Banner Staff Writer
Despite the theme of the evening, it was hard for students and their parents to count all the fun activities provided for E.L. Ross’ first-ever Math Night.
Tuesday’s fun exploration was sponsored by Chattanooga’s Creative Discovery Museum and included a series of nine separate activities.
More than 50 families attended the event, which was described by Ross Principal Lisa Erby and event coordinators Joy Beacham and Stephanie Stone as a huge success.
Bill Shadwick of the Creative Discovery Museum said the Chattanooga organization sponsors day and night programs throughout the region, all the way to Benton, south to North Georgia and west to the Sequatchie Valley.
“We have four different nighttime programs,” Shadwick said. “We have Math Night, Science Night, Health Night and Biofuels Night.”
Ross School’s Parent-Teacher Organization paid for the program.
Ross faculty members joined in to help, along with members of the Sigma Sorority at Lee University.
Students who participated in the math activities were not graded on their scores, with the addition, subtraction, multiplication and measuring events held just for fun.
The students did fill out a separate sheet for a random drawing for a one-year family membership at the CDM.
The winner of the free membership was the family of fifth-grader Emma Adkins.
Beacham, Ross’ instruction facilitator, said the activities were expected to take an hour or two for students and their families.
There were mothers with daughters, fathers with sons, mixed family groups and complete family groups.
Tuesday’s Math Night is just one of a series of informational activities planned at Ross School, according to Erby. She said a team from Chattanooga’s Tennessee Aquarium was scheduled to be at Ross Wednesday with a program for the fifth grade, and a Technology Night is planned for 6 p.m. Thursday, March 15.
Math Night activities included nine different challenges. They included Action Fractions, Mind Benders, Angling for Distance and Accuracy, Fill It Up, Weights and Balance, Shape Up or Ship Out, Creation Station, Math on the Floor and Measurement Mania.
Shadwick said Math Night has parents working together with their children as they explore math concepts and how they help in everyday lines. “Families solve puzzles, fly a rocket, play Twister with numbers, and make a budget to purchase supplies for an art project,” Shadwick said.
At the Museum’s Health Night, families are provided information about health and fun-related activities with their kids. They can “Taste a Rainbow Buffet,” try great menu items the kids help to make, compare resting heart rates after exercise, use “germs” to learn about personal hygiene and more.
Science Night also includes parents and students in fun activities where they work together to explore various science concepts. Topics include forms of energy, food chains, life cycles, how rocks form, items that float and sink, and how nanos work.
Biofuel Night has families explore many of the scientific concepts involved in producing a biofuel that will work in today’s vehicles. Topics include plant cell walls, energy sources and alternative energy sources.
Shadwick said the Creative Discovery Museum also has a number of daytime fun events that visit schools in the region. School groups also have opportunities to visit the CDM for field trips.
