Sessions are designed for the after-school leader to be a “guide on the side,” rather than a formal teacher or science expert. By watching what the children do and asking questions, the leader helps children follow their natural curiosity. By encouraging children to help each other and share ideas and materials, leaders help children gain important social skills.

Each kit is made up of four sessions, each approximately 45 minutes long. The sessions should be presented in order, but the time frame for presenting the kit is flexible. For example, some leaders present one session a week for four weeks. Others present all four sessions within one week. The four sessions build on each other, but a child who misses one or more sessions will still enjoy and learn from the activities.

Each 45-minute session follows the same steps—“Engage,” “Explore,” and “Make Sense.”

1. Engage  Each session begins with a quick introduction and a question of the day designed to engage the children and get them thinking.

2. Explore  During this part of the session, the children explore and experiment.

3. Make Sense  Each session ends with an opportunity for the children to reflect and make sense of what they’ve experienced and discovered.

Whether your after-school staff is new to hands-on science activities or they have been science instructors for years, the handbooks in each kit provide guidelines that help leaders plan and effectively lead each session. From science background to materials preparation. from room arrangement to cleanup, and from adapting sessions for different ages to extensions, the handbooks provide a wealth of support for the leaders.

Professional Development  is not required, however we believe (and preliminary data show) that your program will be most successful if leaders are trained to effectively use these materials.

To learn more about AfterSchool KidzScience™ workshops offered by the Lawrence Hall of Science, click here.