U.S. school distrcts tune into teaching with science kits

With the school year starting back up across the U.S., many schools have renewed their commitment to science--and many of them are adopting science kits. Here's the latest news:

Elementary school teachers from Darby, Pennsylvania spent part of their summer learning about science through science kits--and also, I suspect, how to use science kits to their best advantage.

Elementary students in Frazier, Pennsylvania are also getting science kits this year:

Later in the year, the district will enhance its science curriculum at Central Elementary School with $25,000 worth of materials to purchase kits that will provide hands-on learning.

As one of 57 school districts in 35 counties across the state, Frazier received a portion of $13.5 million the state budget allotted for "Science: It's Elementary."

More information on the Frazier project is available here.

Ironton, Ohio students are getting a complete science lab with science kits, thanks to funding from the Ohio Department of Education and Southern Ohio Medical Center:

The lab was renovated from an unused outdoor storage building and offers hands-on science kits and resources, technological upgrades and cooperative learning opportunities.

“We believe a quality foundation in science and math instruction is vital to our students’ career choices in the future,” said Jodi Armstrong, Green Elementary and Primary schools principal.

In Humboldt County, California, teacher Warren Blinn is excited about the boost in curricular quality brought about by the purchase of some science kits:

This year, Blinn is gearing up to teach a new hands-on science curriculum from University of California Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science. "Science is one of my favorite subjects to teach, but I haven't done it for several years because there were dedicated teachers who taught it during our prep time," he says. "The district changed that so this year we have these new science kits."

Students at Washington Elementary in Mount Vernon are using science kits that allow for seamless math and science learning from kindergarten through sixth grade.

I like this advice on evaluating science teaching (and science kits) from Ashville, North Carolina:

We also should ensure that adequate attention to instruction in science is given in elementary schools, as this creates the conditions for successful science achievement in middle and high school.

Check to make sure that science instruction is hands-on, relevant and inquiry-based.

Science kits, for example, can be used effectively even with kindergarten children. Children learn very little about science if they just memorize science facts.

At&T just donated $50,000 to Girl Scouts in Georgia to help them purchase science kits on robotics.

Is your child's school committed to science? Or is it predominantly focusing on the reading and math content on standardized tests? If you child isn't getting quality science instruction at school, it's imperative that he or she be introduced to science in another context, such as your home. Have you considered purchasing science kits for your child?