Kids will turf their textbooks and get their hands on Frisbees, parachutes
and bicycle gears in a new after-school science outreach program created by
Assoc. Prof. Niamh Kelly.
Called Hands-on Science, the program sees groups of up to 12 children aged
seven to 10 years conducting a series of fun science experiments at Vancouver’s
Science World under the leadership of UBC scientists and students.
“When kids have fun with science, they learn important life skills,” says
Kelly, a faculty member in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. “Thinking critically,
developing hypotheses and testing ideas are all part of exploring science.”
Workshops with titles such as “May the Force Be With You” cover topics that
include molecules and matter, electricity, the senses, friction, gravity, chemical
reactions and flight. Children working in pairs are grouped with their peers
in a seven- to eight-year-old class or a nine-to 10-year-old class and progress
according to their level of understanding.
The graduate students who volunteer with the program come from various faculties,
including Education and Science. They gain experience in course design, motivating,
communicating and class management.
“This program has a unique teaching style,” says fourth-year Science student
Sarah Hargreaves, who has taught at Kelly’s summer science camps and is one
of two UBC students employed to deliver the Science World program. “The children
are encouraged to think for themselves so they learn the concepts much more
readily.”
“The kids’ brutal honesty and willingness to take chances was inspiring for
me,” she adds.
Classes are held in two terms Jan. 9 to March 18 and March 26 to June 3 at
Science World on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. and cost $95
plus GST per term. For more information or to register call (604) 443-7505.
