chemistry for kids
edited bv LINDAWOODWARD The Univeffiity of Southwestern Louisiana Lafayene,LA 70504
Chemistry Learning Centers for Elementary School Libraries J a m e s P. Deavor Department of Chemistry, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424 Janet W. Deavor W. 6. Goodwin Elementary, 5501 Dorchester Road, Charleston, SC 29418 Several articles have appeared in this Journal related to giving chemistry experiences to elementary school children. They include descriptions of a six-week enrichment program (11, a hands-on program for gifted students (21, a "chemistry set" lecturdab course (31,a 20-week laboratory program for gifted students (41, and a take-home kit for students to use under parental supervision (5).We wish to describe a safe and attractive way to deliver a hands-on experience to students that they can engage in without direct adult supervision in elementary school libraryimedia centers. Flexible scheduling has greatly increased the use of librawlmedia centers in the elementaw school. School libraries ;sing flexible scheduling operate"similarly to public libraries in that students are free to come in the library any time during the day and not a t specified class times. Students are not limited to eoina to the librarv for a 30-minute block once a week as in They are frke to come to the library any time with their teacher's permission to look up a fact, do research, to browse, to work on computers, to play educational games. or to visit learnine centers (61. ~ l e m i la&ss e isbeneficial to learningby creating an environment that improves student learning. What is taught and learned in the library is integrated with what is taught and leamedinthe classroom. Libranimedia swcialists create learning centers based on units of study that currently are being taught in the classroom. Open lines of communicationbetween teachers and the librariadmedia specialist are essential (7). A learning center on a topic is put together and housed a t a station or in a carrel in the library. Multiple activities a t a variety of learning centers can successfully coexist in the librarylmedia center. Students visit centers a t their own pace a n d without direct supervision. The librarianlmedia specialist is available to answer questions and to help with equipment problems. Because students often come to the library without their teacher they are truly in a self-learning situation. These centers include pictures, puzzles, hands-on items, posters, audio cassettes, film strips, and books. A center on seashells for the second grade might include a selection of books on shells, a poster, and a dozen or so shells that the students can pick u p and examine. Alearnine center for fifth eraders studvine Abraham Lincoln migh
