Article Contributed on: 11/11/2006 5:28:41 PM
Westridge Elementary School, a South Jeffco K-6 elementary school, has a very active and supportive PTA offering engaging Math and Science after-school activities. This year, the second year for the Math Club,more than25 percentof the student body (145 students) participates weekly in Math Club activities. The PTA is also sponsoring four after-school Science Club sessions ("Science FUN Friday") aimed at exposing kids to how fun and interesting science can be, while simultaneously teaching them the basics of scientific methods and principles of chemistry, physics, and biology. More than 200 students, or almost half of the student body, participated in each of the first two Science FUN Friday sessions on chemistry and physics.
The Math Club was developed to help inspire students in math and to provide a supplemental activity supporting classroom work. The goal is to show students that math can be fun while simultaneously strengthening fundamental skills. Three programs were funded by the PTA and implemented for the Westridge students: First in Math, 24 Math Game, and Continental Math.
First in Math is an online math computer program designed to improve math fluency. It provides several mathematics games with progressive levels of difficulty for the students to play. The math games and activities are structured to improve mathematical speed and accuracy while challenging students on mathematical concepts through the eighth-grade level. Because this is an internet-based program, students can work on this program at home. A computer lab is also available after school 3 days a week at Westridge for students who do not have a computer or internet access at home. Students' progress is monitored, and students are recognized for their achievements in the school newsletter and with small incentives.
24 Math Game is a new after school math activity introduced this year. Students are given four numbers to add, subtract, multiply, or divide to get "24". Students work on the 24 Game throughout the year to prepare for the school competition in March.
Continental Math is a math program designed to improve math application and critical thinking skills. This program teaches students strategies for solving word problems and gives them practice at critical thinking. This program meets twice a week after school for students in 3rd - 6th grade.
The Science Club was implemented this year as an alternative to the biennial Science Fair. The four sessions will be focused on four main aspects of science: chemistry, physics, biology, and ecology. The first session on Chemistry started with an introduction to scientific methods and a demonstration of a Diet Coke - Mentos candy geyser (very dramatic - and more importantly, safe). The majority of the afternoon was devoted to hands-on chemistry experiments for the students. They made: slime to learn about polymers; quicksand to learn about viscosity and fluid dynamics; and even test-tube sized "lava lamps" to demonstrate density. They witnessed first-hand that permanent markers dissolve with alcohol to make beautiful tie-dye patterns. The students also got to "play" with their spilled milk to learn about fat, proteins, and soap.
The second Science FUN Friday session focused on physics. The afternoon started with an assembly by
Kitty and
Bruce Spangler of Future Quest. They totally captivated the students with their demonstrations and explanations of science topics ranging from Bernoulli's principle (the relationship between velocity and pressure caused by moving gas or liquid) to sound waves, and they even let the audience "listen" to different types of light. The second half of the afternoon was devoted to hands-on activities to reinforce the topics covered in the Spanglers' presentation. The kids tested Bernoulli's principle first hand by blowing up an 8-foot long balloon with one breath, squashed and expanded marshmallows with just the power of air, witnessed that a bowling ball really can float, and did a variety of experiments with sound waves, including making a fake plastic wrap "eardrum" that demonstrates how we hear. The students also made their own amplifying cups that when you run your fingernail along the talking strip, say, "Science is fun!" Judging by the kids' faces at the end of both Science FUN Friday afternoons, science can be as much fun as recess!
Westridge students certainly are having fun with Math and Science. Thanks to these PTA-funded activities, students are given additional opportunities outside of the classroom to explore engaging math and science applications while challenging them to strive to that next level of achievement. As of October 2006, Westridge had three students ranked in the top 100 nationally in the on-line First in Math program. Westridge parents have been excited to see their students come home enthusiastic about science experiments, and eager to play math games instead of playing video games or just watching television. If you are interested in introducing a Math Club or Science Club for your school and would like some ideas, please feel free to contact
Beth Day (bethday@earthlink.net) for Math Club or
Susan Bassow (sbassow@mac.com) for Science Club.