ARMS: After School Science Clubs
Why have science clubs in after school?
The informal learning environment of a high quality after school program is the perfect venue for science. First and foremost, science is fun for children—it is messy, mucky, explosive and magical. It is the stuff of life and the foundation upon which all life is built. In the after school hours children have an opportunity to work at their own pace and in their own way. After school is just what the inquiry method of scientific investigation needs. Science knowledge is built around testing, exploration, experimentation, daydreaming and asking questions.
Kids that may not be successful in school can click in after school and the science in the textbook can come alive. They can feel successful and competent.
From a purely selfish viewpoint—our future depends on having people who can think out of the box, think of the impossible and make it possible. With issues of global warming, adequate drinking water, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy resources, and medical research we will need the brightest minds—minds that have developed critical thinking and problem solving skills, caring natures and boundless creativity.
Science Club Guiding Principles:
- Above all, Science is FUN!
- It is interactive, exploratory and messy.
- Kids don’t have to get it “right”—through testing and the acquisition of additional information, children will self correct.
- The relationship you build with the children is more important than the science concepts you impart.
- Children learn through play and by doing.
- Activities are developmentally appropriate if children can do most of the steps without adult assistance.
- Pose questions with children and don’t answer them. Let children explore as many responses as possible.
- Answer “what if” and “why” questions with “Let’s find out.” Keep directions and responses short and simple. The kids learn information as they keep exploring.
- Children have a chance to reflect and apply scientific and problem solving skills to all aspects of their lives.
- The best lesson we can leave children with is an enthusiasm for science; if we sparked their curiosity, fueled their thinking and supported their competency we succeeded above and beyond expectations.
Our Concept
University and community volunteers with expertise in the sciences are teamed with staff members from after school programs with expertise in working with elementary students to offer at least an eight-week after school science club each semester. In the beginning, lesson plans, supplies, and training were provided to the teams. Each semester, training, new lesson ideas and additional resources have been made available to continuing clubs. Our goal is to build a strong enough foundation for the science clubs to continue even when staff and volunteers change. We want science clubs to be as natural a part of after school programs as snack and gym time.
Who are your partners?
Every community, no matter what size, has a wealth of people with a passion for science and a desire to share their knowledge with children—many just waiting to be asked. Our partners to pull this together include:
- After-School professional—someone with knowledge and experience with after school programs. This person understands the dynamics and elements of an after school program, child growth and guidance and developmentally appropriate practice.
- Science professional—someone with science expertise, access to science students and professionals and resources—this may include people from universities, colleges, tech colleges, high schools, or science related businesses.
- University Extension 4-H Youth Development—every state, every county has access to extension services. Extension provides knowledge and expertise in putting partnerships together, life skill development, 4-H resource and reference materials, as well as grant writing skills.
Additional partners from a variety of science disciplines, student groups and departments, as well as biotech and science companies and community resources such as the botanical gardens and children’s museum have become involved and add new perspectives and resources.
Funding
Most of the science experiments are designed to use simple and inexpensive materials that are readily available. Costs to the program sites have been minimal.
Program administrators have provided paid time for staff to attend training and staff are offered Registry credits for continuing education.
Through pooling limited funds from each of the partners we have been able to provide the training, resources books, supplies, and snacks for the training.
As we have grown, we have reached out and received small grants, and contributions for additional training, materials and supplies
Goal—secure grant funding to hire a part-time coordinator to provide direct support to the clubs, develop lesson plans, provide technical support and training, maintain the programs website, marketing and grant writing to grow and sustain the clubs.
Website
A website has been developed to provide lesson plans, activity ideas, field trips, resources and a place for staff and volunteers to post questions and share information.
Science House
Science House at the UW-Madison has opened its doors and resources to provide on-going training and resources to the science club volunteers and staff.
Advisory Committee
An advisory group made up of the science volunteers and after school staff has been started to provide program feedback, develop new lessons, support each other and to process barriers in program delivery.
Credit-Course
A credit-based course at the UW-Madison is being proposed to provide the science student volunteers with instruction in working with youth, developmentally appropriate practice and science curriculum planning.
After School Role |
Volunteer Role |
Prior to starting: 1. Attend Training 2. Meet with volunteer(s) to: · exchange contact information · determine the best day of the week and time to offer the science clubs · plan and prepare activity plans · clarify what each person is responsible for · determine the format of the club and the number of children that can be accommodated 3. Prepare the children for science club (determine # of children participating—choice activity, sign-up registration, all students) 4. Secure space at the program site for the club to meet (This may be a separate space, or within the program space, but needs to provide adequate work space for the number of children and an acceptable noise level) 5. Inform and coordinate with parents and other staff members. 6. Assure that the necessary supplies and equipment are available |
Prior to starting: 1. Attend training 2. Meet with staff to: · exchange contact information · determine the best day of the week and time to offer the science clubs · plan and prepare activity plans · clarify what each person is responsible for · determine the format of the club and the number of children that can be accommodated 3. Ask questions to get a feel for the environment at this site
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Day of Club Check and set up program space Organize the kids Introduce the volunteer and assist them in learning the names of the children (name tags may be helpful at least the first week) Provide behavior guidance. Assist with Instruction Clean up Take time to evaluate and assess the success of the day with the volunteer and children |
Day of Club Come on time and prepared. Review the lesson and your role in instruction. Make an effort to learn the names of the children. Assist with clean up. Take time to evaluate and assess the success of the day with the staff and children |
Scheduling: Staff must inform volunteers of any events, school closings, or activities that would require the club to be cancelled. |
Volunteers must inform staff if they are not able to come. (Provide the staff with as much advance notice as possible) |
Two Websites of Interest
BioTrek is an outreach program of the Biotechnology Center of UW-Madison and of UW-Extension to share science with Wisconsin—great resources. Visit http://www.biotech.wisc.edu/outreach for more information.
Bottle Biology and some really cool projects. Visit http://www.bottlebiology.org for more information.
Contact
Contact Dolly Ledin (daledin@wisc.edu) or Sarah Wright (sdwright2@wisc.edu)