Chemical Education Today
Association Report: 2YC3
Science for Kids in a Two-Year College
edited by Ann Cartwright San Jacinto College, Central Campus Division of Science & Mathematics Pasadena, TX 77501-2007
by Jeanette C. Madea Two-year colleges have a strong history of community outreach programs. For 17 years, the North Campus of Broward Community College has invited local elementary school children to participate in a “Science for Kids” program. The program goals are to instill a sense of wonder and excitement towards science in our young visitors and to allow them to experience success in learning science. It also provides a strong connection with schools in the county and classifies as a recruitment activity—a great plus in the quest for funding! The success of this program has been duplicated in recent years by similar programs on BCC’s two other campuses. In the North Campus’ annual program during the regular school schedule, 10 different groups of 24 fifth-grade students and their teachers are welcomed on campus on designated Fridays by a mathematics instructor. A half-hour introduction to various mathematical concepts (related to ideas the students will meet later in the day, such as squaring) accompanies the welcome packets of college-related gifts. The four-hour program also includes sessions of biology, geology, lunch, and everybody’s favorite…chemistry. Arranging transportation and lunch are the responsibilities of the visiting school, but everything else is provided by the college. Each session is customized by the faculty presenter and may involve demonstrations, but it always centers on studentlearning activities. Whether it’s looking at small creatures through a microscope or timing waves in a wave-tank, the students learn how to make observations, record data, and draw conclusions. In the chemistry session, for example, the students are greeted by “magic” signs that appear when solutions are sprayed. They see color changes in the “chemical traffic light”, energy changes and some surprises in the potassium iodide-catalyzed reaction of hydrogen peroxide mixed in detergent, and they never fail to say “wow” at the beauty of the luminol reaction. After hearing about the importance
of safety, they don aprons and goggles and do a chemical exploration with universal indicator and various solutions. A student assistant takes a Polaroid photograph of each student at work—a final chemical souvenir of their day as a scientist at Broward Community College that goes home with them. The program allows for flexibility in scheduling and with the faculty participants. Some assignments are shared. For example, a chemistry colleague and I share the chemistry honors, and each of us has a slightly different routine. Student assistants take care of the set-up and clean-up of the equipment and materials. Over the life of the program, funding has been a challenge. Recently, we have been extremely fortunate to receive full college support on a continuing basis to cover the costs of faculty involvement, student assistants, secretarial help, supplies and materials, and a stipend for the coordinator. Generous gifts from the college’s development office also go directly into the hands of the young scientists and include such things as calculators, pencil bags, folders, and specially designed Science for Kids pins. While the idea of a science outreach program for kids is neither new nor unique, it is a very effective way to accomplish many important goals, not the least of which is to excite young minds about the rich world of science and learning. Of course, there is little doubt that the faculty involved enjoy it as much as the kids! For further information about this program and its chemical demonstrations, feel free to contact the author at the following address. Jeanette C. Madea, Department of Chemistry, Broward Community College, North Campus, 1000 Coconut Creek Boulevard, Coconut Creek, FL 33066; phone: 954/973-2236; email:
[email protected] JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu • Vol. 76 No. 11 November 1999 • Journal of Chemical Education
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