Weather shuts down event at Old High
Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/60143/
BENTONVILLE — A science lesson came to life Thursday night as incoming severe storms shut down a school event focused on math and science.
Old High Middle School had its annual Math / Science Night, but students and parents were told to go home halfway through the event because of a severe storm that was moving into the area. A tornado warning was issued for Benton County, but no actual tornado had touched down.
The Math / Science Night, which focuses on environmental issues, is an event where families are invited to the school to learn more about how math and science can be applied to real life. Some students brought their science-fair projects to demonstrate, and representatives from several agencies brought demonstrations to share. An entomologist brought butterflies that can be found in Arkansas. An archeologist brought ground-penetrating radar, which allows archeologists to focus their digs more accurately, teacher Greg Wenderski said.
“ It’s a part of our parent outreach program, ” he said of the event. “ It gets families talking about math and science in a real-world context. ”
Fifth-grader Frances Holland got the chance to visit a booth that taught about three-dimensional shapes.
“ It’s good because you can learn more and understand more, ” she said of the event. “ It’s more hands on; it’s more one on one. ”
Sixth-grader Reid Peterson was invited to bring his science project to the event. His assignment was to make a simple machine using simple gadgets and materials. He made a guillotine using a wooden frame that he built, string and a pizza cutter.
“ It’s important so other people’s families can learn about math and science, ” he said of the event.
The school hosts the Math / Science Night every spring and a Literacy / Social Studies Night every fall.