It’s Elementary! Kids Love Doing Science With Scientists
October 2021
Kids are back together in class, eager for hands-on science and engineering lessons! Our BASIS scientists are just as eager to keep the lessons going. While scientists in our Bay Area Scientists Inspiring Students (BASIS) program are still leading lessons remotely, the great news is that we can deliver science lesson materials to classrooms ahead of time so students once again have full-hands on access to experiments.
“It has been so great to see kids light up, literally, as they experiment with the LED lights and playdough, learning about circuits and energy. In person or via zoom, scientists bring so much joy to kids as they laugh and explore together,” says Tyler Chuck, Senior Manager for Education and Outreach.
From measuring cellular respiration with yeast and sugar to letting students explore buoyancy as materials float and sink, BASIS lessons are centered on hands-on, minds-on experiences.
“At the end of the class, all the kids went to the one computer in the front of the classroom to say bye to all of us – they were so excited,” shared one scientist.
Teachers are helping to shape the virtual visits to in person classes. One OUSD Kindergarten, describing the impact of a lesson about clouds, said:
“The entire format was great! The students were able to get up and move around, and answer and ask questions. Because it was virtual, several parents were able to attend from their homes. The experiment was awesome and easy to duplicate. I would love to have this activity in my class again!”