KEALAKEHE — Learning and discovery abounded Thursday afternoon at the Kealakehe Elementary School Science and Art Showcase, where professional researchers gave students an opportunity to experience their work hands on, cultivating the next generation of scientists in Hawaii.
KEALAKEHE — Learning and discovery abounded Thursday afternoon at the Kealakehe Elementary School Science and Art Showcase, where professional researchers gave students an opportunity to experience their work hands on, cultivating the next generation of scientists in Hawaii.
“It’s important for kids to know science is all around us,” said Candace Travalino, who sits on the art and science committee at Kealakehe Elementary School.
This year is the third year the school has held the event, partnering with the Office of Maunakea Management and observatories to teach students about the science happening in their own backyard. With discoveries being made everywhere from the island’s highest points to the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park at Keahole, science is happening everywhere.
“It’s all around us,” she said. “The island is a natural lab for (students).”
She added that the event also included some art education to teach kids the connections that can be made between the two fields, such as problem solving and creativity.
Thursday’s event featured activities and opportunities for learning from several scientific disciplines.
While some students experienced their world in infrared vision, others got up close with the insects that make their home on Mauna Kea.
Fritz Klasner, natural resource program manager for the Office of Maunakea Management said the event folds in with their mission to bring awareness of the resources on the mountain.
“This is a great opportunity, especially to participate in something the schools are organizing here in West Hawaii,” he said. “That opportunity to reach the keiki is really a lot of fun.”
Ahia Dye, planetarium support facilitator at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, staffed one exhibit that taught children about motion in space and the orbit of planets and other objects.
Dye’s presentation gave kids a chance to use different-sized spheres to experience the effects that not only large objects have on smaller ones, but also the other way around.
As the smaller spheres orbited their way around the larger “star” in the center, the center sphere wobbled.
It’s because of that wobble, Dye explained to students, that scientists are able to discover the existence of potential planets orbiting stars far off in the distance.
It’s a timely demonstration, Dye said, given the recent discovery of a new solar system.
Astronomers recently found seven Earth-sized planets orbiting a star less than 40 light-years away, according to the Associated Press.
“We’re trying to take something we just learned and bring it into this kind of a lesson,” Dye said.
Dye explained that it’s important to feed kids’ interests and making learning relevant.
“Getting people excited about exploring means making it relevant, addressing an issue and creating solutions,” she said. “Even though the science is so far away, we have a relationship with these things.”
Gabrielle Yantone, a teacher at Freedom Schools, brought 10 children to the event, ranging from kindergarten to second grade.
“The world needs scientists,” she said. “The world needs people who are inspired by what they see in nature.”
Yantone said her students were all excited about the event and that she particularly liked the hands-on approach, saying it creates a lasting impression on students.
This sort of experience, she said, reinforces “proactive learning,” encouraging kids to make their own discoveries.
“You get to participate and either investigate or do your own research that really interests you,” she said.
And it was fun for the kids as well.
“I like experimenting and reading,” said R.J. Kalili-Burdman, a third grader. “I like hands-on projects.”
His favorite, he said, was a feature on the native birds of Hawaii, an activity in which kids could listen to the songs of native birds. The study of animals, he said, is his favorite kind of science and he wants to be an animal scientist when he gets older.
R.J.’s mother, Kalei Kalili-Burdman, said she thinks the event was great for students.
“This is awesome,” she said. “I’m glad the kids got to experience a lot of exhibits that are going on.”
In addition to being a great opportunity for kids, she added, it’s also great for parents.
The event, she said, gives parents a chance to support their children’s education and inspires ideas for activities they can do with their kids to foster learning.
“Plus,” she added, “whenever the parents are involved, you can tell the kids are more involved, too.”