STEM Enrichment ActivitiesScience does not exist in the vacuum of a classroom but rather it is all about us. It is important for students to learn to interact with science outside of the classroom. As adults, they will be expected to make decisions, including voting, on topics related to science and must be comfortable with science in an every-day context. This page lists extracurricular things kids can do to get involved with science outside of school.
NOTE: You will see that there are points assigned to each activity because I used these resources when I was teaching high school biology and students had to earn a minimum number of points per semester for participating in science opportunities outside of class. Although I am no longer in the classroom, I have left this page up and kept the worksheet links and point descriptions in tact in case any other science teachers who reference my page are interested in adopting this scheme. Click HERE to view an example of a syllabus I used with my students with the guidelines for how students were to earn enrichment points doing these activities. |
I also post a lot of upcoming opportunities for teachers and students to get involved with science "in the real world" on the Gold Coast Science Network Facebook page. Go check it out and GET INVOLVED!
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Get Your Neurons Firing with these Enrichment Activities!
- Reading Logs - You can earn 5 enrichment points per section for each reading log you turn in. Pick the sections that you find most interesting. You can choose from any or all of the following: Chapter 17 (any of the four sections), 18.3, 32.3, any sections in chapters 35-40.
- Read The Secret Life of Germs book and answer the Questions for each section. You can earn up to 60 Enrichment Points. Your total points depends on how well you answer the questions and how much of the book you read. (click HERE if you need the questions in PDF format).
- What learning style are you? (5 Enrichment Points) First visit these websites to read about the different modalities: http://csl.cofc.edu/documents/study-skills/online-library/learning_styles/learning_styles_the_four_modalities.pdf and http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-styles.shtml. Next, create a graphic organizer (table, concept map, Venn diagram, etc) that illustrates the differences between each modality (you can search for and use other websites to help you as well). Finally, visit this website to take a brief survey to help you determine your strongest modality and write down your results, include the complete list of things you should do to help you learn better: http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles.shtml. You can also use this type of information to help you better work with other people. Click HERE to read an article about how to use your knowledge of learning styles to better work with and manage other people!
- Watch the Defying Disease Ted Talks, which includes 17 presenters. Each presentation is about 15-20 minutes long. Take notes on each presentation and write one paragraph that answers the following 1) What did you learn? 2) How does this presentation relate to what we have learned in class, and 3) How will the information presented in this presentation affect the world and/or your life? - up to 5 Enrichment Points for each 2 presentations completed
- you can access the entire series of 17 presentations from Netflix (search for "Ted Talks" and select "Defying Disease")
- WIlliam Li: Can We Eat to Starve Cancer? and Update to Dr. Li's Ted Talk on Cancer
- Alan Russell: The potential of regenerative medicine
- Aubrey de Grey: Undoing Aging or the longer talk Dr. Grey gave which is worth 5 points by itself: The Science of Ending Ageing
- Dean Ornish on the World's Killer Diet
- Larry Brilliant Wants to Stop Pandemics
- Bruce Aylward: How We'll Stop Polio for Good
- Joe DeRisi Solves Medical Mysteries
- Kary Mullis's Next-Gen Cure for Killer Infections
- Cynthia Kenyon: Experiments That Hint of Longer Lives
- Seth Berkley: HIV and Flu -- The Vaccine Strategy
- David Agus: A New Strategy in the War on Cancer
- Nicholas Christakis: How Social Networks Predict Epidemics
- Kelly McGonigal: How to Make Stress Your Friend
- Peter Attia: Is the Obesity Crisis Hiding a Bigger Problem?
- Richard Weller: Could the Sun Be Good for Your Heart?
- Russell Foster: Why Do We Sleep?
- Sonia Shah: 3 Reasons We Still Haven't Gotten Rid of Malaria
- Bonnie Brassler: How Bacteria Talk
- The Coming Crisis in Antibiotics
- You can also pick any other Ted Talks on Science from this page (click here) that interest you, take notes, and write a summary. Be sure to include the website URL and length of the presentation (in hours/minutes) so that I can estimate how many points to award you (approximately 5 points per hour)
- Watch videos for credit! For each video you watch, take detailed notes and also write a one paragraph summary of the video describing the overall message of the video and what you particularly found interesting. Each video is about one hour long and worth 5-10 points depending on how detailed and well-done your notes are. DO NOT plagiarize your notes. You will receive a zero for your entire enrichment grade for the semester. Here are the videos you can watch (do as many as you'd like). Click on a movie below to view it:
- Great Transformations
- Why Sex
- Extinction
- The Mind's Big Bang
- Evolutionary Arms Race
- Your Inner Fish (there are three episodes - treat each one like a separate video assignment)
- The Origin of Species: The Making of a Theory
- Life's Rocky Start - What is the secret link between rocks and minerals, and every living thing on Earth?
