Mary Filko

Filko's "Science in the Palm of Our Hands" puts hand-held computers in the hands of third- to fifth-grade students to collect and analyze scientific data in the field. In one activity, students visit two lakes, two ponds, a creek, and a wetland to take temperature readings and measure pH and oxygen levels to gauge overall water quality. The data is transferred to computers at school for further analysis and report writing. Findings are published on a student Web site and shared with the local water system, an environmental group, and the EPA. Through this, students gain a better understanding of science concepts and deepen their appreciation for local ecology, history, and geography.