Our school has been offering students the opportunity to participate in Mad Science workshops. Mad Science is the leader in STEM and science enrichment and has been around for over 35 years. All their programs are created by a team of in-house scientists and then tested by their Kid Advisory Board to ensure the content is both fun and educational. They offer teachers workshops for students during the school day. Workshops cover a wide variety of different topics (depending on location) such as coding, the study of dinosaurs and understanding ecosystems. Some of the experiments kids do in the workshops include cleaning up a simulated oil spill, playing a circuit game, making a cast of a T-Rex tooth, and so much more!
In this ever-changing Covid era, Mad Science has shifted to offer many of their services online. All of their programs - from birthday parties and after-school programs to workshops and assemblies - can be done virtually. This is especially great for teachers who may be seeing their students mostly online and require extra support for science education. Mad Science workshops can be taught virtually - to each student at home or to a screen(s) within a classroom. Contact your local Mad Science and they will work with you to create a customized science curriculum plan, to be executed based on your local restrictions. I highly recommend you check them out here!
I was thrilled when I got to see a Mad Science workshop in action! All the materials were laid out so nicely to capture the students’ attention and activate their engagement. It was the perfect balance of science materials, primary play and tools to ignite curiosity. Based on the supplies, it was evident we were about to enter the world of bugs!
To kick off the workshop, the Mad Science instructor started by introducing the topic and giving some important background information, as well as the learning objectives. She shared about insects’ fabulous flying abilities, their unique eyesight, and the way they defend themselves against predators.
The kids and I were blown away by the instructor’s passion, knowledge and instructional delivery! I also commend the instructor for her classroom management techniques, and the way she encouraged students to help her set up and clean up materials. This promoted a student-centered classroom! After giving some facts, she allowed the students to explore bugs through hands-on primary play (with toy insects) and scientific observation (using microscopes and real insect exoskeletons).
One of my favorite aspects of a Mad Science workshop is that students actually feel like real scientists. In many instances, this is the first time they get to use actual scientific tools and gadgets, like microscopes, lab coats, goggles and more! Not only did I hear them oohing and ahhing over what they could see through the lens, but also about their findings and noticings as they spun the magnification towards and away from the subject.
After exploring insects’ body structures, the Mad Science instructor gave some important facts about their habitats. In order to bring the concept to life, she brought out wasp nests and real larvae cocoons for the students to touch and feel. Some students were eager to give it a try, while others were more hesitant. I love the way she made the students feel comfortable enough to give it a try together.
The Mad Science instructor ended the workshop with a real showstopper! Students got the opportunity to see how camouflage works and see how chemicals combine to create the same reaction that makes fireflies glow in the dark! The students just couldn’t get enough!
It amazed me how perfectly this workshop aligned with our school’s Plants and Animals Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) unit. It provided engaging ways to support how animals have structures and behaviors that help them to grow and survive!
As if the workshop wasn’t enough, students even got a takeaway activity and experiment/exploration, which continues their excitement and bridges a family-to-workshop connection!
Want to learn more about Mad Science Elementary workshops, virtual or on-person, that cover a broad range of subjects from engineering and physics to chemistry and biology? Check out this website! They’re designed for kids ages 5-12 and are perfect for every budding scientist!
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