CSU students share science with Dutcher youngsters

Turlock Journal 3/31/07

By Mark Rivera

Did you know that polar bears have six inches of fat to protect them from the cold?

Many of Dutcher's Elementary School students learned this and other science facts on Thursday night, thanks to students from CSU Stanislaus who put together Dutcher's “Family Science Night,” a collaboration between Dutcher and The CSU Stanislaus Teacher Education Department.

The night was part of a class offered at CSU Stanislaus. Students in the class prepared science displays that covered a variety of topics in earth science, life science and physical science. For example, one display allowed students to actually feel what it would be like to have a layer of fat for protection from the cold, just like polar bears.

One hand was covered with a regular plastic bag and one hand was covered with a bag that was surrounded by lard. Students stuck both hands in buckets of ice and could feel the difference in temperature.

Dutcher's cafeteria resembled a school science fair on Thursday night, except this time the people viewing and learning were the kids and their parents, while the college students acted as hosts.

“This is a great collaboration between with (Dutcher) and CSUS,” said Mary Borba, Multiple-Subject Credential Program Coordinator at CSU Stanislaus. “It's important that students not only learn theory, but learn to apply the theory.”

Dave Sutton is not only the instructor of the course entitled “Science and Health Methods” at CSU Stanislaus, but has been a third grade teacher at Dutcher for 11 years. Sutton finished his master's degree in Education Technology last May and began teaching at the university this Fall. Sutton has been teaching for 26 years. This is the first time that Sutton has instructed this particular course.

“He brought (the idea) to me and I thought it was great,” said Dutcher Assistant Principal Steve Hunter. Dutcher Middle School is a magnet school in the Turlock Unified School District that focuses on Math and science. The two focus subjects are an essential part of every class, even language arts and history.

“Why not teach true material instead of some fluffy stories,” said Sutton.

Sutton was able not only to see his students from CSU Stanislaus in action on Thursday, but could also watch his Dutcher students interact and learn.