Students develop resource saving plan

GRAVETTE -It began with a video the teacher at Gravette Upper Elementary School showed her fourth graders after they returned to class from a field trip.

“I was just trying to settle them down after the trip,” said Andrea VanSandt, GATE (Gifted and Talented Education teacher) said. She often uses short videos from the Technology, Education, Design website, (www.TED.com). “The short educational videos really get the kids thinking,” she added.

The film those fourth grade GATE students viewed explained how paper towel waste could be cut dramatically if Americans would use one less paper tower per day. The video demonstrated a “shake/fold” method which uses only one paper towel to dry one's hands.

VanSandt said the kids came back to school the next day “very excited.” Some of them said they tried the shake/fold system and asked, “Could we use it at school to save paper towels?”

Their response excited the teacher and the rest is history. She explained: The kids used a scientific method to determine whether the process would or would not reduce paper towel waste.

“The kids were so motivated to do research, they put together a presentation for their friends. They even asked to stay late one day to finish their math.”

The students then presented their research and an instructional video they made to third through fourth graders and challenged those groups to try the shake/fold dry-your-hands method to help save paper towels at school.

VanSandt admitted, “I was worried the other kids wouldn’t buy into our project but, in the following weeks, not only was there a difference, paper towel usage had been cut 42 percent. The students estimated it would amount to approximately $654 saved during the school year.”

The teacher shared her good classroom experience with her husband David, an employee at Simmons Pet Food in Siloam Springs. That firm has adopted a LEAN production model which encourages employees to seek ways the company can save time, resources and, ultimately, money.

The story doesn’t end there. David shared the information with a supervisor who invited the class to present their project to the warehouse employees at a LEAN team meeting.

“The kids were so excited,” an equally-excited teacher said.

They (the kids) made their presentation and, while at the meeting, they were able to watch employees share their LEAN projects. Later, VanSandt received calls from the OCH Clinic and from the Boys and Girls Club in Bella Vista requesting posters and a copy of the video to share with their groups.

VanSandt said the class used the project as a way to reinforce scientific processes, adding and subtracting decimals, performing research skills, and thinking creatively.

“As a teacher,” she said, “you hope the kids take what they learn (in class) and will some day use it in a positive way. I think this project has made believers out of all of them. They see now that they can make a difference.”

Editor’s Note: Fourth grader Kolton Varner demonstrated and explained to the photographer how, after washing your hands, to shake your hands 10 or 20 times and then fold the towel in half, which creates an air pocket to help in the drying process. Using something as simple as shaking and folding a paper towel is a good example of how those in the teaching profession can inspire and nurture open and inquisitive children’s minds.

Andrea, who has taught fifth grade and kindergarten at Siloam Springs and GATE coordinator in Decatur, is a second year GATE instructor at Gravette. She and her husband David, with their three sons, live in Siloam Springs.

News, Pages 16 on 05/01/2013