- In fact there are great science videos available on PBS.org, Nova, HHMI, and many other science education websites.
- Watch these Bill Nye videos and fill out the accompanying worksheet (or answer the questions in complete sentences on a separate sheet of paper if you cannot or do not want to print out the worksheet) - 5 Enrichment Points Each
- Bill Nye: Cells: click here to go to the video and click here to download the worksheet
- working on adding more... check back soon!
- Do the Malaria Online Assignment for 10 Enrichment Points and/ or the HHMI Microbes Strike Back assignment for 10 Enrichment Points.
- Interview a scientist or Engineer about his or her job. You can choose any job that is a science major. You should do a little background research on the profession before the interview and have prepared questions ready. Ask the interviewee to sign your notes when you are done. Your interview should last at least 30 minutes. Write a one page essay about the career field and attach your interview questions and notes to it. (15 points - you can do up to four of these for a total of 60 points)
- Online Lectures - Watch any of the lectures on these sites and take detailed notes. Write a one paragraph summary at the bottom of your notes about what you learned and what you thought was most interesting from the lecture. Turn in your notes. Each 1 hr lecture is worth 5 pts, each 2 hr lecture is worth 10 pts (though more points may be awarded for superior work). Points will be determined based on the completeness of your notes. Be sure to indicate the length of the lecture at the top of your notes.
- NASA JPL von Karman Lecture Series
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute Holiday Lectures Series
- Very interesting series of 5 lectures on how the brain and memory work - watch all five or just the ones that interest you most. Each one is about one hour long. Click this link to get started!.
- Lecture on Prion Diseases (like mad cow disease)
- Fold It! Read through the introduction (click here) and then download the software. Every time you solve a protein structure, print out a picture of your results. Attach a paper with: your name, the date, how long it took to solve the protein, and few sentences about what you learned as you completed the challenge. If you solve the structure of more than one protein, do this for each protein structure you solve. Points will be awarded based on how many structures you solve, the quality of your work, and the time you invest. You can not earn more than 25 points for this category so be sure to check in with me if you plan to solve many proteins.
- Carbon Footprint - take the online quiz - click here for instructions (10 pts)
- Article or Podcast Summary (5-10 pts depending on length and topic of article or podcast - the longer 1 hr+ podcasts may earn you more points if your summary is well done) - Click here for instructions. Here are some articles you may want to consider, or you can find your own. Science Friday is a great place to find podcasts.
- See How Smoking Prematurely Ages the Skin
- The importance of stupidity in scientific research
- Why are there still so few women in science?
- Introduction to Memory Techniques
- Tangled webs: Why scientists want to recreate spider silk
- Six Spider Web Superpowers
- How the Brain Learns (be sure to click through and print out all three pages)
- read one of the articles listed at the bottom of this page: click here
- You can also find YOUR OWN article about something in science that interests you
- Discovery Center for Science and Technology: Science Speaker Series - click here for instructions and a link to the presentation dates (15 points per presentation you attend)
- Visit a Museum and Design an Exhibit - click here for instructions (20 pts plus bonus points for distance to museum and length of stay)
- The Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula has free admission the first Sunday of every month
- Complete a Science Fair Project - (up to 80 points) Project does not have to be biology-focused. You will divide the points between first and second semester depending on how much of the work you complete in each semester. You must show me your progress at the end of first semester and your final product when completed in second semester. Access the 2015 Science Fair Handbook here. Project registration deadline is February 12. Let me know if you need help registering.
- Science Literature - click here for instructions (10-60 pts depending on the book you read). I have some of these books to loan to students. Otherwise, you can check them out from the school library if available or the local library. In addition, used copies of most books can be purchased online for a nominal price.
