Philosophy
Evelyn Knittle attempts to power up an LED using a lemon battery during a science day-camp at Noyes Lab on Sunday.
I hope programs like this are common and throughout the country. I am fairly certain Argonne National Labs has a similar program.
Jenn Donenberg has not been around campus much this summer, but for one weekend she decided to make a trip down to help some middle school girls out with their chemistry.
Donenberg, a junior in LAS, was just one of a handful of volunteers from the University’s Department of Chemistry to participate in the second weekend of the annual “Bonding With Chemistry: A Day Camp for Girls” on Saturday. The first round of campers participated earlier this summer on June 26.
The day camp, presented by the East Central Illinois Women Chemists Committee, first began in 2008 with a grant from the American Chemical Society and aims to encourage middle school girls from around Illinois to develop an interest in science, said Lindsay Sperling, graduate student in chemistry and day camp coordinator.
Sperling said around 40 to 50 girls come to the University from area schools and the Chicago area for a day of basic hands-on chemistry experiments. Notices were sent out to schools earlier this year, and the committee also advertised the event to University faculty members with children.
“Interest has also been spread through word-of-mouth,” Sperling added. “People last year who had fun tell others about it, and they come to participate this year.”
The day camp comprised of four stations set up in laboratory classrooms on the second floor of Noyes Lab. Each station contained hands-on experiments revolving around themes such as Kitchen Chemistry and Energy Conservation.
In the Forensics station, Donenberg led a urine analysis experiment designed to teach the girls about acids and pH levels.
“We’re doing things you’d do at a crime scene,” she said. “There’s a lot of science that goes into figuring out what happened and who did it.”
The experiment involved testing several vials of liquid and seeing which had different pH levels than others.
Soon-to-be eighth grader Lucy O’Brien from Urbana said she thought the urine analysis experiment was “cool” and reminded her of the television show “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”
But while O’Brien found forensics to be interesting, it was not something she saw for her future.
“I think I would not be able to deal with all the deadness,” she said.
Student Alexis Dhamrait, who is going into the fifth grade at Iles Elementary School in Springfield, Ill., said she enjoyed her learning experience at the day camp.
“We learned how to make soap and stuff,” Dhamrait said.
“I like science a lot. I like chemistry the most,” she added.
Many volunteers, who were mostly undergraduate and graduate students in chemistry, said working with the younger girls was a rewarding experience.
“I’m taking a physical chemistry class right now and heard about it from my teacher,” said Shabnam Ahmed, junior in LAS and day camp group leader.
As group leader, Ahmed supervised a group of girls throughout the day, leading them from station to station.
Ahmed said this was the first year she has volunteered for the day camp and is excited to do it again.
“It doesn’t feel like volunteering. It’s just fun,” Ahmed said.
- Way To Go Tesco
"Tesco keeps chemistry set as a boys' toy despite protests" by Charlie Cooper May 5th, 2013 The Independent Tesco has defended its decision to label a children’s chemistry set a boys’ toy, despite criticism from gender equality campaigners....
- Chemistry Books Of The Past..."the Golden Book Of Chemistry Experiments" And "the Boy Chemist"
The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments, written by Robert Brent and illustrated by Harry Lazarus, is a 1960s children's book that tells kids how they can set up a home chemistry lab to conduct simple chemistry experiments. Supposedly the US government...
- University Of Akron Chem Prof, Henry "hank" Stevens, At 93...still Active
"Chemistry teacher still going at 93"byJim CarneyFeb. 12, 2012 | Akron Beacon JournalHenry "Hank" Stevens stands in a chemistry lab at the University of Akron.A dozen students at desks in front of him await his instruction. A chart of the Periodic Table...
- Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day--argonne National Laboratory
Need more programs like this. "Argonne to hold annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" by Eleanor Taylor. December 3rd, 2010 Argonne National Laboratory Girls in sixth through eighth grades are invited to learn all about science and engineering...
- Maybe A Secondary Education Trend?
Humm, maybe this will catch on...but, it does require other fundamental skills of mathematics, philosophy [critical thinking] and communication. "Antioch, Lakes Community highs turn science tradition upside down" by Vincent Pierri January 8th, 2009...
Philosophy
Teaching kids about science in a fun way
Evelyn Knittle attempts to power up an LED using a lemon battery during a science day-camp at Noyes Lab on Sunday.I hope programs like this are common and throughout the country. I am fairly certain Argonne National Labs has a similar program.
