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March 9, 2009

Mills chosen as technical advisor for science education project

Dr. Boniface J. Mills, assistant professor of atmospheric sciences in the University of Louisiana at Monroe Department of Geosciences, has been selected as the technical adviser to Simsboro High School of the Lincoln Parish School district for Project SKY HIGH.

SKY HIGH targets seventh and eighth-grade students in north Louisiana schools and integrates the latest research on content literacy strategies with best practices in technology-driven science education.

In addition to learning about biological processes and ecosystems, the students will explore Earth and physical science concepts such as energy sources, space exploration, Newton's Laws, chemical reactions, and weather as they:

• Read the novel “Rocket Boys” by Homer Hickam.

• Use informational texts as resources for writing a feature article about the history and future of energy and space travel.

• Construct model rockets and participate in the rocket launching contest know as Team America Rocket Design Challenge.

• Partner with the ULM Atmospheric Sciences Program, which has developed the Louisiana Lower Atmosphere Research Collaborative. LaLARC teams ULM faculty and students with K-12 schools to launch model rockets loaded with sensors and data recorders for atmospheric studies.

Project SKY HIGH is supported in part by a Tapestry Grant sponsored by ULM’s LaLARC, the Toyota Corporation, Lincoln Parish's Project Accelerating Children Higher In Educational Values Everywhere, Lincoln Parish District funds, and the Louisiana Tech GK-12 fund.

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