S is for Science is where kids fall in love with science.  We propose to produce an evening at your elementary School where students and their families will start or enhance their love of science as a subject.  Specifically, our goals, in order of priority are:

1. Students walk away saying and thinking, “Science is fun!”
2. Students witness some really interesting things, learn a little bit about why, and are curious to learn more.  We want them hungry to unlock the secrets of science.
3. Parents witness the energy and enthusiasm that their children have when learning about science, and are motivated to facilitate their interest in the home and at school.
4. Parents see how their contributions to the PTA are generating value for the students and are encouraged to continue giving and being involved.

How it Works: 

1. We sign an agreement with your PTA.
2. You fill out a form so that we know everyone to contact for the project.
3. A month or two before the event, we have a telephone call with the PTA coordinator to review details.  Most important is:
   1. PTA securing 12 parent volunteers from 5:30 to 8PM on the day of the event, and;
   2. PTA and teacher promotion of the event so that lots and lots of families come.  The promotion for this event is just like other school events.  We will offer suggestions that can jazz it up, and that have worked well in the past.
4. A week before the event, we have another conference call, to review details about the multi-purpose room setup and other details.  Payment should be made by this time.  Our 2007/2008 fee is $800.
5. The day of the event, we arrive at around 3:30 PM and begin set up in the multi-purpose room.  On each of ten tables will be ten different stations, with apparatus or other hands-on items.  Two additional tables are for administrative purposes.
6. At 5:30 PM, our founder Mrs. Renee Sher (“Mrs. S”) will train the 12 volunteers on their jobs.  10 of them will be manning a table each, instructing students on what to do.  Two of them will be administrative or floaters.
7. At 6:30 PM the doors open and the kids flood in.  There is no lecture or welcome speech.  They just stream in and go to the table of their choice and start “playing”.  Some kids rotate through all tables while some get engrossed with one table and may stay there the entire night.  Mrs. S will be roaming around in her lab coat interacting with all the guests.  At each table, students can take a full color 3x5” science trading card that will help them remember what they witnessed at that table, explains it to them, and in some cases, suggests further activities that they can do at home.  Some tables have take-home “scientific toys” for up to 300 students.
8. At 8 PM the event ends, the volunteers help with any clean-up, and we pack up our gear.  The janitor will have some work to do too.

Scientific Content

While the event is really fun and the students will think they are playing, we are engaging them with real science.  Our experiments may vary from time to time, but the ten most current tables are: 

1. Bernoulli’s Principle
2. Surface Tension (bubbles)
3. Chromatography
4. Electricity (Static)
5. Centripetal vs. Centrifugal forces
6. Optical Illusions
7. Magnets
8. Balance and Weight
9. Sound vibrations
10. Thunder