With a goal of instilling a passion for science with youngsters, the Northern Oklahoma College Science Club focused on outreach to Tonkawa Elementary School during the 2016-2017 academic year.
The project stemmed from work done last year by Science Club sponsor Scott Harmon and club members Katie Davis, Tonkawa, and Jocelyn Cantrell, Ponca City, with Tonkawa second graders. “The elementary students were really excited about science and the college students wanted to continue this enthusiasm,” said Lisa McGaw, assistant sponsor.
Led by club president Davis, Science Club members brainstormed activities that might fit into the science curriculum for the third, fourth and fifth grades during the second semester. Harmon contacted the teachers, and the NOC students planned an activity for each grade, practiced and presented it to the appropriate classes. Fourth graders studying circuits in Terri Guthrie’s classes made their own electromagnetic motors from batteries, copper wire and magnets. Marcy Mulligan’s fifth graders made ice cream in baggies to observe the change of state in matter. Third graders used two-liter bottles to observe tornado action as they studied atmospheric pressure in Shalane Garcia’s class.
“The kids loved it,” Davis said. “They all caught on really fast.” She said she had a love for science and enjoyed “showing kids this love and getting to know science.”
Other Science Club activities during the year included taking part in the college Halloween carnival and participating in an American Chemical Society Program-in-a-Box webinar where they met virtually with hundreds of other students around the country. Members tie-dyed T-shirts to wear when making school visits.
“We are thankful for the opportunity to go and share our love of science with the younger students,” McGaw said. “We want to share our love of science with the students. We are hoping that some of the students will be engaged with science and choose a science field and maybe we will have played at least a small role in that endeavor.”
McGaw estimated that the Science Club worked with more than 100 elementary students during the year. “The students are always very receptive to the college students. They are excited to learn and willing to share their thoughts and ideas. It is very rewarding to see such excitement for science!”
Science Club members in addition to Davis include vice president Dylan Mulligan and secretary Shaylynn Maple, Tonkawa; Blay Cantrell, Kevin Jordan and Owen Simpson, Tonkawa; and Gabriella Amaya, Jonathan Childers and Breanne Otto, Ponca City.