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chemistry for kids
LINOAWOODWARD The University of Southwestern Louisiana Lafayene,LA 70504
Undergraduate Chemistry Majors Mentor Inner-City Children with MUCH Success Roosevelt haw,' Mathai Waweru, and Anthony Stevenson Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21239
Established i n 1989, Morgan Undergraduate Chemist Help (MUCH)' program is a collaborative project between MSU's Department of Chemistry and Baltimore City Schools. The program's goals target inner-city school youngsters and college students. MUCH strives to excite the youngsters about science in order to arouse their intellectual curiosity, to develop in them a n appreciation for science, to assist them in beginning to apply the scientific method to their environment. to inform them of the various career options open to science graduates, and to apprise them of the many contributions of minority scientists to society in general. MUCH gives the college mentors the opportunity to broaden and deepen their scientific backgrounds, to expand their public speaking opportunities, and to serve in a way in the schools that can make a difference in the lives ofAfrican-American boys and girls whose contacts with positive male figures may have been limited. I n addition, for their participation in MUCH, college mentors receive a small scholarship to help defray the cost of their undergraduate education. So far, roughly 1,000 predominantly African-American fourth and fifh graders a t four Baltimore City elementary schools have participated in MUCH science and math activities. These youngsters observed demonstrations, performed ex~erimentsincludim ones from the science mazazines ~ c c n c eWeekly, ~evels-Dand E and ~ o n d e r ~ c i e n & (some favorites are listedin the table). watchedvideos, and discussed pamphlets, posters, and other written materials on careers for chemistry graduates and on the contributions of African-Americans to the sciences. ~~
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At least one or two days before visiting their assigned schools. the chemistrv student mentors meet with the Drogram coordinator to practice the science activity planned for that week. Each time the mentors visit their schools, they carry with them a demonstration kit, 35 to 40 copies of the Science Weekly magazine for use by students, and two to three copies of the Wonderscience magazine for use bv the teachers a t a later time. Normallv. one or two mentors present the MUCH promam to thefourth- and ffthgrade classes. They stresH and practice safe classroom procedures and activelv involve the students in doinz science. I n late 1991 a survey of the 128 fourth-graders and 87 fifth-graders clearly demonstrated the importance colle~e students can play in generating excitement for science in elementarv school students. in s h a ~ i n etheir attitudes about science, and in getting them to aspire to become scientists.
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Some Favorite MUCH Activities
Chromatography:Separating pen inks Polymers: Making polyurethane foam and Nylon rope Density: comparing regular Coke and Diet Coke Effectof temperature: contracting and expanding a rubber band Exothermic and endothermic reactions: observing the differences Expanded polystyrene cup behavior: dissolving in liquids
'Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. 2 S ~ ~for~the ~ MUCH r t Droaram has been orovided bv Harold Wader. Verner and come ta'henty Roben ~ c h e ~ogaf&~almolve Co., Tne Rena~ssanceWomen of Ch cago. I-. The Novel Corporatlon FoJndallon, an0 Tne Ba llmore Cnem cal Assoc a1 on, nc. ~
770
Journal of Chemical Education
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Lead pencils: conducting electricity Science magazines: reading and discussing, and performing the enclosed exercises
