VIDALIA, La. &045; The halls of Vidalia High School were dark and quiet Monday afternoon, but its science lab was bursting with activity &045; literally.

Elementary teachers from Concordia Parish were huddled around a small clear test tube as Vidalia High School assistant principal and former science teacher Jana Linscomb slowly moved a lit match near the opening.

A few seconds before, the tube hovered over a bubbling solution of zinc and a weak acid. The chemical reaction released a small amount of hydrogen collected in the inverted glass tube.

As the flame passed under, a small pop let out.

But it was the aftershock of oohs and aahs from the mouths of the teachers watching the demonstration that was the biggest explosion of the afternoon.

It is that explosion of discovery that teachers hope to harness from their students this year as they work with the Louisiana Department of Education’s new comprehensive curriculum.

Linscomb is teaching a science lab workshop for Concordia Parish elementary teachers this week in an effort to give teachers an collection of science demonstrations to teach to their students.

Starting this August, presentations like the flame experiment will be more important than ever for teaching science in the parish.

No longer will students be expected to sit in the classroom listening to the teacher lecture.

&uot;It’s all about hands-on &045; learning from doing,&uot; Linscomb said Monday.

As a matter of fact, lectures will be reduced to a minimum, if not altogether, for elementary science instruction.

According to the comprehensive curriculum, teachers will now rely on scientific inquiry experiments to teach students basic concepts.

&uot;Its about finding out for themselves,&uot; Vidalia Upper Elementary teacher Suzie Blanchard said after Monday’s workshop.

Last year the workshop was offered for the first time giving teachers a chance to learn from eachother. Like a &uot;show and tell,&uot; teachers showed off their favorite experiments.

With the changes in the district, such experiments are now more important than ever.

&uot;The workshop is more important now because of the comprehensive curriculums reliance on hands-on sciences inquiry and discovery,&uot; Linscomb said.

Unlike upper grades where a designated teacher focuses on science instruction, elementary teachers have to teach a broad range of subjects to their students.

As a result many elementary teachers are limited in their knowledge of science experiments and demonstrations.

This week’s workshop helps give teachers &uot;quick and easy hands-on demonstrations,&uot; Linscomb said.

And as an added bonus, teachers attending the workshop also receive an allowance to order materials for parent involvement.