Workshop

Art/Science project results in
Discovery Center display

		Georgia Morse Middle School students enjoyed the unique opportunity of working with a world-famous artist when Dick Termes, creator of Termespheres, was invited by the South Dakota Discovery Center to engage the students in a fascinating project to demonstrate a link between science and art.
The resulting models have now become a permanent display at the Discovery Center. With Termes' guidance 56 middle school students created more than 25 different polyhedron models. The group began with five platonic solids (regular polyhedra). These were fairly simple to construct from their materials, dowels and Styrofoam balls. They then built more complex structures, culminating with the dodecahedron, a three-dimensional shape in which all five of the platonic solids fit. The more complex the structure, the more planning and patience it took to make a sturdy model. As the students created, Termes led discussions regarding the unique and interrelated geometries of each shape. The students were also able to discover ways that such structures are used by both nature and man. Each of the platonic solids was given a color so it could be easily recognized when hanging in a group of polyhedra. Most of the models built by the students are mixtures of anywhere from two to five of the platonic solids, creating a pleasing colorful display for Discovery Center guests. "Part of the excitement of this project is that the students and public will be able to learn from and enjoy the models permanently," Termes observed. "Part of the excitement is to see the wonderful order that was created." This project was co-funded by the South Dakota Arts Council, the Pierre/Fort Pierre Rotary Club, United Way Youth Booster funds, and the South Dakota Discovery Center & Aquarium. Students involved in the project, all students of art instructor Becky Schenk at Georgia Morse Middle School, included Jeremy Auch, Adam Johnson, Emma AAdland, Jaime Crowe, Kate Schumacher, Seth Waitman, Savannah Cromwell, Shanna Payne, Ursula Waack, Samantha Merrill, Sasha Kean, Kelly Johnson, Amber Robinson, Aaron Gates, A.J. Rounds, Kyle Winckler, Skylar Gallimore, MaKayla Herman, Britany Gonsor, Adam Maberry, Brandon Miller, Adam Rau, Aubree Vance, Kallie Dresbach, Lacey Dozier, Michelle Gordon, Peggy Heermann, George Summerside, Josh Sterling, Jackson Red Bird, Mandi Wharton, Candy Robinson, T.J. Iaquinta, BryAnn Becker, Summer Venner, Greg Whisenant, Kim de Hueck, Emily Goeden, Harry Decker, Lucas Oehlerking, Dorri Ziai, Casey Ahlers, Torey Garrett, Kate Wylie, Caitlyn Ann McKay, Courtney Zander, Tony Rislov, Karen Van Camp, Michelle Beemer, Stacy Ziegler, Karli Larsen, Casey Holm, Chris Lopez, Amanda Beck, Alice Scharnweber, and Matthew Dutt.

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