Throughout the semester, UTeach Outreach volunteers lead more than 100 Austin Independent School District 5th grade children a week on an educational expedition through the UT campus to demonstrate how science works in the real world. Some points of exploration in the expedition include how the scientific method is used in algae research, the importance of preservation, environmental benefits of different plants in our world, manmade energy sources, bio-fuels, and energy transformation. Field trip activities include tours of the Hal C. Weaver Power Plant, the Biological Greenhouses, an ecological scavenger hunt at the turtle pond, and many more. The field trips are sponsored by the Sustainability Office and the Green Fee Project.
For teachers:
Taking your students on a scientific expedition allows them to see how the concepts you teach in the classroom work in the real world. Scientific Expeditions take place on various Fridays throughout the semester. If you are interested in organizing a Scientific Expedition for your students, please e-mail us at UTeach.Outreach@austin.utexas.edu.
For students:
Any individual or student organization interested in taking a leadership role in inspiring the next generation of scientists with engaging hands-on content should volunteer to give a tour! Share your love of UT and spend the day with an amazing group of kids while you’re at it. If you or your organization are interested in leading a Scientific Expedition, please e-mail us UTeach.Outreach@austin.utexas.edu. All training on how to give a tour will be provided by UTeach Outreach.
Field Trip Schedule for Spring 2012
| 3/30/2012 | Patton Elementary School Field Trip |
| 4/13/2012 | Field Trip |
| 4/20/2012 | Patton Elementary School Field Trip |
| 4/27/2012 | Field Trip |
| 5/4/2012 | Burnet Middle School (7th, 8th) Field Trip |
May 4th Field Trip
Today we took a field trip to the University of Texas. There were three different groups and I was in the silver group led by Melody. After we got our groups, we headed to the turtle pond and played the “Obstacle game” where we had to guide out teammates through an obstacle course while they were blind folded. It was a lot of fun. Next, we took a tour of the campus where we saw the Union, the tower,
March 2nd Field Trip
UTeach Outreach held our second field trip this semester this past Friday, March 2nd! 43 very excited fifth graders from Matthews Elementary came out to learn about sustainability through hands-on experiments around campus. The students really enjoyed the turtle pond scavenger hunt (we even found the giant snapping turtle!) and the tour of the Hal C. Weaver power plant.
February 24th Field Trip
Today we were joined by students from Langford Elementary for a Scientific Expedition! The students toured the Forty Acres at the University of Texas to see science at work in the real world. They got to see the algae research going on in the Biology Building, which houses the largest algae collection in the world. Students got to visit the UT Turtle Pond to investigate the pond ecosystem and learn why it's important to preserve it and the organisms that live there.
