Science exhibit travels to Dixon

DIXON – Students at Dixon Elementary School were in for a treat last Thursday as The University of Montana spectrUM Discovery Area’s Motion exhibit took up residence in the school’s gymnasium for the day.

The science based program features a variety of ways students of all ages can learn about science in a hands-on manner.

Educators from spectrUM transformed the gymnasium into a learning center which illustrated scientific concepts of motion and physics to the inquisitive students at Dixon’s elementary school.

Some of the features of the exhibit included a spinning turntable, and a gravity well.

Both the turntable and the gravity well attracted interested groups of Dixon students, however, the most popular exhibit by far was the flight simulator.

The simulator gave students a chance to get behind the controls of a virtual airplane and experience first hand the various factors that airplanes experience during flight.

During their school day the students had an opportunity to see how these exhibits worked as Sarah Baumberger and Nick Wethington of spectrUM were on hand for the on campus field trip.

“One of our big pushes is making science a hands-on experience for the students,” Baumberger said.

Once the school day was concluded the students had another opportunity to visit the Motion exhibit during the free family science night that ran from 5 to 7 p.m.

Baumberger described the family science night as a rewarding experience for the educators, as they got to see the students come back with family members and excitedly describe some of the concepts they had learned earlier in the day.

Dixon Elementary School Principal Kelly Moore was also on hand for the family science night and he described the event as an excellent opportunity for the school’s students.

“It’s a great way to get students interested in science,” Moore said.

Since 2006, spectrUM has transported exhibits and educators to 75 schools and public libraries in 29 counties across Montana.

The students at Dixon appreciated the work put into the exhibits as they spent Thursday evening running through the gymnasium to take in the various activities on display.