Editor's Note:
Activities will include painting and decorating visor caps and sun-catchers with biological themes; examining insect collections, skeletons and bones, and a variety of living organisms.

Kindergartners to Attend Biology Program at AASU through NSF PRISM Project

Savannah, GA—May 6, 2004—Over 130 kindergartners from Georgetown Elementary School will learn about basic biological concepts—topics ranging from life forms and ecology to zoology and the human form— at Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU) on May 7. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the children will explore these topics through hands-on, highly interactive activities that will be offered in the biology labs at AASU. Biology and psychology faculty from AASU and teachers from Georgetown Elementary School will lead the activities.

"Exposing students to science and biological concepts at an early age will help encourage and stimulate interest in biology, how biological systems function, and science in general," said Judy Awong-Taylor, associate professor of biology and program coordinator. "Since kindergarten children learn best through direct interaction, this project will be geared towards using a variety of activities that will involve the children's participation."

The one day program is made possible through the newly formed Partnership for Reform in Science and Mathematics (PRISM), a pre-school through college approach to improving student achievement in science and mathematics in Georgia, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). PRISM partners seek to identify the best practices in the teaching and learning of science and mathematics, and disseminating these practices statewide.

"Educators in this region are excited about this opportunity to exponentially grow the "knowledge capital" of southeast Georgia," said Thomas Z. Jones, president of AASU. "We look forward to improving science education for all students and to markedly closing the achievement gap in mathematics and science between various demographic groups."

In the southeastern part of the state, AASU and Coastal Georgia Community College are partnering with Chatham, Bryan, Camden, and Glynn county school systems to implement the new program. This region will receive $5,833,926 from the NSF grant during a five-year period.

For more information about PRISM programs, contact Sabrina Hessinger, PRISM coordinator for southeastern Georgia, at 912.921.2059.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE
10:00 - 10:20 am
Laboratory 1: Introduction to Life Forms
Students will be introduced to living organisms and the common characteristics of all life forms. This laboratory will feature a variety of living organisms from various kingdoms of life to illustrate the range of diversity and complexity among living systems.10:20 - 10:40 am Laboratory 2: Ecology
This laboratory will be designed to introduce students to ecological concepts and how humans can impact their environment.

10:40 - 11:00 am
Laboratory 3: Human Form and Function
The human body will be introduced in this lab. A large variety of models, including skeletons and bones, will be used to illustrate different parts of the body and how the body functions.

11:00 - 11:20 am
Laboratory 4: Zoological Specimens & Insect Diversity
This laboratory will feature a large variety of preserved biological specimens. A large insect collection will be on display to illustrate diversity among the insects.

11:20 - 12:00
Lunch

12:00 - 12:20 pm
Laboratory 5: Animal Learning
This laboratory will introduce students to animal behavior, specifically, learning behavior in rats. This laboratory will be designed and implemented by the psychology department.

12:20 - 12:40 pm
Laboratory 6: Arts and Crafts Activity
This laboratory will provide a morning break for the kindergarten students. Students will design and decorate a visor cap using a biological theme.

12:40 - 1:00 pm
Laboratory 7: Arts and Crafts Activity
This laboratory will provide an afternoon break for the kindergarten students. Students will paint and decorate sun-catchers with a biological theme.