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MAN OF SCIENCE FIRES UP STUDENTS
(BRADENTON FL - November 7th, 2006) Science instructor Robert Krampf knows a sure-fire way to grab the attention of elementary school students - he sets his hand ablaze.
Krampf drew ooohs and aaahs from fourth and fifth graders at Rowlett Elementary when he lit his left hand on fire during a recent assembly. Krampf was demonstrating how scientists working with the Hollywood film industry developed a product called “Stunt Gel” that protects the skin from fiery flames.
An educator for 32 years, Krampf travels around the state and nation generating interest in science.
During his 45-minute program, Krampf performed a number of interesting experiments, but he saved his best act for the end of his show. That's when Krampf donated a free copy of a DVD he helped produce to Rowlett. The DVD is designed to help students perform better on the FCAT Science Test.
Rowlett was the first elementary school in Florida to receive a donated copy of the DVD.
“We're going to donate a copy to every public elementary school in the state,” said Krampf, who teamed with Omar Amaro of Geekerati, Inc., a Ft. Lauderdale based production company, to produce the instructional DVD.
“I'm hoping it's going to cause an upward bump in FCAT scores, but I'm also hoping that it's going to get teachers and students doing more science,” Krampf said. “Science is so vital for our future and every year we are getting fewer and fewer scientists.”
The DVD is broken into six-minute segments and covers all of the benchmarks covered on the FCAT Science Test. Some of the concepts covered on the DVD include erosion, the water cycle (including precipitation and evaporation) and recycling.
“I've seen the video and it's just excellent,” said Judith Griffith, a Curriculum Specialist for the School District. “They are great little vignettes that explain the FCAT benchmarks for science in a very understandable way.”
Rowlett Principal Brian Flynn said teachers at his school will use the DVD as an introduction to science lessons and as a review tool when the concepts have been covered. Even though Rowlett is a magnet school for Communications and the Arts, Flynn said the school places a strong emphasis on the study of science.
“A lot of people think of science as being dull and dry, but it's not at all,” Flynn said. “Having Robert come here to present science the way he did, that's going to go a long way in motivating teachers and exciting our students as to what science is all about.”
Science Instructor Robert Krampf dazzles the students at Rowlett Elementary