Community in the Classroom
Frequently Asked Questions about Volunteering
Above: A CIC volunteer demystifies liquid nitrogen. view more cic photos
Q: What is Community in the Classroom?
Community in the Classroom is a CRS enrichment program that places scientist volunteers in classrooms to give fun, hands-on presentations connected to elementary science standards.
Q: How many volunteers participate in the program?
This is a new program that's always growing. In Spring 2007, we had over 75 active volunteers.
Q: How old are the kids?
The students we work with are in grades K-5, which is approximately ages 6-11.
Q: Where are the schools located?
We serve public elementary schools in Alameda County, so our schools cover a wide area. Currently, many of our requests come from Berkeley, Oakland, Emeryville, and Castro Valley. We make every attempt to honor your travel and geographic preferences and will never place you in a school that you'd have a hard time getting to!
Q: How much time does it take?
We ask volunteers to commit to a minimum of three hour-long visits per school year. In addition, you'll attend three hours of group and individual training and spend a little extra time planning your presentation.
You're not required to visit a school every month or volunteer on any kind of set schedule. However, if you'd like to make more than three visits a year, you're more than welcome to.
Volunteering for Community in the Classroom is a small time investment that makes a huge impact on kids (and their teachers)!
Q: 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. In addition, we have an extensive library of kid-tested classroom activities that are available for your use, and are happy to help with any research needs you have. Most people find several topics that they'd be interested in developing!
If you're short on time and are looking for a more "ready made" presentation topic, we have several outlines on file that have been developed by previous CIC volunteers. You are always welcome to choose one of these and either use it "as is" or adapt it to fit your interests.
Q: I work full time. How can this fit into my schedule?
We schedule our trainings late in the afternoon, and individual training times are flexible.
In order to schedule classroom visits, you do need to be available between 9:00 am - 2:00 pm on weekdays. However, since we only ask for three one-hour long visits per school year, your time away from work is very minimal. In addition, we're always happy to work with your employer to make it easier for you to take the time to volunteer.
Q: I've never worked with young kids before. Does your training cover teaching techniques?
Absolutely! Most of our volunteers aren't experienced in working with younger students, so we offer extensive tips and tricks on how to keep your ideas simple, capture the attention of wiggly youngsters, and guarantee that both you and the kids have a great time. We'll also review and comment on your presentation outline to help make sure your language and concepts are at the appropriate grade level.
Q: I'm not really a scientist. Can I still participate?
One of the main philosophies of Community in the Classroom is that it's extremely valuable for kids to be exposed to a wide range of science role models. Many of our volunteers work in a scientific field, but others work in technology, education, or are simply people who love science! Though it's important that you have enough background (educational or otherwise) to discuss simple scientific concepts with confidence, it's not necessary that you be a "traditional" scientist to be a valuable addition to our program.
Q: How do I sign up?
You can sign up for a group orientation online by filling out the
CIC Sign-Up form. If you have any questions about whether the program is a good fit for you, please feel free to contact CRS to discuss it in more detail.
Volunteer Coordinator: Cecille Harris
Phone: (510) 527-5212
Email: community@crscience.org
