Teacher Training
February 23–24/March 23–24, 2007

This spring SHUMLA presented two training sessions for fifth-grade teachers in the San Felipe-Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District. On February 23–24, 2007, 17 teachers from 5 elementary schools arrived at the SHUMLA campus for two exciting and busy days of activities. On March 23–24 another group of 9 from 3 schools made the same journey.

These classes were held to make teachers more comfortable when presenting math and science to their students, and to provide them with exercises and experiments they could take back to their classrooms. The same schedule and activities were followed for each session.

On arrival participants were welcomed and given an overview of SHUMLA's operation and goals. The structure of the workshop was outlined and the fun began.

The first topic was "Desert Adaptations." The discussion was facilitated by an "Ecosystems Hike" where teachers investigated plant strategies for survival; saw various habitats of the desert ecosystem; and discussed the formation of canyons and the desert landscape.

This was followed with activities that can be used in the classroom for understanding adaptation. Seven exercises were presented and teachers worked through each to see how it would help students reach an understanding of how adaptation takes place. These were:

• "Thumbs Up!"
• "Snakely My Dear!"
• "Camo Worms/Dots-a-Lot!"
• "Kim's Game"
• "Above or Below, Where Shall We Go?"
• "W(h)ater Ya Goin' Do?"
• "Critter Creation"

After lunch there were two concurrent sessions; "Earth Science Investigations," and "Natural Cycles and Phenology." Half-way through the afternoon the two groups traded topics. These sessions were followed by everyone gathering to discuss "Compasses, Binoculars, and Telescopes."

• "Planetary Mix-up"
• "Stories in the Stars"
• "Stargazing with Telescopes and Binoculars"

That ended the first day!

The next morning began early with an opportunity to view Jupiter through a telescope. Following breakfast the teachers moved on to three activities designed to investigate Physical Science. In one of these, "May the Force be with You," the participants threw spears, both with and without using an atlatl (throwing stick). This activity demonstrates levers and force, and can be used for math exercises by measuring distances. The other two activities were "Light My Fire!" and "Mixtures and Solutions."

After packing, and lunch, the group drove to the Harrington Ranch where they visited an archeological site that contains rock art and went hunting for fossils. Those activities ended the day and closed the busy workshop.

For more information about setting up teachers' training sessions for your school, contact the education division at education@shumla.org or call the SHUMLA office (432-292-4848).