- Author: Chris M. Webb
The Coalition for Science After School is an organization dedicated to bringing high-quality science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning opportunities to youth in afterschool settings.
From their website:
“Afterschool settings offer an opportunity to have hands-on experiences with science using interesting materials and simple scientific tools. With deliberate programming, content-rich activities and hands-on materials, they can foster an environment of investigation, experimentation, exploration, conversation and reflection—the foundations of scientific inquiry. These settings offer an opportunity to get young people excited and invested in subjects that often seem too distant and irrelevant while exposing young people to the wonder of discovering and studying their world.”
Their website is full of resources and opportunities for youth as well as individuals and groups looking to provide support. Some of the learning resources are available in Spanish. Check out the directory to find fun learning opportunities near you!
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Fotonovellas are a style of comic book.
Michael Marzolla and his Fighting for Our Environment Team have designed fotonovellas to help spread environmental awareness. The fotonovellas highlight easy ways that youth can help improve the quality of their immediate environment and how good stewardship of our local environment benefits us all.
It is easy to see that much fun was had during the development of the Fighting for Our Environment fotonovellas. They can be viewed and downloaded on this page of our website. Some are available in Spanish.
This group also won a Green Shorts Award for their Fighting for Our Environment video. It can be viewed here.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Pollinators are vital to our food and ecosystems. Many of the pollinators we depend on are in decline.
Five years ago, the U.S. Congress designated the last week in June as National Pollinator Week. The Secretary of the USDA signs a proclamation each year.
The Pollinator Partnership provides much information about pollinators, their importance, as well as the purpose of Pollinator Week.
From their website:
"Pollinator Week has now grown to be an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles. The growing concern for pollinators is a sign of progress, but it is vital that we continue to maximize our collective effort…Pollinating animals, including bees, birds, butterflies, bats, beetles and others, are vital to our delicate ecosystem, supporting terrestrial wildlife, providing healthy watershed, and more. Therefore, Pollinator Week is a week to get the importance of pollinators’ message out to as many people as possible. It's not too early to start thinking about an event at your school, garden, church, store, etc. Pollinators positively effect all our lives- let's SAVE them and CELEBRATE them!"
The Pollinator Partnership has many free resources designed to help make your celebration powerful and informative. A collection of guides, fast facts and general information are also available to help people, industry and communities support pollinator populations.
National Pollinator Week is observed in June. Now is a great time to start preparing with your group to celebrate pollinators while educating others!
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Children are naturally curious. Looking for ways to keep young minds busy and active this summer? Science projects can be a fun way for families to spend time together. Click on the links below for some great ideas. If your youth is not interested in energy, toys and robotics, please see our previous posts for additional possibilities.
Catch the Wind, Harness the Sun: 22 Super-Charged Science Projects for Kids. Gives youth, teachers, and parents 22 exciting activities for using sun and wind power to produce and play with renewable energy. Ages 8 to 13 will experience environmental science while fighting global climate change. Projects range from a solar campfire to the Pedal Power bicycle that charges a 12-volt battery for powering electronic devices.
Science Toy Maker. This non-commercial, teacher-created site is for people who like to roll up their sleeves and make mysterious, kinetic, Do-It-Yourself science projects that entice scientific investigation. Science toy maker is a resource for inspired kids, parents, science fair participants, and citizen scientists everywhere.
Free Lesson Plans on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. These free downloadable lesson plans include topics on energy efficiency, solar energy, and wind energy. The hands-on, inquiry-based lessons are targeted for upper elementary, middle school, and high school levels. The lessons challenge students to conduct classroom energy audits, interpret wind maps to assess potential wind turbine sites, power a radio using solar panels, and more!
Junk Drawer Robotics. This program is the first of three Robotics-based project curriculums that will be launched early this fall with curriculum, starter kits and training. This curriculum introduces robotics to youth ages 9 to 18 with beginner, intermediate and advanced skill levels. Young people will develop decision-making and critical thinking skills, and implement an understanding of the scientific and engineering design processes as they build real and virtual robots.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Science is interesting. Learning about science can also be fun, provide useful lifelong knowledge, and even lead to an exciting career.
Science as a general subject is vast. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy. It is important that parents and guardians do what they can to encourage their children to have an interest in science – not only for their own joy and knowledge, but because as a nation we face a shortage of scientists if current science education trends continue.
The UC Cooperative Extension has many free youth development resources in a wide range of science subjects. Today, we have a few more to share with you. If none of the subjects below are of interest, please see our previous posts for additional topics.
Cool the Earth “Cool the Earth is a free, ready-to-run program that educates K-8 students and their families about climate change and inspires them to take simple actions to reduce their carbon emissions. The program is successful because it’s fun and empowering for the kids and their enthusiasm is contagious!”
Understanding Science: Age dating star clusters. “This lesson outlines how to teach participants on techniques used date the age of star clusters by astronomers. In the process, participants learn about the role of visual representations of data in science and how to explore potential relationships among variables.”
Explore Nano Sunblock “Sunblocks containing nanoparticles are one of the most common applications of nanotechnology. In this quick, hands-on lesson using everyday materials, students in grades K-12 compare sunblock containing nanoparticles to those that do not and learn how nanoparticles are used to help block harmful rays from the sun.”
Free Online 4-H Curricula Library Download pdf curriculum resources for Veterinary Science, Rabbits, Exploring Salmon and Steelhead, Water Quality, Pollinators, Pond Mapping, Engineering, Agriculture, DNA and more.