Classroom Enrichment Program
Teachers from the surrounding public schools bring their classes, K-12, during the school day for one hour-forty-minute workshops in areas of their curriculum. The visit is typically divided into two parts: the “lesson” or curriculum-based investigation itself, and an exploration time in our mini-exploratorium/natural history museum with its collections of live animals, bones, rocks, and fossils, as well as hands-on exhibits/explorations in air/water pressure, light and color, sound, force and motion, and electricity and magnetism.
Our goal is for both teacher and students to overcome their fear of and mystification about science, and realize that we all can learn to wonder, think, and imagine as we observe, by overcoming our obsession with knowing the “right” answer for every question and problem about our world.
After-School Program
Monday through Friday we work with pre-existing after-school programs of neighborhood schools. As in the field trips, these groups have time for free exploration of the workshop as well as structured class time. The big difference in these classes is that they are less constrained by the curriculum and science standards than the field trips, often following the students’ own stated interest, and these groups are about half the size. In addition, we may undertake projects such as building clay and wooden boxes and models that enrich the students’ hands-on skills, use of tools, and familiarity with materials.
Summer Scientists
Through a partnership with parents and guardians, this program offers afternoon workshops for the first six weeks of summer that engage students‘ hands and minds in fun, challenging, and educational science, art, and math activities. The program serves up to 100 students from 2nd through 8th grades. In the mornings we hold workshop with classes from the school-age summer program of the S.F. Unified School District’s Child Development Centers, as well as other summer groups.
