Community Church of God
Opportunity Center
1997-98 Elementary Science Club

Is This Club Active?

  Not any longer

Schedule

  During the 1997-98 school year, we met
  Tuesday evenings at 6:45.

Location

  565 Jefferson Street, Ypsilanti
  (west of 1st Street, south side); [map]

Grade Level of Participants

  K-5th grade

What We Did

Led by program coordinators Faye Booker-Logan, Beverly Tyler, Sharine Buddin, Grace Kim, Veronica Cottingham, and Srinivas Sridhara, a weekly average of 25-30 children in grades 1-5 participated in 17 sessions of hands-on science lessons, experiments, and demonstrations. Popular activities included

Participants also enjoyed a presentation by African American dentist Kenneth May on oral hygiene and care. Dr. May shared a "typical day in the life of a dentist," the experience and education required for that profession, and the kinds of jobs that are possible within the field.

Over 125 volunteers from such University of Michigan service organizations as Reach Out!, the Pre-Med Club, and the Black Pre-Med Association were on board each week, with another 30 volunteers who came on a one-time basis.

The kids particularly enjoyed "edible product" and "make-it-and-take-it" activities, such as Liquid Nitrogen Fun (which included making ice cream), No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies during African American History Week, and the end-of-year pizza party. Lessons featuring more "lecture and discussion" were not as effective.

Responses from Volunteers

"I really enjoyed going to the sessions. It was fun working with the kids and knowing that I was helping them in a positive way, even though it was only for a little while. Spending time with children is a mutually enlightening experience that helps me feel like I have a purpose in life."

"I think the science club went really well this semester. All the stuff we did with kids had educational value to it.... I think it is a great club and activity. And yes, I will be back next semester!"

"In general, I think that it was a really good, enjoyable experience for both the children and me."

How You Can Join Us to Help

Reach Out! Contact: Aarti Raheja, 647-0764 (voice mail for Reach Out!), aartir@umich.edu