A Twist on TwisterTM: ARM Educational Outreach Participates in Community Science Nights

 
Published: 24 April 2013

This week, the U.S. Department of Energy begins its National Science Bowl competition, a nationwide academic competition that tests students’ knowledge in all areas of science. Created 22 years ago in 1991, the DOE National Science Bowl strives to encourage students to excel in mathematics and science and to pursue careers in these fields and is an important part of DOE’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education efforts today. The ARM Climate Research Facility supports STEM by participating in public science nights and developing climate related lesson plans to share at these events and via the ARM website.

Atmospheric scientist Laura Riihimaki joined ARM educational outreach staff at Chief Joseph Science Night to demonstrate how to make a cloud-in-a-bottle, always a draw for kids.

In November 2012, ARM communications staff, Rolanda Jundt and Dana Dupont from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, gathered ARM’s education materials and participated in the fourth annual Chief Joseph Middle School Science Night in Richland, Wash. This is the third year running that ARM communications staff have supported this popular local event. Cloud Twist, ARM’s latest learning game, made its debut and was an instant hit with young and old alike. Dana and Rolanda took turns spinning the arrow and calling out cloud names—cirrus, stratus, cumulus, and fog—to reinforce cloud types with flexible children. Laura Riihimaki, an atmospheric scientist also from PNNL, provided hands-on cloud-in-a-bottle demonstrations.

Science Madness was the theme February 26 at Horse Heaven Hills Middle School’s Science Night in Kennewick, Wash. This time, ARM communications staff Stacy Larsen took a turn spinning the Cloud Twist dial, while Lynne Roeder showed kids how to make their own anemometer, and Jim Mather, ARM Climate Research Facility Technical Director, demonstrated the cloud-in-a-bottle for curious students. This was the first time ARM Educational Outreach participated in the event.

ARM outreach staff, Stacy Larsen, challenged student’s flexibility and knowledge of cloud types with ARM’s latest learning activity, Cloud Twist, at Horse Heaven Hill's Science Madness. Instead of colored circles, students spin the arrow among four different clouds types to guide their next move.

Both science nights were open to the public and very well attended. Designed to energize kids about science through more hands-on science activities and physical demonstrations, these events are becoming popular alternatives to science fairs. They provide an opportunity for ARM Educational Outreach to share new lessons plans—developed with teacher input—explore new activities with teachers, students, and parents.

The lesson plans and Cloud Twist were developed by two local 4th grade teachers, Mrs. Hilary Wingert, White Bluffs Elementary in Richland, and Mr. Steve Linn, Cottonwood Elementary in Kennewick. Fun activities, like Cloud Twist, engage students in science while exposing them to new concepts and ideas while supporting ARM’s STEM efforts.