Science Materials Center
Mission:
The Science Materials Center (SMC) delivers hands-on science kits and resources efficiently, punctually and in good condition to every classroom participating in the Partnership for Elementary Science Education of Southwest Washington. Our goal is to make science more meaningful, stimulating and interesting by providing teachers with the tools to put the process of scientific inquiry back into learning.
Description:
To generate excitement about science and mathematics, it is essential to provide students with meaningful, stimulating and interesting hands-on science programs. The Science Materials Center programs offer K-8 science teachers standards-based science kits and resources to efficiently and effectively create a lifelong interest in science and mathematics.
Currently 29 school districts within the Southwest Washington region, serving 1,500 teachers and over 45,000 students utilize these programs. We facilitate 4,500 science kits, as well as science and math education literature to participating schools each year.
Research shows that partnerships between K-12 education, higher education and the business sector are extremely beneficial in preparing students for careers in mathematics and science.
What are Science Kits
Elementary and middle schools served by the Science Materials Center receive "science kits" that are developed by nationally recognized leaders in science materials development which include the Lawrence Hall of Science / University of California, Berkeley and the Smithsonian Institutions amongst them. These science kits use research on how students learn best to provide a coherent set of inquiry-based investigations leading to development of core science principles and concepts. Having the science materials and teacher's guide come in a kit make hands-on science teaching more manageable and doable for a lot of teachers. Teachers and students can now look forward to learning science together instead of reading about science. These science kits stimulate interest in science and lead to enduring science learning experiences and understanding of the natural world.
Professional Development
Prior to using a science kit in their classroom, teachers receive instruction giving them hands-on experience with the material. During a 6-hour workshop, teachers receive instructional strategies that give them confidence to teach, competence in the content, and skills in the classroom management of the materials. The Science Center conducts an average of 150 workshops/year for about 1,500 teachers served by the center.