The Kentucky Department of Agriculture's new high-tech Mobile Science Activity Centers (MSAC) will visit Auburn Elementary this Thursday and Friday, March 13-14.
Two MSACs travel to schools throughout the Commonwealth to give students the opportunity to conduct scientific experiments related to agriculture using current educational standards and core content.
The MSACs are 44-foot-long trailers that contain 11 iPads, a 70-inch LED monitor, and an all-in-one touchscreen desktop computer. Students will interact with the teacher using the iPads through Insight360 software. The mobile units contain internal generators; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and handicapped-accessible ramps.
The mobile units are administered by the Division of Agriculture Education and Outreach in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Office of Marketing.
The new MSACs were purchased and outfitted with support from Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom Inc.'s member partners: the AgriBusiness Association of Kentucky, Farm Credit Mid-America, the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, the Kentucky Beef Council, the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association, the Kentucky Corn Growers Association, the Kentucky Dairy Development Council, the Kentucky Equine Education Project, Kentucky Farm Bureau, the Kentucky Goat Producers Association, the Kentucky Horse Council, the Kentucky Pork Producers Association, the Kentucky Poultry Federation, the Kentucky Retail Federation, the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association, the Kentucky Small Grain Growers' Association, the Kentucky Soybean Board, and the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association.
For more information about the Mobile Science Activity Center or Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom, contact Elizabeth McNulty at (502) 564-4983 or elizabeth.mcnulty@ky.gov. To find the Mobile Science Activity Center on the Web, go to the KDA Web site,www.kyagr.com<http://www.kyagr.com/>, click on Ag Education in the Promotional Programs menu, and click on Mobile Science Activity Center.
What is The Activity Center?
A 44-foot long trailer with 11 iPad interactive workstations for a classroom of students to conduct activities and investigations related to agriculture and the environment.
All materials and supplies to conduct the activities are provided. Examples of activities are making Biodegradable Corn Plastic, Ice Cream in a Bag, Gluep, and Soy Lip Balm. These activities make the connection between the agricultural source to commonly used products.
All activities align with Scientific Inquiry in Kentucky's Education Standards. The target grade levels are 4th and 5th grades. However, activities are available for other grade levels.