Kids take trip to UM for hands-on science lesson

ST. IGNATIUS – Hands-on science and technology was on the agenda for Glacier Lake School students this week.

Through child-led learning and democratic process, Glacier students chose educational activities of interest and spent an enjoyable day discovering the complexity of the human anatomy and the benefits of 3D technology.

SpectrUM, a University of Montana Children’s Science Museum, dazzled the students with fun fact activities.

Local college students engaged the curious students with BrainZone labs, an exciting exhibition designed to inspire the next generation of neuroscientists with a hands-on and up-close look at the brain and other bodily organs to include dissection of a cow’s eyeball.

Parents and students lined the displays watching the detailed dissection, mesmerized as museum representatives displayed eye sections, explaining the use and purpose.

Cora Lapatka, a Glacier Lake student could not wait to place her gloved hands upon the dissection pieces on display for further scrutiny.

As the interactive tour continued, students explored altered reality through vision-changing goggles, two water tables exhibits allowing children to create their own model river system and another where they can explore the dynamics of Missoula’s local stretch of the Clark Fork River.

During their visit, students learned about how rivers form and the effects that humans have on the landscape and living systems.

Missoula’s public library, offered a center of educational activity to the awaiting students and awed them with a 3D computer program, MakorBot Replicator, capable of printing and creating everything from a pocket T-Rex skull to Minecraft memorabilia. Glacier students examined in amazement,= bins of items that the program/printer created.

Glacier Lake School students showed interest in brainstorming fundraising activities to purchase the printer and software for school and student use.

“This was not an ordinary field trip,” Cathie, parent chaperone said. “I think I might just volunteer for every activity if they are as entertaining as this one was.”

The students, chaperones and school officials closed the educational experience with ice cream and carousel rides.