- Tutoring - Download the Tutoring Log Form here. Please notify me if you are interested in tutoring. I will add you to my tutors list and appoint you to help struggling students. All tutoring will take place at lunch in my classroom. You will earn 5 points for every two days you tutor at lunch.
- Participate in a Science-Related School Organization/club or you can also participate in an off-campus science-related organization (see Ms. Majda for approval first). Click here for the instructions, including a form to track your hours. (5 pts per meeting/hour, maximum 50 pts combined for all science clubs/organizations)
- Participate in the Discovery Center for Science and Technology Teens Group - click here to download a brochure about this excellent program. Click here for the instructions, including a form to track your hours. (5 pts per meeting, maximum 50 pts combined for all science clubs/organizations)
- Volunteer at Family Science Night - Click here to learn more. Click here to download the instruction form and time sheet with all of the event dates listed - you will use this log all year to record your evidence of helping at these events. (20 points per event)
- Volunteer at Gullwings Children's Museum (5 pts per hour) - Click here to learn about the museum's volunteer program. Click here to download a form to track your hours.
- DNA Interactive Website has several online activities you can do!
- Timeline Scavenger Hunt (5 enrichment points) - Click here to download and print the worksheet. Follow the directions to find the answers.
- Reading the Code (up to 10 enrichment points) - Click here to download and print the worksheet. Follow the directions to find the answers.
- Controlling the Code (up to 10 enrichment points) - Click here to download and print the worksheet. Follow the directions to find the answers.
- Super Size Me video (10 points) Watch the full movie "Supersize Me" (available from Netflix) and answer these discussion questions (you can either print out the discussion questions and then fill in the answers or copy them down on a sheet of paper by hand and answer them).
- GCSN Conferences for STEM Education at Oxnard College - volunteer to help out at the conference and earn 5 enrichment points per hour (you could earn up to 50 points in one day!). You will receive a certificate with your total number hours worked at the end of the day. This will be the evidence you put in your binder. Check the GCSN website for dates for the next conference.
- Submit an entry for the Science Fair Artwork Competition and earn 10 enrichment points. Check out the VCOE Science Fair webpage at the start of the school year for contest instructions and deadlines.
- Coastal Cleanup Day (5 pts per hour, up to 20 pts). Click here to learn more about this event and download the parent waiver. Get a verification form or letter signed by one of the event leaders that states the total number of hours that you participated.
- FARM DAY (5 points per farm you tour - you should spend at least 45 minutes per farm). Click here to learn more about this event that involves a self guided tour of more than 20 Agribusinesses in Ventura County. Use this form to record your evidence of attendance by printing it out ahead of time and taking it with you (one per farm). Note that the form has a photo of an old flyer, but you can use it for this year.
Why Enrichment?
When I was in high school, I was required to turn in "current events" each week as a way to learn about science in the "real world." This involved searching the newspaper for stories relating to science and writing summaries on them to be turned in with the newspaper clipping. This quickly got boring. So I have devised what I think is a better way to get kids involved in real-world science. I give them an assortment of options and let them choose what they like best! By participating in hands-on science adventures in their community, students gain a deeper appreciation for science content and awareness of careers, while developing greater confidence and interest. Science and technology professionals earn on average at least 25% greater income than people in other professions and play a key role in helping to tackle important global problems like climate change, pollution, disease, and famine. Participating in enrichment opportunities like Family Science Night (described below) or others listed on this page are the most important aspect of our class as they tend to have the greatest long-term impact on students.
Do you know of anymore great opportunities for kids to do science outside of the classroom? If so, please email and let me know so I can add it here!
When I was in high school, I was required to turn in "current events" each week as a way to learn about science in the "real world." This involved searching the newspaper for stories relating to science and writing summaries on them to be turned in with the newspaper clipping. This quickly got boring. So I have devised what I think is a better way to get kids involved in real-world science. I give them an assortment of options and let them choose what they like best! By participating in hands-on science adventures in their community, students gain a deeper appreciation for science content and awareness of careers, while developing greater confidence and interest. Science and technology professionals earn on average at least 25% greater income than people in other professions and play a key role in helping to tackle important global problems like climate change, pollution, disease, and famine. Participating in enrichment opportunities like Family Science Night (described below) or others listed on this page are the most important aspect of our class as they tend to have the greatest long-term impact on students.
Do you know of anymore great opportunities for kids to do science outside of the classroom? If so, please email and let me know so I can add it here!
