practical support for great science teaching
Wondering what kind of presentations our volunteers develop? Don't know where you'd start? To give you an idea of the range of topics possible, the following is a sampling of current and past Community in the Classroom presentations. Each of these has been developed based on volunteer interests and the elementary science curriculum in conjunction with CRS staff.
What makes sound? Why do different instruments sound different? Is the voice an instrument, and how does it work? A technician and amateur musician discusses sound waves and vibration, as well as demonstrating musical instruments and helping kids make their own.
Have you ever thought about what makes that paper airplane fly across the room? If you change the design of your airplane, do you think it will fly differently? Learn all about the basics of airplane science with this fun presentation. Students will be introduced to the basics of lift, drag, and how force affects motion. They'll then construct their own airplanes, do some real life flight testing, and test their knowledge of the scientific method by drawing conclusions about their results!
What's in the universe? How might other planets be different from Earth? If we ever find life on other planets, what do you think it might look like? Led by a biologist and amateur astronomer, students brainstorm about what's out there, leading to a lesson on how life changes to fit the surrounding environment. Through interactive discussions and original artwork, they'll reinforce their understanding of diversity and adaptation.
How do people use the beach and the ocean? Why do we need them? Are there any ways that we harm the ocean and the organisms that live in it? An environmental educator helps kids learn how their actions can impact the ocean, why it's important to take care of the coasts, and what they can do to make changes.
Motors won't be so mysterious after this presentation by an electrical engineer! Kids have fun and get down to the details by building a simple motor, reinforcing the concepts of how energy can be carried and transformed.
What's a circuit? What's it got to do with electricity? And best of all, how do you make one? An energy analyst helps kids build a working circuit out of simple materials, explains how it works, and gives a glimpse of how electricity travels from the power plant to kids' homes and classrooms.
What is yeast? What makes it grow? What can we learn from it? A molecular biologist covers the basics of this microorganism and how it is used in her research. Kids test their scientific sleuthing skills by guessing how yeast will grow best and conducting an experiment to see if they're right.
Why do we need heat and light? How much heat is around you and where does it come from? Why do we care about how much energy we use? A researcher talks about energy-efficient buildings and products and why it's important to conserve. Includes demonstrations of a digital heat sensor and light meter.
What's our brain all about? What are our senses? Can your senses ever trick you? An aspiring physician leads kids through the world of the senses with a series of fun (and surprising!) activities about taste, vision, and touch. Kids learn about how their brain functions and test their knowledge of the scientific method!
What does a human need to live? How about a plant? What happens when plants don't get what they need? A plant biologist shows kids examples of plants grown under differing lab conditions—some favorable, some not—and talks about the differing needs of various organisms. Kids also learn about how plants fill one specific need—reproduction—through a hands-on art activity involving unusual plants and their pollinators.
We all know that plants grow, but have you ever thought about how they grow? What's different about the way you grow and the way a bean plant grows? How does a plant adapt to its environment when it can't move around? A plant biologist teaches students about how plants sense and grow in response to light and what this means for their development. Kids will "play" imaginary plant and animals and learn about these concepts in action! In addition, the volunteer will talk about the wonderful world of clones and mutants and show examples of bean plants grown in varying conditions.
Why is water "sticky"? What happens when water molecules meet up? Learn all about the surface tension and molecular properties of water through a series of fun activities led by a chemist.
The doctor's in the house! Ever wondered what's happening in your body when your nose is stuffy and you can't stop sneezing? Learn all about viruses and how they affect your organ systems, as well as getting the scoop on a day in a doctor's life.
What is air? What is respiration? Where does air go when we breathe? An occupational physician teaches about the respiratory system and how our bodies use oxygen. Hands-on elements include measuring how the lungs move while breathing and listening through a stethoscope.
Just because we can't see something doesn't mean it's not there! Through brainstorms, cool demonstrations, and a fun interactive game, an astrophysicist helps kids understand the physical properties and behavior of atoms and molecules.
Did you know that you can extract DNA from a tomato? From green peas? From a banana? And that you can do this right in the classroom or at home? A plant biologist will show you how! Kids learn what DNA is, why it's important, fun facts, and most importantly - get to see "squishy" DNA up close and personal in just minutes through a simple extraction process.
What is ozone, anyway? Is it good or bad? And what's all this about an ozone hole? Find out how light and pollutants affect ozone molecules and what this means for us and our atmosphere. Kids will play an outdoor ozone game where they'll pretend to be "excited" oxygen molecules and learn how ozone and oxygen interact with the sun!
"I can hardly wait (to visit another classroom)! I have such a great time doing my
presentation, plus I can tell from the feedback that I'm appreciated."
—CIC volunteer