WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Oct. 22, 2014 — West Liberty University Professors Dr. Zachary Loughman and Dr. Karen Kettler recently received a $10,000 grant from the Sprout Fund of Pittsburgh to strengthen science skills in elementary school age children.
The first time grant pairs two local elementary schools with WLU students majoring in environmental stewardship and education, and elementary education.
“Our project is called “Project Crawdad” and involves working with the fifth grade classes of West Liberty and Woodsdale elementary schools on five science-related workshops throughout the school year. West Liberty University science students will help the children learn ecological concepts and develop science skills,” explained Kettler, who is assistant professor of biology and co-chair of the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
“Our partnership with WLU in general gives our students an opportunity to do so many things they might not have a chance to do. Fieldwork like this, offers them a way to learn more about science than they can in the classroom. As these students progress into middle school it offers them valuable hands-on experiences that will increase their interest in science and math,” West Liberty Elementary School Principal Zac Shutler said.
The first workshop called “Observing your World” took place the week of Oct. 13 and the second workshop called “Crawdad Collection Day” will take place from 1-3 p.m., Monday, Oct. 27 at Woodsdale and from 12:45 – 3 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30 at West Liberty Elementary.
Each school group of elementary students will receive a scientist backpack complete with tools. They also will work with iPads and collect crayfish that will then be kept in the students’ classrooms.
Both schools will be collecting crayfishes from streams within their schools watershed, exposing 90 students to both field and laboratory science. Three classes from Woodsdale and one from West Liberty are a part of the yearlong science series.
“Using crayfish is an added plus, since children of all ages enjoy capturing them while investigating streams,” said Loughman, who is assistant professor of biology (zoology/ecology) and is nationally known for his scientific work with crayfish. “The crayfish are the conduit that lead to a better understanding of the scientific process.”
“We are so happy to have this program and the West Liberty University science students to assist in this meaningful workshop series,” said Mrs. Valerie Randolph, fifth grade teacher at Woodsdale Elementary.
WLU’s Center for Arts and Education also is partnering with Loughman and Kettler and offering their resources and creative space to the science workshop series later in the year.
This project is supported in part by the Spark Fund for Early Learning at the Sprout Fund and supports projects in the greater Pittsburgh region that help children develop hands-on skills and digital literacies by expanding their capacity “to do” as well as “to know.”
ABOUT WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Located just one hour south of Pittsburgh, Pa., WLU is in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. A forward-looking, four-year public university steeped in a rich heritage as West Virginia’s oldest institution of higher education, it was established as West Liberty Academy in 1837 and is led by President Robin C. Capehart. For more information on WLU, please call 1.866.WESTLIB.