Family Science NightFamily Science Night

Engaging Families in the Wonder of Engaging Families in the Wonder of ScienceScience

Robert JeffersonRobert JeffersonTantasqua Regional Junior High SchoolTantasqua Regional Junior High School

Fiskdale, MAFiskdale, MAJeffersonr@tantasqua.orgJeffersonr@tantasqua.org

Today’s talk is being Today’s talk is being podcasted and will be podcasted and will be available at iTunesavailable at iTunes

Go to podcasts and type in Go to podcasts and type in TantasquaTantasqua

Select the session you Select the session you wantwant

Why hold a family science night?Why hold a family science night?

Great chance for parents and kids to Great chance for parents and kids to spend time togetherspend time togetherss

Kids of all ages get to do hands-on Kids of all ages get to do hands-on activitiesactivitiesaa

Teaches kids about science in a different Teaches kids about science in a different and fun wayand fun wayaa

Gets kids away from TVGets kids away from TVGG

Parents meet other parentsParents meet other parentsIt can be free for the families! Let me It can be free for the families! Let me

repeat that, FREE!repeat that, FREE!

The design of Family Science Night The design of Family Science Night is totally dependent on the goal of is totally dependent on the goal of

the eventthe event

It can be participatory, student It can be participatory, student demonstrations, or even a one-demonstrations, or even a one-

person “show”person “show”I have organized one-person shows I have organized one-person shows and participation Family Science and participation Family Science

NightsNights

My first Family Science Night was a My first Family Science Night was a presentation by a wildlife presentation by a wildlife

rehabilitatorrehabilitator

Easy to organize, minimal Easy to organize, minimal preparation, and people of all ages preparation, and people of all ages

are attracted to animal are attracted to animal presentationspresentations

I approached my principal I approached my principal AFTERAFTER securing the fundingsecuring the funding

Promoting the event was crucialPromoting the event was crucial

Minimal staff support was Minimal staff support was necessarynecessary

I offered bonus points to each of my I offered bonus points to each of my students who attendedstudents who attended

The first Family Science Night was The first Family Science Night was wildly successful with over 450 people wildly successful with over 450 people

in attendancein attendance

The first Family Science Night lasted The first Family Science Night lasted 90 minutes and students and 90 minutes and students and

parents ABSOLUTELY loved it!parents ABSOLUTELY loved it!

This type of Family Science This type of Family Science Night is somewhat Night is somewhat

hands-onhands-on

The big advantage of this The big advantage of this kind of event-minimal effort kind of event-minimal effort

is requiredis required

Birds of Prey are extremely Birds of Prey are extremely popular because kids (of all popular because kids (of all

ages) love to see living ages) love to see living animalsanimals

In alternate years Family Science In alternate years Family Science Night consists of an evening of Night consists of an evening of

discrepant eventsdiscrepant events

The evening opens with a The evening opens with a soda/mentos demonstration in the soda/mentos demonstration in the

cafeteria!cafeteria!

This kind of Family Science This kind of Family Science Night is my favorite because Night is my favorite because

it is all hands-onit is all hands-on

A discrepant event is one where the result is the opposite

of what was expected

The result contradicts the expectation of the observer

The concept is to encourage The concept is to encourage FAMILIESFAMILIES to attend, all the kids, to attend, all the kids,

the neighbor’s kids, the the neighbor’s kids, the grandparents, even bring the dog, grandparents, even bring the dog,

the turtle, whatever!the turtle, whatever!

Students act as facilitators, and Students act as facilitators, and encourage attendees to actively encourage attendees to actively

participateparticipate

Each participant is asked to use Each participant is asked to use the the POEPOE principle before engaging in principle before engaging in

the discrepant eventthe discrepant event

POE=Predict, Observe, and ExplainPOE=Predict, Observe, and Explain

Students must be in good Students must be in good academic standing (no Ds or Fs) to academic standing (no Ds or Fs) to

be a facilitatorbe a facilitator

Students work in teams of twoStudents work in teams of two

All students are encouraged to All students are encouraged to attend. Bonus points are awardedattend. Bonus points are awarded

