More than 1,000 elementary students impacted by CSM Science Outreach Program
College of Saint Mary science faculty and students get it. They know how crucial science subjects are to the world we live in. They also know that to young students, learning about science can all too often seem boring, dull or pointless. That’s why CSM instructors and students are so passionate about the University’s Elementary Science Outreach program.
“We’re also excited about how the program is growing,” says assistant professor of biology Dr. Amanda Roe, the program’s faculty advisor.
During 2013-14, 410 elementary students took part in the program; 894 students participated in the 2014-15 academic year. Last year, 13 Omaha Metro area schools requested more than 30 of the no-cost projects during the 2015-16 school year, reaching out to 1,113 elementary students.
“We anticipate impacting even more students this year than last,” says Roe. “Classroom requests have been high and we’re already scheduling into the spring semester.”
Since 2011, the program has brought exciting, hands-on educational activities to elementary students in the Omaha Metro area. One of the goals of the program is to instill a life-long passion for science subjects.
“Studies show that most students are completely disinterested in science by the time they hit 7th grade,” says Roe. “The activities developed through the program involve young K-6th grade students in a way that traditional book-oriented approach just can’t match.”
The projects developed by CSM students for the program are diverse. They include a basic introduction to science, weather, ecosystems, states of matter, properties of water, and Earth studies. They are student-driven, hands-on activities that young students can immerse themselves – and have fun while they learn.
For example, Earth and its Inhabitants introduces students to the relationship between the Earth and those who live on it. Using a scavenger hunt handout, the students explore the outdoor environment around their school, identifying colors, patterns, sounds, as well as living and non-living things on the list. CSM students hunt along with the grade school students, encouraging their natural curiosity and creativity by asking discussion questions. Why is it important to understand the relationship between the Earth and its inhabitants? What are the characteristics of living things? Are patterns found in nature? How does science help us to protect the Earth and its’ inhabitants?
“I find joy in making science exciting again for elementary school children,” says CSM junior Nicolette Larsen, who is working toward a double major in biology and chemistry. She co-coordinates the program with fellow student, Niki Sansburn, a junior studying biology.
“It challenges me to come up with new projects related to what the students are learning, and help them become better students as a whole,” says Larsen, a CSM Marie Curie scholar.
“Working with these young students makes me a better person and allows me to give back to the science field.”
Funds to underwrite the program have doubled for the current year. NASA Nebraska has underwritten the program since its beginning, and private donors have stepped up. Roe says she and the students are eager to develop even more projects and reach more young students.
By Chris Kasel, Media Coordinator
