Cain students devote week to celebrating science

Students at Cain Elementary learned that science is more than microscopes and laboratories as they took part in teacher Teresa Walker's first science week program.

Guest speakers shared the usefulness of science in a multitude of fields, imparting the knowledge that science is really part of everything.

Their receptive audience, first-graders in Walker's class, already possessed a love of science, says their teacher.

"I try to integrate science into reading and math," said Walker. "Even though we try to get in as much science as we can, my students continue to ask, 'when are we going to do science?'"

As a reward to their interest, Walker planned science week, inviting guest speakers and planning classroom activities that illustrate the varied forms that science takes.

Last Monday was dedicated to chemistry experiments; on Tuesday the class studied weather to prepare for KLTV meteorologist Grant Dade.

The Wright brothers were the topic for Wednesday, with students making parachutes, gliders and helicopters.

Teresa Walker and class with KLTV weatherman Grant Dade. In the top photo, students get up close and personal with Toby Breland's boa constrictor.

Thursday was detective day, with the class mascot "Wildcatnapped" and the students using science to solve the crime.

On Friday, the students conducted a variety of weird science experiments and enjoyed a visit from Toby Breland, who brought a miniature boa constrictor. Breland, who is in research and development for Brookshire's, also told the class about inventing new ice cream flavors.

This Monday, students heard from Marsha Layton, a geology professor from TJC who discussed fossils and the rock cycle.

"The kids and I have had so much fun," said Walker. "This will definitely be an annual event."