Expo helps kids learn to develop a love for science
By Payal Maranthe, Special to the Packet
Forty mathematicians, organic chemists and NASA scientists left their work behind on Thursday to teach a tough audience — students at Littlebrook Elementary School in Princeton.
The school hosted its fourth annual Science Expo, when students skip their regular classes and spend the day visiting different classrooms to learn about real-world science from professionals. Science Expo was organized by parents of students at the school, who recruited other parents and scientists from the community to come teach children about their fields through hands-on activities.
Brigitte Delaney, a parent who helped orchestrate the event, said the day is rewarding for both students and the volunteers who teach.
The students are encouraged not to take notes, but rather to absorb all they get to see, Ms. Delaney said. She added that Science Expo definitely leaves a lasting impression on the children, since they always remember things they have learned in past years.
Principal Anna Kosek called Science Expo an “amazing program” because it exposes children to science from a real-world perspective.
”This isn’t something you get every day in the classroom, and you can see on the faces of the kids that they are more excited and interested in science,” she said.
In addition, it is important for children to see that scientists making a difference in the world are their own parents and adults in their community, Ms. Delaney said. About 80 percent of the teachers are parent volunteers, and the organizers make an effort to recruit more female scientists every year, she added.
Science Expo started at Littlebrook four years ago with 25 volunteers. This year’s turnout of 40 teachers was the largest the event has ever seen, Ms. Delaney said.
”Parents are sometimes intimidated by the younger audience, but the teachers are always surprised by the questions that students ask and by how much fun these kids have learning from them,” Ms. Delaney said.
The organizers also made sure to recruit a diversity of scientists so that students are exposed to a variety of scientific fields, such as engineering, entomology and genetics. This year’s lessons included a demonstration of infrared lasers, observation of Princeton’s oldest soil and magnetic rock, a class on raising chickens and an explanation of Hurricane Sandy and climate change.
Ann Marciano, another parent who helped organize Science Expo, said she enjoys working on the event because there are so many scientists doing fascinating work in Princeton and the surrounding area.
”You never know who’s going to pop up,” Ms. Marciano said, adding that in the past they have even had a Nobel Prize winner volunteer to teach.
Ms. Delaney said Science Expo brings people who love science together with children who appreciate science, which is why the event has been successful for four consecutive years.