Teachers huddle around lab tables, the blue flames of the torches casting a soft glow across their focused faces. With steady hands, they dip copper wires into small piles of borax powder, then carefully return the coated wires to the flames. “Look at that!” exclaims one teacher as the powder melts and begins to transform into a clear, glass-like bead. Excited conversations fill the room as these simple materials transform before their eyes, demonstrating core scientific principles in engaging, visual ways.
This scene captured the essence of the Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation’s (CGIF) Magic of Materials Science Workshop at Summit County Educational Service Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio on Friday, February 28, 2025.
CGIF spent the day with 28 middle and high school teachers, many from a STEAM cohort that takes a multidisciplinary approach to teaching. The workshop equipped these educators with the knowledge and tools to inspire the next generation of ceramic and glass professionals.
The seven-hour professional development session allowed teachers to perform all nine hands-on experiments from the CGIF Materials Science Classroom Kit. Throughout the day, educators gained confidence in demonstrating principles of materials science that they can immediately implement in their own classrooms.
Two teachers practice the Candy Fiber Pull lesson, which demonstrates glass fiber formation.
In addition to the hands-on experimental work, teachers had the opportunity to network with ceramic and glass industry professionals from Saint Gobain NorPro, Momentive Technologies, GrafTech International Holdings Inc., and Owens Corning during an industry luncheon. These connections help teachers learn about the diverse careers available in the ceramic and glass industries so they can better guide students interested in materials science career paths in their local communities.
“These workshops create a direct connection between classroom learning and real-world applications in the ceramics and glass industries,” says Marcus Fish, Director of Development at CGIF. “When teachers understand the exciting career opportunities available in materials science, they become powerful advocates who can inspire students to explore these fields.”
Each participating teacher received a complete Materials Science Classroom Kit (valued at $250) to take back to their classroom, allowing them to immediately implement what they learned. Teachers also received supplemental resources highlighting career pathways in materials science, helping students connect these engaging experiments with real-world professional opportunities in ceramic and glass industries.
Group photo of instructors, facilitators, and industry professionals at the Ohio February 2025 teacher training event.
The workshop was made possible through the generous sponsorship from Saint Gobain NorPro, along with additional funding from donations to the CGIF that support educational programming. Dr. Missi Zender-Sakach of Summit County ESC played a crucial role in coordinating local logistics, recruiting participants from area schools, and facilitating engaging discussions throughout the workshop. This combined support enabled CGIF to provide this valuable training opportunity to local educators.
For more information about the Magic of Materials Science teacher training program or to inquire about bringing a workshop to your area, visit foundation.ceramics.org or contact foundation@ceramics.org.
