Exploring the Universe - New Brunswick Free Public Library

New Brunswick Free Public Library
What is it?
Exploring the
Universe
The New Brunswick Free Public
Library was awarded a grant by
NASA through the Initiative to
Develop Education through
Astronomy and Space Science
(IDEAS) Grant Program. This
program provided the start-up
funding to explore ways to
integrate astronomy and space
science into United States education and public outreach venues.
During the first year of the program, astrophysicists Ted Williams
and Carlton Pryor from Rutgers University, helped lead our program
to create educational, inquirybased activities that let students
engage as scientists.
Our programs varied widely and
included: integrating a science
activity after a storytime, stand
alone science activities for students in grades 3 through 6, a
summer “science club” and presentations by paid performers.
For more information contact Jessica Trujillo at:
60 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-745-5116 ext. 22
Fax: 732-846-0226
Email: [email protected]
NEW BRUNSWICK FREE
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Using science to support
literacy and inspire kids
Why Have a Science Based Program
at the Library?
What kinds of science activities can a
library offer?
Science Education Facts
When completing the project, NBFPL
offered a variety of science activities,
including storytime science, stand alone
science activities , and hired outsider performers. Additionally, teen volunteers also
created a performance and interactive
display about various health professions.
The results from the 2000 Nation Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
show that 34% of fourth graders, 39% of
eighth graders, and 47% of twelfth graders fell “below basic” in science achievement tests.
In large urban cities 52% of 4th graders
and 61% of 8th graders have a below
basic understanding of science.
Remedial classes account for 12% of
mathematics classes at 4-year institutions
and 55% of classes at 2-year institutions.
In college, women and underrepresented minorities left Science & Engineering programs at higher rates than men
and non-minority students.
The aim of offering science programming and activities is to enliven and create excitement about science. By offering science, librarians can help young
students to become proficient learners of
science and inquisitive thinkers. Libraries
may also attract new patrons by offering
non-traditional programming.
NJ content standard 5.1 “Students best learn
science by doing science. Science is not
merely a collection of facts and theories but
a process, a way of thinking about and investigating the world in which we live. This standard addresses those skills that are used by
scientists as they discover and explain the
physical universe - skills that are an essential
and ongoing part of learning science.”
Resources for Science Programming
At Home Astronomy.
http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/
AtHomeAstronomy/. Ten different units explaining different aspects of astronomy via
hands-on experiments.
Exploratorium Snacks.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/
snackintro.html. Find science experiments
that anyone can do.
McREL Products—Whelmers Accessible Science Series.
http://www.mcrel.org/whelmers/. Eye
catching, high interest activities and demonstrations.
National Geographic Kids: Activities and
Experiments.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
kids/activities/. A variety of craft and science activities.
Reeko’s Mad Scientist Lab.
http://www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/.
Science experiments graded from easy to
advanced.
Science Experiments for Kids.
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/dire
ctory/Sciences.htm. A web directory of
science experiments.
Science Explorer.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/
science_explorer/. Another Exploratorium
site with fun science experiments.
Steve Spangler’s Science Experiments.
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/
experiments/. A collection of high interest
science experiments. Site includes video
demonstrations.
Webliography
Exploring the Universe @ your library.
<http://www.nbfpl.org/nasa/>.
NASA. “Initiative to Develop Education through
Astronomy and Space Science Grant Program,
Call for Proposals.”
<http://ideas.stsci.edu/ID05_CFP.pdf > Accessed on 2005 August 23.
National Center for Education Statistics. “The
Nation’s Report Card: Science Highlights:
2000.”
<http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/
main2000/2002452.asp> Accessed on 2005
August 24.
National Science Board. “Science and Engineering Indicators 2004.”
<http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind04/> Accessed on 2005 August 24.
New Jersey Department of Education. “New
Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards
for Science.”
<http://www.state.nj.us/njded/cccs/s5_science
.htm> Accessed on 2005 August 24.