What We Do
Young Scientists brings together small groups of 3rd through 5th Graders to explore advanced science in a fun, hands-on environment. Meetings take place at participating schools and are one hour, once a week, for ten weeks, with ten students per group. For one special lesson, an MIT professor visits to lead the children in an experiment and discussion. The curriculum covers the following topics: atoms, nuclear energy, the elements, molecules, chemical reactions, phases of matter, and electricity, among others. Students leave with a strong foundation for their future middle- and high-school science classes, in particular chemistry. More important, they leave extremely excited about STEM in general and with a strong sense that science is both incredible and incredibly useful.
A typical Young Scientists class has the following structure:
1) A mind-blowing experiment that surprises the children.
2) Discussion of the science behind the experiment.
3) Exploration of the real-world applications of that science.
For instance:
1) Fight gravity with magnetic metal balls and copper pipes.
2) Discuss how moving magnets near metal creates electricity.
3) Explore how this science undergirds every single power plant in the world, and have students build turbines to move magnets.
Young Scientists brings together small groups of 3rd through 5th Graders to explore advanced science in a fun, hands-on environment. Meetings take place at participating schools and are one hour, once a week, for ten weeks, with ten students per group. For one special lesson, an MIT professor visits to lead the children in an experiment and discussion. The curriculum covers the following topics: atoms, nuclear energy, the elements, molecules, chemical reactions, phases of matter, and electricity, among others. Students leave with a strong foundation for their future middle- and high-school science classes, in particular chemistry. More important, they leave extremely excited about STEM in general and with a strong sense that science is both incredible and incredibly useful.
A typical Young Scientists class has the following structure:
1) A mind-blowing experiment that surprises the children.
2) Discussion of the science behind the experiment.
3) Exploration of the real-world applications of that science.
For instance:
1) Fight gravity with magnetic metal balls and copper pipes.
2) Discuss how moving magnets near metal creates electricity.
3) Explore how this science undergirds every single power plant in the world, and have students build turbines to move magnets.