Something magical happens when learning comes off the page of a textbook and becomes real. Whether that looks like a science experiment, playing a piece of music, performing a play, or creating a work of art, learning can take on a lot of different appearances. Research has shown time and time again that learning is most effective when it is interactive. When students can apply knowledge and skills, they are much more likely to retain them. Plus, and this might be the most important part, when kids have fun learning, they want to do it more and more and eventually, they become lifelong learners; people who are constantly striving to learn more and to more fully understand the world around them.
It is with this notion in mind that Todd Boyette and Denise Young, leaders in science education from Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill started the NC Science Festival in 2010. Over the past 14 years, the festival has become what it is today: a month-long, statewide celebration of science. The goal of the festival is to promote careers in science
and technology.
“Through hands-on activities, science talks, lab tours, nature experiences, expos, exhibits, and performances, the Festival engages a wide range of public audiences while inspiring future generations,” ncsciencefestival.org. Since April of 2010, over 3 million people across our state have participated in NC Science Festival programming.
One unique NCSciFest event will be held at the East Regional Public Library on Thursday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. It is called “Art, Its History and Our Great State.” This workshop celebrates the art and culture of North Carolina-from “African American musical culture, Appalachian music and crafts, Cherokee arts and culture, Piedmont pottery, maritime traditions,” according to ncsciencefestival.org, and learning the science and math behind them. It's easy to assume that art and science are totally different things, but the reality is that they go hand in hand. Reading music is math; understanding how to blend colors to create new ones is science. These ideas will be explored through hands-on activities at this workshop on April 25. Kids of all ages are invited to try experimenting with mixing colors and learning the math required to prepare an art project. In one hour, students will create a connection with the history and culture of our state, grow in their understanding of how that artwork is created, and enjoy creating something themselves. As with most NC SciFest events, Art, Its History and Our Great State is free for any and all participants, and all ages are invited to participate.
There will be several NC Science Festival events in Fayetteville during the month of April, so be sure to check out their website ncsciencefestival.org for a full lineup of events for students of all ages. Events in our area will be held at Cumberland County Public Library locations as well as Cape Fear Botanical Garden.