Lab with Dad“Enriching Your Science Program with Parental

Involvement”NSTA National Conference

April 12, 2013

Introductions

Karen Delmotte4th grade teacherTrinity Lutheran School, Utica, MI586-731-4490kadelmotte@yahoo.com

Brenda Havers7& 8th grade science teacherTrinity Lutheran School586-731-4490bhavers@wowway.com

Initial Goals/Philosophy

• Parental involvement• Enrich/supplement classroom lab

activities• Alternative to Family Science Night• Keeping it simple

The Nitty Gritty of Preparation Invitation to target group Permission slips/confirmation

notes/reminders Reserve facilities Get older students involved with

prep Limit size if necessary Solicit donations of desserts

The “Big Day”Time (6:30-8:00)Participants meet in an adjoining

room for directions for the evening.Event/CompetitionRefreshments and fellowship

Puzzling Powders Adapted from Science Olympiad Parent and child learn properties

of known powders by conducting various tests

Receive a mystery powder and infer its identity

Fun with Water• Target group – 2nd Grade• Activities include:

– Sink or Float (density)– Rainbow Test Tubes (measuring)– Barge Building (buoyancy)– Sponge Squeeze (estimating volume)– Color Wheel (light and color)– Chromatography (density & mixtures)– Drops on a Penny (surface tension)

Mystery Architecture• Adapted from Science

Olympiad• Parent and child team

receive a bag of misc. building materials

• Challenged to build the tallest tower they can that supports a tennis ball

Bridge Building• Adapted from Science Olympiad• Parent and child team given 50

straws and 20 straight pins• Challenged to build a lengthy, sturdy,

and stable bridge that supports a chalkboard eraser

Metric Olympics

• Adapted from AIMS• Parent and child teams compete in a variety

of events testing their ability to estimate metric measurements

• Involves predicting their abilities to do a physical challenge, which requires some sort of measuring

The “Cookie Caper”

• Adapted from Mystery Science, Case of the Missing Lunch” from www.dandylionbooks.com

• Parent and student team solve a mystery by examining clues left at the scene of the crime

• Clues include a mystery powder, footprints, and a ransom note left at the scene

• Police officer on site to read crime scenario

CSI: Trinity

• Invited students in grades 6-8• Parents used as volunteers at evidence

analyzing stations• Faculty and staff chosen as suspects• Actual crime scene investigator present to

analyze with students evidence left at the crime scene

Crime Scene

CSI: Evidence Stations• Fingerprinting

• Handwriting Analysis

• Blood typing

Chromatography & Footprints

Hair Sample Analysis

Funding Solicit free-will donation

from parents participating at event

Local businesses for supplies (i.e. straws)

Science budget

Outcomes• Great Public Relations

• Local newspaper coverage• Administration loves it• Great parent feedback

• Great Bonding experience • Between parent and child (specifically dad and child)• Between dads and dads

• Greater excitement for science• Builds greater support for science program

Questions ???

GO TIGERS!!!!!!