Science outreach in the elementary classroom : possibilities and challenges

There has been clear research that has shown that US students are lacking in science skills compared to the rest of the world, it is also suggested that early intervention programs and early exposure help students keep a continued interest in subjects throughout their educational career. Additionally, elementary school teachers often have little to no background in science. During the 2009-2010 academic year, a group of college students from LCCC worked with two fourth grade classes aiding in teaching different science concepts through experiments that would be difficult for one teacher to complete due to high student/teacher ratios and lack of appropriate equipment. Through the year the 4th graders have been both excited and engaged in science due to the college group's efforts. This experience has provided learning opportunities from early planning stages to in-class execution that can help in developing successful outreach programs in the future.