port discovery children’s museum sarah zimmerman stem and education specialist szimmerman@...
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Port Discovery Children’s MuseumSarah Zimmerman
STEM and Education Specialist
szimmerman@ portdiscovery.org
www.portdiscovery.org
Our Mission
To connect purposeful play with learning
Port Discovery’s approach to STEM with Early Learners
Three Goals
• I like STEM
• I can do STEM
• STEM is FUN!
Why Early STEM Learning is Important
• Exposure- give early learners a head start for later in school
• Positive experiences- young children become excited about learning more STEM in the future.
Science as Inquiry
“Children need to practice the process skills of science so that they learn to ask questions about the world and then study the world in special ways to find answers, just like scientists do.”
www.mothergooseprograms.orgThe Vermont Center for the Book
Nano at Port Discovery
How does Port Discovery make Nanoscience accessible for Early Learners?
• Providing multiple entry points to the exhibit
• Facilitated activities within the exhibit• Methods of engagement in nanoseries
program, “Nanoscience Exposed”– Books– Theater– Crafts– Adaptation of experiments
Providing Multiple Entry Points
Learning about size, seriation, measurement, and tools
Facilitated Activities within the Exhibit
Exploration Station
Pop Up Science
Port Discovery’s “Nanoscience Exposed” Series Program
• Developed originally for a parent-child five session series• Program based on the book “Alice in Nanoland” by
Horton and Long– Outlines the “rules” of nanoland
• Became after school, summer camp, and
“Museum on the RoadTM” program
Using Books
Using Theater
Using Crafts
Adaptations Made for Judy Center
• In all previous models of Port Discovery’s nano series program, the target age range included 1st through 5th grades.
• Baltimore County’s Judy Center asked if we could provide programming for their Science Summer Camp for children entering Kindergarten.
• Very few modifications were made to the program for these youngest students– They participated in all of the experiments and activities including
extracting strawberry DNA
– All of the basic concepts were taught
– Vocabulary, depth of explanation, and length of discussions were modified for this age range (average 5 years old)
Steps for modifying an experiment for Early Learners
1. Choose an experiment that might be designed for higher level learners.
2. Evaluate if they will physically be capable of performing the experiment (do they have the fine motor skills)
3. Determine what you want them to get out the experiment. (What content to you want them to learn?)
4. Think, how can you explain this concept in the most basic way? (remember, the goal isn’t to have them remember facts, but to get them excited.)
5. Remember the goals:– Am I exposing them to concepts they will be learning later?– Will this activity provide the students with a positive experience
of STEM learning?
Feedback
The program and lessons were awesome. Some of the content was difficult, but Miss Sarah was able to explain the content in a way that the children remembered and enjoyed the lessons. Maybe there could be this program for afternoon sessions here during the year!
The program is very interesting, and engaging for the children, even with such difficult concepts.
Evaluation
Student Test Results:
Small
BIG
Nano Test Question % correctQ1: Nano is small or big? 96%Q2: Circle the body part that is your nanosensor. 48%Q3: Circle the picture that is unexpected. 52%Q4: Circle the picture that changes color when it is nano. 78%Total
REMEMBER!
• I like STEM• I can do STEM• STEM is FUN!