Becoming a Volunteer
Want to get kids excited about science? Become a Community in the Classroom role model volunteer and CRS will help you develop hands-on activities that link your science interests with classroom and curriculum, and place you in local classrooms where teachers are looking for science content support and enrichment on your topic.
Interested? Sign up now for an upcoming volunteer orientation.
How old are the kids? The students we work with are in grades K–5 (approximately ages 5–11). See our CIC Album for illustrations of students' classroom presentations.
Where are the schools located? CRS serves public elementary schools in Alameda County with a focus on Berkeley, Oakland, and surrounding urban districts. We will work with you to place you in schools that are convenient for you.
What's the time commitment? Once your presentation is developed through group and individual training and coaching sessions, you will schedule hour-long presentations on the dates of your choice. We recommend monthly visits during the school year. Volunteers need to be available during school hours, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
How do I pick a presentation topic? We work with you to find a match between what you love about science and what kids are learning at the elementary level, based in the CA Science Standards. CRS has an extensive library of kid-tested classroom activities that are available for your use, and will help research additional ideas. If you're short on time and are looking for a ready-made presentation topic, we keep a lesson plan archive of past and current activities that you can adapt to fit your interests.
I've never worked with young kids before. Does your training cover teaching techniques? Absolutely! Most volunteers have limited experience working with younger students, so we offer extensive tips on how to help students explore the science ideas you've selected, capture the attention of wiggly youngsters, and have fun building skills and knowledge. We'll also review and comment on your presentation plan to make sure the vocabulary, concepts, and activities are appropriate for the grade level you've chosen.
I'm not really a scientist. Can I still participate? CRS feels it's valuable for kids to be exposed to a wide range of science role models. It's not necessary for you to be a "traditional" scientist to participate — you just need to be enthusiastic about your topic and know enough to discuss the basic concepts you're teaching.
What are the steps between signing up and visiting classrooms?
- Group orientation session
- Researching activities/independent planning
- Coaching meeting(s) with CRS staff
- Organizing materials and/or handouts
- Submitting final presentation plan for review
- Selecting classroom visit dates
- Visiting classes
- Completing classroom visit feedback form
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