We do two different things during the year to encourage science and math learning.
Once a month at night we have a Parent/Student night with a science activity. Each grade gets two nights during the year. This has been great because very often the dads come and participate.
The second thing we do is HUGE. We have a science fair. We were the first elementary school to do this in our area. It is non-competative. Coaches volunteer at the begining of the year, choose a topic and the day of the week they would like to hold their meetings and how many students they would like to work with and what grade they are interested in helping. A notice is sent home by grade stating the topics available and the times to meet and the children commit to a project. The commity matches topics and children and then the fun begins. The children meet once a week with their coach to complete their project. Six weeks later we have a fair with all participants getting a certificate and gift.
The coaches are told to let the students do as much work as possible and just to act as a facilitator.
This was the first year I participated as a coach and it was wonderful.
The reason I ask is that our PTO is going to assist in getting a few afterschool activities going. Our school has a mural(sorry if this is spelled wrong) club, where students us large posters, bulletin boards, or ply wood to create some very wonderful Murals and other items. With the help from our science department we are working on providing Wildlife Habitats in our school yard. If you want to check it out, here is the web address: www.nwf.org/earthsavers/
Also check out www.target.com
for their Target Arts in Education Grants.
I recently sent out a goals and priority survey through our school. The ones coming back from parents have listed art and science as possible goals for our PTA. Does anyone have any good ideas on how to imlement these? One local PTA is sponsoring an artist in residence program. This is costing them $3,000. Our PTA has recently finished two major and costly projects, and therefore don't have the money for this. I need some insight.Thanks
