Gaffney Middle teachers will attend Science PLUS Institute this summer
Gaffney Middle School students Bhagyesh Patel, Timothy Smith, Mi'Kayla Lockhart, Nick Wells and Kerstin Rogers work on a general science experiment last week. Gaffney Middle teachers Bette Berry and Kristi Schurz will join 111 teachers statewide in attending this summer's Science PLUS Institute at the Roper Mountain Science Center in Greenville. Ledger Photo / SCOTT POWELL
Berry, a seventh grade teacher, will attend a week-long session on chemistry while Schurz, an eighth grade teacher, plans to attend an Institute class dealing with earth science. They are among 111 teachers statewide selected this year to attend classes at the Roper Mountain Science Center in Greenville.
The Science PLUS Institute will provide intensive training in science teaching methods and hands-on science activities. Teachers are grouped by grade level in science education classes funded entirely by a South Carolina Education Improvement Act.
The Education Improvement Act funds are generated by state sales tax. The Science PLUS Institute is one of many state programs supported by these funds.
The Cherokee County School District annually sends teachers to participate in the Institute. In the institute’s 17-year history, 3,713 public school teachers in South Carolina have attended the science education programs.
Teachers are encouraged to weave math and language art skills into their science lessons and look for opportunities to make science connections when teaching other subjects.
“Science is so hard to teach. We do a lot of labs to give the kids something to attach to the knowledge they learn in science class,” Berry said. “I hope this will give me some good ideas and new handson activities so I can have more in-depth knowledge I can use in teaching science.”
The Science PLUS Institute provides resources for hands-on activities with students. Teachers receive science materials and supplies to duplicate the lessons they have learned.
Each school district that submitted applicants is represented by at least one teacher chosen to attend the Institute. Teachers from 65 school districts in South Carolina are expected to attend the Science PLUS Institute this year.
“New skills, enhanced content knowledge and tested ideas shared by other teachers enable our Science PLUS participants to return to their classrooms with confidence and renewed enthusiasm,” Institute coordinator Lucinda Jacobs said.
