By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-884830.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Future science teachers at Florida A&M University's College of Education will have new materials on hand to study. The school has secured a loan agreement with NASA to hold moon and meteorite samples at the school, giving those future educators an experience that is out of this world.
"We're on planet Earth, where we have an atmosphere, a hydrosphere and a lithosphere and a biosphere "
Dr. Edith Davis is in charge of the program and says educating Florida's future science teachers means making the science come alive for them. That means it's not enough to just talk about science theory, it has to be put into practical application in the real world. She cites the recent discovery of water on the moon and its importance as an example.
"You heard me do the little song, with planet Earth atmosphere and hydrosphere?' Approximately three-fourths of the Earth is covered in water. Approximately 97-percent of that is salt. Three-percent is fresh water. Two-percent is locked up in ice. So, fresh water is going to be life or death for this planet."
Davis says when teachers make science practical and can give real life examples of its use, their students retain more.
The space rocks will be on display at the Carnegie Library at FAMU this Saturday from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. The rocks go back to NASA at the end of the month.