Passion makes teacher life of the science party

John Slyer, a science teacher at Shaker Junior High School, wants his students, young people — and you — to know:

During bicycle activities he runs after school, he has his students light an electric bulb by pedaling and measures their heart and respiratory rates and how long they can go.

By understanding practical matters people are experiencing in their lives, the students can find themselves physically better, help themselves learn, manage their money and do better in school, Slyer says.

William Sudduth, executive director of miSci in Schenectady, says the mission for the Super Science Weekend is to promote family learning and enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, an area of academic focus now often collectively called STEM.

Slyer says he seeks to engage students and their parents as participants, inviting some to come up on stage and take part in his demonstrations.

According to one of Slyer's former students, Tara McDonald, he influenced her decision to go into the science field and work with animals.

Back in 2001, when McDonald was in seventh grade, Slyer had several classroom pets, including a flying squirrel, sugar glider (a small possum much like a flying squirrel), snake, tarantula, sea monkey and rabbit.

Since no one was in the classrooms over the weekend, Slyer would need student volunteers to take the animals home for the weekend.