A Tucson teacher known for her CSI-like class activities has been named state middle-school science teacher of the year by an advocacy group.
Ruth Heaton, who teaches at Tucson Country Day School, 9239 E. Wrightstown Road, will be honored by Gov. Janet Napolitano at the Arizona Science Teachers Association annual conference in Mesa on Oct. 19.
She beat out five other teachers in her category thanks to nominations from several of her students.
Heaton said her main goal is to show — through hands-on experiments for the class — that science can be fun.
"I hated science at their age. I thought it was too hard," she said. "When I got this job, I thought, 'There's got to be a better way.' "
Heaton, a University of Arizona alumna, bases class activities on her real-world research experience.
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She worked at the Arizona Cancer Center for 10 years and even had a hand in a highly-publicized case that used plant DNA to solve a murder in 1993.
"What we're really looking for are teachers who are making a difference in their students' lives," said Katy Wilkins, with the science group.
"The selling point for us was the student recommendations."
Heaton's teaching methods will be reviewed by the group and promoted to schools statewide.
A student favorite is the natural selection exercise, in which Heaton scatters different-colored noodles in the grass and sends the students to retrieve them.
The noodles that blend in the best and "hide from the student predators" illustrate how the process of natural selection works, Heaton said.
She uses the 1993 murder case, which linked the suspect to the crime scene using DNA analysis of seed pods from a palo verde tree, to illustrate the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.
"The kids are really big on 'CSI,' (but) that shows all the glamour. It's not as pretty as everyone says it is," she said.
At the heart of all her teaching methods, though, is the idea that learning shouldn't be boring.
"The outcome is what's important — you want to make it fun."
In addition to the recognition, Heaton will receive a $250 prize and a plaque.
"I hated science at their age. I thought it was too hard. When I got this job, I thought, 'There's got to be a better way.' "
Ruth Heaton, Arizona middle school science teacher of the year who teaches at Tucson Country Day School
