GK-12 Institute for Middle School Teachers:
Standards-Based Science and Engineering Activities for Middle School Classrooms

June 16 - 18, 2008

Graduate students from the University of South Carolina have worked for the past year with middle school science teachers to develop the activities being presented in this Institute, testing and refining them in Midlands’ area classrooms.

Each day-long Institute features engineering- and science-related activities that are based on the hands-on Learning Cycle model of teaching and learning. All are correlated to the South Carolina Science Standards and teachers may choose the subject of most value to their classroom.

All Participating Teachers Receive:

• 5 contact hours of recertification credit (0.5 CEU).
• $40 participation stipend.
• Kit containing materials for hands-on activities from the Institute.
• Notebook of printed activity sheets.

Animals, Plants and Humans Monday, June 16 8:30 am to 3 pm Planned Activities Coral Taxonomy Classify organisms using the Linnaean system Leaf Investigations Become an explorer and identify plants Digestion Stations Examine the anatomical features of the human digestive system Animal Adaptations Identify animal adaptation using the Smartboard Stomach Digestion Explore human digestion in the stomach using this physical lab	Earth and Astronomy Tuesday, June 17 8:30 am to 3 pm Planned Activities Finding the Epicenter Utilize seismograms to locate the center of an earthquake Rock Cycle Model the rock cycle using sugar cubes Earth and Sky Stations Make a comet, model the galaxy and fail a dam Earthquakes and Buildings Build and use table-top earthquake generators Layers of the Earth Model the Earth’s layers using materials of various densities	Chemistry, Forces and Motion Wednesday, June 18 8:30 am to 3 pm Planned Activities Pendulum Pandemonium Investigate gravity through the use of pendulums Stacking Density Explore density in this colorful inquiry lab Chemistry in Action Explore chemistry through several interactive activities Paratroopers Explore the effect of surface area on falling objects Color Changing Cylinders Manipulate pH to change the color of liquids

How do I apply?

Click to download an application: or

Please e-mail, fax or mail your application to: 

Jennifer Kearn
Center for Engineering and Computing Education
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
Phone: 803.777.0615
Fax: 803.777.0106
E-Mail:  kearnjl@engr.sc.edu

Because space is limited, acceptance will be granted on a first come, first serve basis!