The Science Enrichment Program at MUW
Presents its
Summer 2012 Workshop Program
Instructions/information:
- Registration is open to all. Spots fill on a first-come-first-served basis. Once seats are full, an alternate list will be started in case of cancellations.
- List workshops in order of priority/interest on registration forms – fill out forms completely.
- All workshops are free of charge.
- Teachers must participate fully to be eligible for CEUs and stipends.
- CEU’s and stipend awards will be filed at the end of June and again at the end of July. Checks and certificates will take several weeks to process and mail.
- Workshops will be held at Plymouth Bluff Center or Parkinson Hall on MUW’s campus. To see maps and get directions, click here
- With the exception of the final workshop (#6 – The Earth and Beyond) no meals will be served. Participants should eat breakfast before they arrive and bring a snack if needed.
- Make sure you review the “General Information” section of our website so you’ll know how to arrive prepared.
- To apply, download and complete the appropriate form under “Summer Workshop Forms” under the “Forms” tab on our homepage.
To apply - e-mail, fax, or mail your completed applications to:
e-mail:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Fax: 662.329.7238
Attn: Kenny Langley
Dept. of Sciences and Mathematics
1100 College St. MUW-100
Columbus, MS 39701
Workshop 1: “Ecologies of Mississippi and the Deep South”
June 4 - 8 2012
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Plymouth Bluff Center
Student capacity: 22 (4th – 8th grade) Youth application form
Teacher capacity: 8 (K-12) Educator application packet
Monday– Soil and forest ecology led by Nicole Welch and Harry Sherman
- Understand soil composition and take soil samples for simple testing
- Learn how soils impact plant communities and vice versa
- Learn how plants work together or compete to survive
- Learn how plant communities determine wildlife populations and communities
Tuesday – Birds and aquatic ecology led by Jim & Dianne Patterson and Kenny Langley
- Observe bird species in the field
- Mississippi River restoration, the Mississippi flyway, and field guides + sketching
- Owl pellet dissection
- Learn the basics of aquatic ecosystems
- Sample macroinvertebrates to assess water quality in river and wetland systems
Wednesday– Insects and honeybees led by Jennifer Seltzer and Kenny Langley
- Learn about insect types and their roles in Mississippi ecosystem dynamics
- Collect insects in the field and identify them in the lab
- Observe insect collections from Mississippi and around the world
- Learn about insect adaptations and honeybees + observation hive journaling
Thursday – Terrestrial wildlife biology/ecology including misunderstood species and
herpetology led by Jessica Tegt
- Learn about mammals, lizards, snakes, and other organisms found in Mississippi
- Learn about these organism’s role in ecosystem stability
- Learn about misunderstood species
- Look for these animals or traces they leave behind
- Set up a bat house
Friday – Wildlife biology continued, principles of ecology, and anthropogenic impacts led by Jessica Tegt
*Participants will spend extended periods outdoors and should be prepared. See General Information section of website for details. The product of the workshop will be a well organized and detailed journal created by each participant.
*Full participation by teachers will make them eligible for 2.0 CEUs and a $100 stipend.
* pre-reading suggestions:
-A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
-National Audubon Society’s Field Guide to the Southeastern States
Workshop 2: “Algebra Access: Foundations”
June 14 & 15 2012
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
216 Parkinson Hall on MUW’s campus
Student capacity: up to 24 (6th – 8th grade) Youth application form
Teacher capacity: 10-12 (5th – 8th grade) Educator application packet
* Eat lunch before you arrive. A bring a snack for the workshop's afternoon break.
*This workshop has been changed from its original format.
Thursday – Students & teachers arrive: Welcome, pretest, introduction. Participants learn new activities, including the Algebra Relay and algebra tile lessons.
Friday– Students & teachers arrive: Participants learn new activities including Hands-On Equations and graphing calculator lessons. Posttest for teachers and students.
*All topics will be selected from the Common Core State Standards.
*Full participation by teachers will make them eligible for 0.6 CEUs and a $30 stipend.
Workshop 3: “A Drop in the Bucket”
June 18 - 22 2012
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Plymouth Bluff Center
Student capacity: 24 (4th – 8th grade) Youth application form
Instructors: Rick Maiers and Kenny Langley + Janet Chapman of MDEQ and Jeff Hatten of MSU
Monday –
- Welcome, pre-test, introduction
- Water quality concepts
- Sample Butahatchee River
Tuesday –
- Watersheds II + Rivers & Streams
- Sample Catalpa Creek
Wednesday –
- Wetlands and Water Quality (Jeff Hatten of MSU)
- Sample Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway from Explorer pontoon boat
- Hike to slough to observe wetland habitat
Thursday – Water cycle and aquatic biology/ecology
- Special sessions with Megan Sewall of the Natural Science Museum
Friday – Human impacts and mitigation
- Human impacts
- Conservation, mitigation, and problem solving
- Summary, conclusion, post-test
*Participants should arrive prepared to hike outdoors and take excursions each day. See the General Information section of the website for details.