The student facilitators must become The student facilitators must become completely familiar with their completely familiar with their

discrepant eventdiscrepant event

I select and test the events in I select and test the events in advanceadvance

Students are involved somewhat in Students are involved somewhat in the decision as to which event they the decision as to which event they

facilitatefacilitate

Snacks can be sold to raise funds Snacks can be sold to raise funds for science club or student councilfor science club or student council

Students are Students are carefullycarefully instructed in all safety aspects instructed in all safety aspects

of their eventof their event

They are also made aware they They are also made aware they are “teachers” for this event and are “teachers” for this event and

NOT demonstratorsNOT demonstrators

Any event that has any Any event that has any potential safety hazards, has a potential safety hazards, has a teacher assigned to the student teacher assigned to the student

teamteam

There is no similarity between There is no similarity between a traditional science fair and a traditional science fair and

family science nightfamily science night

Family Science Night is all Family Science Night is all about involvement of the about involvement of the

familiesfamilies

If your school currently is not If your school currently is not hosting a family science night or hosting a family science night or science fair, you may face some science fair, you may face some resistance from your colleagues resistance from your colleagues if you pursue such an event if you pursue such an event

Keys to success:Keys to success:Start small with your first family Start small with your first family science nightscience nightInvolve other staff, and students, Involve other staff, and students, if possibleif possibleBe enthusiastic yourself; motivate Be enthusiastic yourself; motivate everyone involvedeveryone involvedIf you are not excited, your If you are not excited, your students won’t bestudents won’t be

I hook the kids on discrepant I hook the kids on discrepant events with “Discrepant Event events with “Discrepant Event

Friday”Friday”

Each Friday, I spend 5-10 minutes Each Friday, I spend 5-10 minutes at the end of class demonstrating a at the end of class demonstrating a

discrepant eventdiscrepant event

Let’s look at some examples of Let’s look at some examples of discrepant eventsdiscrepant events

A hair dryer and ping-pong ball A hair dryer and ping-pong ball demonstrates Bernoulli’s demonstrates Bernoulli’s

principleprinciple

Can we make the Can we make the demo more demo more impressive?impressive?

Hydrophobic Hydrophobic “magic sand” is “magic sand” is always a big hit always a big hit with studentswith students

Production of Production of carbon dioxide carbon dioxide gas and its gas and its effect on fireeffect on fire

Air Takes Up Space!Air Takes Up Space!

Air pressure and the crushing Air pressure and the crushing soda cansoda can

A sharpened A sharpened pencil through pencil through a water filled a water filled zip-lock bagzip-lock bag

You can have You can have a challenge to a challenge to see how many see how many pencils can be pencils can be insertedinserted

Inserting a skewer into Inserting a skewer into a balloona balloon

DensityDensity

More density:More density:wax in water and wax in water and isopropyl alcoholisopropyl alcohol

Bernoulli’s PrincipleBernoulli’s Principle

FingerprintingFingerprinting

Light RefractionLight Refraction

Termites and PheromonesTermites and Pheromones

Surface Surface tension of tension of

waterwaterBess BugsBess Bugs

Students Love Anything to Students Love Anything to do with Fire!do with Fire!

Ivory Soap in the microwave Ivory Soap in the microwave is a huge crowd pleaser!is a huge crowd pleaser!

Charles’ LawCharles’ Law

““Sewer Lice”Sewer Lice”

Center of GravityCenter of Gravity

Launching Water Launching Water Bottle RocketsBottle Rockets

Pros of this type of Family Pros of this type of Family Science NightScience Night

Everyone enjoys the hands-on Everyone enjoys the hands-on nature natureStudent facilitators feel Student facilitators feel ownership of their eventownership of their eventLends itself to raising some Lends itself to raising some fundingfundingThe entire school feels more The entire school feels more involvedinvolved

Cons of this type of Family Cons of this type of Family Science NightScience Night

Materials cost-$300-$500Materials cost-$300-$500Substantial set-up and clean- Substantial set-up and clean- up-timeup-timeBig commitment by studentsBig commitment by studentsSupport by other teachersSupport by other teachersMuch advanced research and Much advanced research and testing requiredtesting required

There are several variations of There are several variations of Family Science Night you can hostFamily Science Night you can host

You can have more of a “science You can have more of a “science fair” themefair” theme

You could team up with other You could team up with other schools and have a eventschools and have a event

You can hire an organization to You can hire an organization to come in and perform various come in and perform various

demosdemos