Kids teach legislators lessons in technology

NEWTON STUDENTS used a probe to measure insulation values in a NASA-inspired experiment. Left: Maria Hudson and Shadow Stephens repeat the demonstration for the Newton Lions Club lunch. Newsboy photo/ Shron Kerr

Four Newton fourth grade students went to Austin recently to show Texas legislators how school funds are being utilized to teach technology.

Only 15 schools statewide were selected for the Texas Capitol Schoolhouse Project. Senator Robert Nichols and Representative Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton met with Shadow Stephens, Dalaina Richmond, Meaghan Morgan and Maria Hudson.

The children were selected because of a project they created based on NASA research. They made double-walled mitts out of ziplock bags, filled the space in between with various materials from feathers to potting soil. They used a probe to test the insulating value of each mitt.

The students explained to legislators that this is the kind of research NASA conducts to determine what insulating materials might best protect an astronaut from heat and cold on the moon or in space.

They recorded their information on DANAs, which look like a laptop computer but are sturdy enough to survive a bounce off the playground, according to assistant superintendant Sherrie Leach, who accompanied the students.

"They work like a minicomputer," Hudson explained. "I do my autobiographies and homework on them and we can beam each other notes just like text messages so we can share the information we are researching."

Leach said the DANAs were purchased with funds from a technology grant.