After School Science

Super Science Club in Lord Roberts Elementary School

Super Science Club

Super Science Club is a new and innovative after-school program that provides science and technology educational activities to students in Grades 1–7 attending inner-city designated schools. Science World's primary goal with this program is to inspire at-risk children to be inquisitive about the world around them, and to develop a long-term interest in science and technology. Pioneered at Florence Nightingale Elementary in the Fall of 2001, the program has now expanded to eleven schools in the Vancouver area.

Each term of the Super Science Club involves nine weekly visits to the schools and a field trip to Science World during the final week. During each visit, a 75-minute session is held for groups of Grades 1–3 students (primary level) and for Grades 5–7 students (intermediate level). Each session is open to a maximum of 30 registered students. Science World provides all necessary equipment for science demonstrations, and professional educators and high-school student volunteers to deliver and supervise each session. Participating schools promote the program to their students and provide classroom facilities for every session.

Each of the ten weekly sessions focuses on a different science or technology topic, consisting of a short and fun interactive introduction, followed by one or more lively and intriguing demonstrations to catch the students' attention and peak their interest. Demonstrations are followed by hands-on activities and one-on-one interaction with volunteers and Science World Facilitators, putting into practice the concepts that students have just learned. Students then create or build a project they can share with their family to inspire discussion at home. These activities, along with the demonstrations and discussions supporting them are designed to help students make connections between their daily lives and the impact their choices have on the environment around them.

• Over 100 teachers reached this year through our “Chat ‘n’ Chew” information sessions at each of the SSC schools where we discuss the free resources available to them

• Over 700 students enrolled in Super Science Club this year

• Our “Family Science Night” event hosted at Science World celebrates the end of each Super Science Club term:  over 800 Super Science Club family participants attended this year

• Super Science Club was covered in the 24hours paper on Earth Day. Click here to view the image in PDF format.
   

Awarded to Super Science Club in the spring of 2006: Best Outreach Program at the Canadian Association of Science Centres Conference