Making learning fun

STAFF WRITER

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link Staff photo: Derek Major

Braden Irvin works with volunteers to see how a hot air balloon works Thursday night during the Eastern New Mexico University Family Math and Science Night at James Elementary.

Mary Beth Daughrity knows that getting kids interested in their own education starts before they know how important an education is.

“It’s extremely important,” said Daughrity, an associate professor of Elementary Education Eastern New Mexico University. “But it also has to be age appropriate and this is what we’ve been trying to do with this event. We’ve input some critical thinking that they can do with their parents.”

Daughrity is one of the ENMU professors involved in the annual ENMU Family Math and Science Night at James Elementary, which was held Thursday night with about 50 children and their parents in attendance.

First- and second-grade students got to do four exercises that represented different parts of New Mexico such as Portales, Albuquerque and Carlsbad. Students got to build models of volcanos, dig for treasure, see how hot air balloons work and other math and science activities.

Family Math and Science Night has been going on every year for almost 20 years, according to Daughrity.

“Family night has a reputation and that’s why people bring their kids here,” Daughrity said. “They know that when their kids are here they’ll be learning and having fun at the same time.”

Students from ENMU, who volunteered to assist children in the activities, said they enjoyed helping them have fun and learn at the same time “with these interesting activities they can extend to their own homes.”

“It’s awesome to be here,” said Joe Mattorano. “I love being here, and the kids are great; they love the activities. It’s a great feeling, especially because some of them may not have a good home life, so it’s (the event) even better. They get to experience what it’s like to really have fun at school.”

The parents got to do the activities with their kids, and there were raffles for prizes as well as refreshments for everyone who participated.

“I like when Eastern gets involved with the local schools and interacts with them,” said J. D. Meade, who was with his son, Parker. “This is something kids don’t normally see, especially with the science experiments. Most of the time, they don’t get to do it in a classroom, so this is pretty neat.”

Parker’s sentiments about the event were short and sweet when he was asked if he was having fun.

“Yes.”