, professor of K-12 science education at UA.

“It’s exciting,” said Goldston, “watching kids and parents become curious, ask questions, and want to know why and how something works the way it does. We plan to  have 17 or 18 classrooms with teams of College of Education preservice students (student teachers) conducting science investigations and social studies activities with parents and children working on them together.”

The program begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. Students and parents will have a variety of activities to choose from based on grade level or the student’s interest in the topic.

Dr. Lee Freeman, clinical associate professor of elementary education, serves as a liaison between UA’s College of Education and Crestmont Elementary School. He approached Goldston with the idea in 2012 and Goldston, along with Dr. Melisa Fowler, clinical assistant professor of elementary education, and Dr. Janie Hubbard, assistant professor, elementary social studies education, worked together to carry out the event that began on a smaller scale last year.

This year, it involves approximately 70 preservice teachers who will conduct activities, as well as help design and organize activities before and during the program.

Over the last 10 years, there has been an increased national emphasis on math and literacy in the elementary grades, which, in turn, has decreased the emphasis on discipline areas such science and social studies, Goldston said. But that’s starting to change with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math initiatives and the possibility of the state adopting the Next Generation Science Standards, which were revised for the first time since 1996 and released in January 2013, said Goldston.

“The new standards emphasize disciplinary core concepts as well as scientific and engineering practices, the latter of which has never been a formalized part of the standards until now,” said Goldston. “ So, emphasis is on learning concepts along with carrying out practices like a scientist as well as an engineer. Though many of the practices are alike, engineers have a different purpose than do scientists who explore natural phenomena to understand how they work.

“Engineering problems often emerge from a societal concern-such as designing more effective transportation systems to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.”

Goldston said she’d love to see the program grow into a Science Night and a Social Studies Night held on campus, or to expand the Crestmont program to other schools. Expansion will be determined by community involvement and funding, but Goldston thinks the Science and Social Studies Night, which drew 200 people last year, will help draw support for science and social studies as well as future, similar programs.