NOBLE NEWS
from The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
Noble Academy Science Exploration Trunk program takes hands-on science, agriculture lessons into Oklahoma schools Agricultural education is on the go once again. Only this time, it’s going through the mail. lesson teaches students about the importance of soil health and he Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation’s Noble Academy soil testing. The activities are for middle school and high school has been taking hands-on science and agriculture students. demonstrations into classrooms across southern Oklahoma for the past three years. Now, the Noble Academy’s Science The trunk-based lessons provide a basis for students and Exploration Trunk program will provide some of these educators to better understand the development of scientific demonstrations to classrooms across the state. research. These activities are designed to pique students’ interest in science and share “Educators are tasked with teachthe positive role of science and ing the next generation within the agriculture in society. confines of limited budgets and Educators are tasked with time,” said Frank Hardin, Ph.D., No The trunk program is free teaching the next generation for educators to use in their ble Academy educational outreach within the confines of limited classrooms once they have manager. “The Noble Foundation is going to provide science teachers attended a training workshop. budgets and time. and agricultural educators with a The workshops familiarize — Frank Hardin, Ph.D. new tool that will give students a teachers with the trunks and Noble Academy's educational chance to experience agricultural guide them on how to easily outreach manager science while also directly correlatuse and present the activities. ing to the national STEM requirements.” Educators can check a trunk out for one week at a time. Training workshops for 2016 have ended, but training opportunities for The trunk program consists of a shippable container that 2017 will be posted on the Noble Academy website. comes complete with all the resources and materials to lead two hands-on activities: the Carbon Cycle and CSI in a Wheat “Workshops can be hosted here at the Noble Foundation Field. The activities integrate into and support existing for those who are willing to travel,” Hardin said. “Schools and science curriculum and are aligned with Oklahoma education organizations can also schedule to host their own workshop at standards. The Carbon Cycle lesson introduces students to the a location convenient for them. We can travel anywhere in the importance of carbon to life. Students will observe the density state. Each trunk takes approximately one hour to learn, so the of CO2 and learn how it affects pH, and how water temperature training workshops don’t take too much time.” affects how much CO2 it is able to hold. The CSI in a Wheat Field The Science Exploration Trunk program was developed and is managed by the Noble Foundation’s Noble Academy youth outreach education program. Financial support for the program is provided by Devon Energy Corporation, Oklahoma FFA Foundation and the Noble Foundation. The program and its activities further support the development of studentled, science-based FFA agriscience fair projects. For program guidelines, trunk request forms and training opportunities, please visit www.noble.org/noble-academy/trunk-program/. “These trunks help provide another resource for our educators who are looking to engage their students in handson lessons, which is an essential part of learning,” Hardin said. “Additionally, these lessons spark students’ imaginations. Science isn’t scary. It’s all around us. These activities help students see the critical involvement of science in our everyday life.”
30 — Oklahoma Country