Kids celebrate earth science week

From Tulsa World: Kids celebrate earth science week
More than 60 children, most between the ages of 4 and 7, spent Wednesday afternoon at the Tulsa Geoscience Center learning about earth science - even though they probably didn't realize it.

The students were busy making replicas of fossils, playing with bubbles, touching dinosaur teeth and being mesmerized by insects and rocks that glow under fluorescent lights.

The Geoscience Center teamed up with the Tulsa Children's Museum to offer hands-on projects and activities at different stations for children Wednesday and Thursday during earth science week.

Wednesday's projects were geared toward younger children and focused on fossils and bubbles. Thursday's activities for older children will highlight the importance of recycling, the use of everyday petroleum products and making recyclable art projects.

Earth "is where we live. They need to understand as much as they can about it," said Susan Henley, director of the Tulsa Geoscience Center. "All the earth systems like weather, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis - understand why they're happening."

Brena Meadows, an outreach coordinator for the children's museum, brought the mobile exhibit Pop! Art and Science of Bubbles, which explores bubbles and the properties of air and water.

"They are exploring water. Part of earth science is hydro science. As they play with bubbles, they learn how water works," Meadows said.

Watching the students put the pieces together and learn at the different stations is Henley's favorite part.

"They love making these discoveries," she said, using the fossil station as an example when the kids examine tyrannosaurus teeth and mammoth teeth. "They come to the conclusion some animals are meat eaters, some are plant eaters, all from the shape of the tooth."

Megan Linn and Nicole Taulman, who homeschool their children in Owasso, came for the earth science activities Wednesday.

"We like to do a whole lot of hands-on activities," said Linn, who spent about two hours at the center with her 7- and 5-year-old daughters. "This is the reason we homeschool. We can take advantage of these resources. We get to come and learn and pass it on to the children."

The fact that the Tulsa Geoscience Center is free is another advantage.

The center, which offers free tours to school groups and Boy and Girl Scout troops, is funded partially with donations. As operating costs continue to rise, Henley hopes that the tours can remain free.



Tulsa Geoscience Center
What: Free field trips to classes, Boy and Girl Scout troops and teacher training courses related to earth sciences, geology and geophysics.

Where: 610 S. Main St.

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Tours also can be scheduled by appointment.

Cost: Free, but donations are accepted

For more: 918-392-4556 or tulsaworld.com/tulsageosciencecenter

Note: The Tulsa Children's Museum is "a museum without walls" that offers traveling exhibits, workshops, classes and concerts. For more on the museum and its programs, call 918-295-8144 or go online to tulsaworld.com/tulsachildrensmuseum

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20111013_19_A11_CUTLIN570719