Workshop 4: “Mathematics Mania: Fun with Fractions”
July 9 - 13 2012
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
216 Parkinson Hall on MUW’s campus
Student capacity: up to 24 (3rd – 5th grade) Youth application form
Teacher capacity: 8 (2nd – 6th grade) Educator application packet
Instructor: Bonnie Oppenheimer
* Eat lunch before you arrive. Bring a snack for the workshop's afternoon break.
Monday – Welcome, pretest, introduction. Teachers will discuss the Common Core’s Standards for Mathematical Practice and the standards in the Common Core for 3rd-5th grades.
Tuesday – Teachers will learn the activities they will be teaching to the students, including the manipulatives Fraction Circles and Pattern Blocks.
Wednesday – Teachers will learn the activities they will be teaching to the students, including the Cuisenaire rods to use as manipulatives.
Thursday – Students arrive: Welcome, pretest, introduction. Teachers practice teaching the new activities to the students, including Fraction Circles and Pattern Block lessons.
Friday – Students arrive, and teachers practice teaching the new activities to the students, including many different kinds of Cuisenaire rod lessons. Posttest for teachers and students.
*All topics will be selected from the Common Core State Standards.
*Full participation by teachers will make them eligible for 1.5 CEUs and a $75 stipend.
Workshop 5: “Sustainable Living Strategies and Design”
July 16 - 20 2012
Times: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Mon, Fri) or 3:00 p.m. (Tu,Wed,Th)
107, 116, 117 Parkinson Hall
Student capacity: 16 (8th – 11th grade) Youth application form
Teachers: 8 (6th – 12 grade) Educator application packet
Instructors: Taze Fulford and Kenny Langley + multiple guest speakers
Monday 8:30 – 12:30 (Taze Fulford)
- Introduction to concepts
- Current consumption trends and need for “green” development
- Passive Solar
- Green architecture intro.
- Design and scale intro.
Tuesday 8:30 – 3:00 (Taze Fulford)
- Active Solar
- Green architecture continued
- USGBC speaker (T.B.A.)
- Design concepts continued
- Lunch (one hour – bring your own)
- Design session II and begin model construction
Wednesday 8:30 – 3:00
- Tours of landfill and LA facility at MSU
- Lunch (one hour – stop at restaurant for Dutch treat)
- Model construction III (Kenny Langley)
Thursday 8:30 – 3:00
- Ecological footprint calculations (Kenny Langley)
- Sustainable Ag. and CSAs (Sam McLemore and Ali Fratesi)
- Green roofs and vegetated covers (Jason Walker)
- Lunch (one hour – bring your own)
- Model construction II (Kenny Langley)
Friday 8:30 – 12:30
- Home audits, upgrades and retrofits (Kenny Langley)
- Present models
- Applied techniques (Mike and Alison Buehler and T.B.A.)
*Participants should arrive prepared to work outdoors. See the General Information section of the website for details.
*Participants must bring a lunch to eat on Tues., Wed., and Thurs. plus a snack and drink each day if desired.
*Full participation by teachers will make them eligible for 2.5 CEUs and a $125 stipend.
*pre-reading suggestions:
- Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
- Our Ecological Footprint by Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees
Workshop 6: “The Earth and Beyond”
July 24 & 25 2012
Times vary per day – see schedule below
Student capacity: 20 (4th – 8th grade) Youth application form
Adult capacity: 10 (teachers or parents) Adult/Educator application form
Instructors: Athena Nagel, Grady Dixon, and David Teske
1:00 p.m. to 3:25 p.m. – Introduction to Geology and hands-on activities
3:35 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Introduction to Atmospheric Science and hands-on activities
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – Box dinner (provided)
7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – Introduction to Astronomy, hands-on activities, and night sky observation
*overnight stay at Plymouth Bluff mandatory (provided)
*each room must house one adult and two students – adults are chaperones, responsible for youth in their room
8:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – Continental breakfast (provided)
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Geology continued with field excursion
12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Break + lunch on your own
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Atmospheric Science continued with field analysis
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – Pizza dinner (provided)
7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – Astronomy continued with night sky observation
*overnight stay at Plymouth Bluff optional – indicate on application form if you would like second night accommodations (NOT provided)
*Transportation and overnight supervision/chaperones are the responsibility of participants.
*Each adult must accompany two students – will serve as overnight and intersession chaperones and participate in all workshop sessions and activities with their group
*Full participation by teachers will make them eligible for 1.5 CEUs. Because overnight accommodations and three meals will be provided, a stipend will not be available for this workshop.
