RELEASED: Nov. 7, 2002

DANVILLE, KY—Who gets excited about rocks? It seems dozens of elementary school students that participated in the L.I.F.T. (Learning Is Fun Together) Project at Centre College did thanks to a group of Elementary Education majors at Centre College.

Seniors Hannah Hoy, Rachel Bush, Annie Darpel and Lauren DePersio developed a classroom activity for students based on their work with L.I.F.T.

The group had a presentation titled "Rock Activities for the Elementary Classroom" that was a session at last month's National Science Teacher's Association Eastern Area Convention in Louisville.

Their presentation demonstrated how rocks can be used as a learning tool for students and how to make it fun.

The Centre students came up with various activities. The group taught students how to identify different types of rocks, and also showed them how to make a rock of their own using clay and plaster. The Centre students also constructed a volcano with clay and a salad dressing container. The 4th- and 5th-graders were amazed when the volcano erupted by mixing vinegar and baking soda.

Students also painted some of their rocks. One painted their triangular rock like a pizza, another who had a hump-shaped rock painted theirs like a ladybug.

The seniors met with the L.I.F.T. students for two hours a week for four weeks.

"They retained the knowledge from week to week, which was pretty amazing," Bush said. "These are hands-on activities and were a lot of fun. All the children really enjoyed themselves. They loved the volcano. The students seemed to get a lot out of it, and we did as well."

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