"U of I volunteers ‘bond’ with kids in chemistry day camp"
UI students teach core concepts to Illinois children
by
Raissa Rocha
July 12th, 2010
The Tenant Union
UI students teach core concepts to Illinois children
by
Raissa Rocha
July 12th, 2010
The Tenant Union
Jenn Donenberg has not been around campus much this summer, but for one weekend she decided to make a trip down to help some middle school girls out with their chemistry.
Donenberg, a junior in LAS, was just one of a handful of volunteers from the University’s Department of Chemistry to participate in the second weekend of the annual “Bonding With Chemistry: A Day Camp for Girls” on Saturday. The first round of campers participated earlier this summer on June 26.
The day camp, presented by the East Central Illinois Women Chemists Committee, first began in 2008 with a grant from the American Chemical Society and aims to encourage middle school girls from around Illinois to develop an interest in science, said Lindsay Sperling, graduate student in chemistry and day camp coordinator.
Sperling said around 40 to 50 girls come to the University from area schools and the Chicago area for a day of basic hands-on chemistry experiments. Notices were sent out to schools earlier this year, and the committee also advertised the event to University faculty members with children.
“Interest has also been spread through word-of-mouth,” Sperling added. “People last year who had fun tell others about it, and they come to participate this year.”
The day camp comprised of four stations set up in laboratory classrooms on the second floor of Noyes Lab. Each station contained hands-on experiments revolving around themes such as Kitchen Chemistry and Energy Conservation.
In the Forensics station, Donenberg led a urine analysis experiment designed to teach the girls about acids and pH levels.
“We’re doing things you’d do at a crime scene,” she said. “There’s a lot of science that goes into figuring out what happened and who did it.”
The experiment involved testing several vials of liquid and seeing which had different pH levels than others.
Soon-to-be eighth grader Lucy O’Brien from Urbana said she thought the urine analysis experiment was “cool” and reminded her of the television show “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”
But while O’Brien found forensics to be interesting, it was not something she saw for her future.
“I think I would not be able to deal with all the deadness,” she said.
Student Alexis Dhamrait, who is going into the fifth grade at Iles Elementary School in Springfield, Ill., said she enjoyed her learning experience at the day camp.
“We learned how to make soap and stuff,” Dhamrait said.
“I like science a lot. I like chemistry the most,” she added.
Many volunteers, who were mostly undergraduate and graduate students in chemistry, said working with the younger girls was a rewarding experience.
“I’m taking a physical chemistry class right now and heard about it from my teacher,” said Shabnam Ahmed, junior in LAS and day camp group leader.
As group leader, Ahmed supervised a group of girls throughout the day, leading them from station to station.
Ahmed said this was the first year she has volunteered for the day camp and is excited to do it again.
“It doesn’t feel like volunteering. It’s just fun,” Ahmed said.
- Way To Go Tesco
"Tesco keeps chemistry set as a boys' toy despite protests" by Charlie Cooper May 5th, 2013 The Independent Tesco has defended its decision to label a children’s chemistry set a boys’ toy, despite criticism from gender equality campaigners....
- Chemistry Books Of The Past..."the Golden Book Of Chemistry Experiments" And "the Boy Chemist"
The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments, written by Robert Brent and illustrated by Harry Lazarus, is a 1960s children's book that tells kids how they can set up a home chemistry lab to conduct simple chemistry experiments. Supposedly the US government...
- University Of Akron Chem Prof, Henry "hank" Stevens, At 93...still Active
"Chemistry teacher still going at 93"byJim CarneyFeb. 12, 2012 | Akron Beacon JournalHenry "Hank" Stevens stands in a chemistry lab at the University of Akron.A dozen students at desks in front of him await his instruction. A chart of the Periodic Table...
- Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day--argonne National Laboratory
Need more programs like this. "Argonne to hold annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" by Eleanor Taylor. December 3rd, 2010 Argonne National Laboratory Girls in sixth through eighth grades are invited to learn all about science and engineering...
- Maybe A Secondary Education Trend?
Humm, maybe this will catch on...but, it does require other fundamental skills of mathematics, philosophy [critical thinking] and communication. "Antioch, Lakes Community highs turn science tradition upside down" by Vincent Pierri January 8th, 2009...