Blending Mathematics and Science was the focus of a two-week workshop for middle grades teachers held on the UCA campus during the summer of 2015. The workshop, sponsored by the UCA STEM Institute, was led by Dr. Charles Watson, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Mr. Jerry Mimms, Lecturer of Biology. All the activities for the workshop were based on the Common Core State Standards for mathematics and the new science standards as adopted by the Arkansas Department of Education earlier this spring.
This workshop was based on Math 4314, which is a capstone course for middle grades teachers and engages students in a variety of hands-on learning activities that are based on mathematics content with underpinnings from the physical and biological science or science content with a strong mathematics base.
For the culminating activity the class made “home-made” ice cream but not before it calculated the amount of heat that had to be removed from the “mix” before its temperature was lowered to 0o C and then changed state from a liquid to a solid.
Participants will be expected to incorporate activities from the class in lessons during the fall semester. Dr. Watson and Mr. Mimms will be visiting these teachers in their classrooms during the fall semester.
Middle grades teachers interested in participating in a similar workshop in the summer 2016 should contact Dr. Uma Garimella, Director, UCA STEM Institute at 501-450-5663 or ugarimel@uca.edu
