Recently, young scientists from multiple states joined us for our very first virtual field trip. We took a closer look at science with BioBus! Led by Scientist Maria, we learned what can be found in a small scoop of dirt. We tied our observations to what we've been learning, and expanded our knowledge of ecology and the roles living things play within a system.
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We are indeed planting the seeds of science near and far in lots of new ways these days! Our newest initiative, Meet A Scientist, exposes young scientists to scientists of diverse backgrounds (all remotely!). During our workshops, we've learned more about what each scientist does, learned about the tools they use in their job, and gained knowledge shared by our guest scientist.
Over the summer, we met Scientist Ryan, a geologist with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. We learned all about rocks, key identification features, and the roles rocks play on our planet. The highlight of our workshop was when Ryan started identifying some of our young scientists' rock samples. Soon, all types of rock collections were on display, eagerly awaiting to be identified. It was a fun and wonderful experience which further ignited our young scientists passion for geology. Recently, we met Scientist Rachael, an insect ecologist who specializes in bees. In addition to learning how bees make honey, we learned detailed facts about who the queen bee is and how she gets that role. Our young scientists learned about bee anatomy, bee life cycle and behavior, and what happens with bees when the weather is much too hot or cold. Our young scientists shared observations and asked great questions! We learned the difference between a wasp and a bee, and how we can best help and protect bees. It was an informative morning which delighted our invertebrate-loving young scientists. Are you a scientist interested in meeting with our young scientists? Fill out THIS FORM and be part of the Meet A Scientist program! Although current circumstances prevent us from learning together at the Kiddie Science Lab, it doesn't stop the scientific exploration! Thanks to ongoing support from Con Edison and the local community, we've begun to re-imagine how and where the scientific learning takes place. Science is everywhere, and now the hands-on fun of Kiddie Science can come to you in the form of a theme-based science kit! This month, our theme is paleontology. Young scientists will excavate a trilobite and a diving beetle, and explore authentic fossils which they get to keep. The paleontology science kit is supplemented with online resources which include a live Zoom workshop to learn more about fossils and the job of a paleontologist Our current paleontology kit is sold out, but stay tuned for the hands-on science fun that August brings! The scientific fun continues...  Hip hip hooray for books! We recently met up with the Brooklyn Book Bodega and picked up an additional 543 books for the avid readers in our community. This expands our collection to include more tween and young adult books just for you! The socially distant book swap will continue through the summer until we run out of books (and will not take place during rainy days). Available book shopping dates and times will be updated continuously, so check back often. We are incredibly grateful to the Brooklyn Book Bodega for their ongoing support of the young learners in our community. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOOK SWAP AND RESERVE YOUR BOOK SHOPPING TIME Although its not what we planned, we're excited that Nature In The City has come to fruition! This summer, twenty-three families will embark on a hands-on exploration of the amazing natural world that exists all around us. Over a seven week period, families will learn about botany, conduct experiments related to our study, learn scientific vocabulary, get creative with bug building, and much more! The best part is we then apply what we've learned to the real world. Nature In The City has been a labor of love and we're excited to be expanding the scientific exploration far and wide! Stay tuned for more scientific opportunities from your friendly neighborhood Kiddie Science Lab! |
