October 2011
One of Jennifer Sethasang’s favorite science memories from her childhood is when she used a two-liter bottle to grow different types of mold. She remembers adding sausage, greens, even batteries to the soda bottle concoction to see what would grow and what new things would form.
As a teacher at Community United Elementary School, in the Oakland Unified School District, for the last seven years, Jennifer has brought her excitement to the students in her classroom. Her 4th graders get to learn about erosion by using stream tables to replicate water erosion patterns, like those seen in the Grand Canyon. They get to learn about aquatic conditions and life requirements by caring for their very own goldfish.
Although the 4th graders in Jennifer’s class are inspired by these hands-on projects and interactive science learning, for Jennifer, the learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. In addition to teaching her students, she brings the interactive science home and teaches her niece liquid and gas by making a raisin dance.
In addition to teaching her students and family, Jennifer hasn’t lost her own interest in science and is still engaged in learning. Although she claims “teaching [her] students has inspired [her] to be an adult learner of science,” we know that the inspiration flows both ways.
CRS is honored to work with Jennifer to bring hands-on science to the 4th graders at Community Union Elementary School and admires her for her continued learning, inspiration, creativity, and super-cool science lessons!