Our Community Science Workshops (CSW)s exist to enrich the educational experience of students and their communities through providing opportunities of hands-on science exploration.
WHAT DO WE DO?
The Community Science Workshop “CSW” provides hands-on tinkering with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) in ways that foster curiosity, creativity, perseverance, and critical thinking. We provide a series of engaging, grade-level appropriate hands-on science experiences for youth in and out of school.
IS OUR PROGRAM ALIGNED TO NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)?
Yes – CSW content is centered on specific “themes” with grade-level appropriate activities and objectives. All lessons incorporate basic science process skills of observing, investigating and analyzing data as well as incorporating NGSS Practices, and/or Crosscutting Concepts and/or Disciplinary Core Ideas. Our lessons nurture creativity, inventiveness and engagement and provide an unconventional approach to student science education.
SCOPE
We offer both in-school and out-of-school programs in order to increase access to hands-on science exploration for suburban students and their communities.
We offer both in-school and out-of-school programs in order to increase access to hands-on science exploration for suburban students and their communities.
- In-school
- Standards aligned, hands-on lessons and enrichment for teachers and their students
- Opt-in tinkering sessions for students or clubs
- Out-of-school
- Guided project based learning / tinkering and making sessions for students, existing programs or clubs
- Community building events – materials and guidance for hands-on science projects for coworkers, friends and/or families
- Science nights – activity or interactive showcase booth for all ages at community events
HISTORY:
The philosophy of “learning through discovery” is inspired by the Exploratorium Teacher Institute. Activities and lesson structure are inspired by the Mission Community Science Workshop “MCSW”. Many of our state’s students are unable to visit CSWs or attend the Bay Area’s several innovative science museums. Community Science Workshops are places that provide local access to hands-on opportunities for students to discover science and technology through interest and inquiry. Our CSW program builds off the Community Science Workshop model and brings CSW activities to students where they are, both in and out of the school day. Our CSW programs are now at eight different school sites as well as the Boys and Girls Club of Contra Costa County and growing.
The philosophy of “learning through discovery” is inspired by the Exploratorium Teacher Institute. Activities and lesson structure are inspired by the Mission Community Science Workshop “MCSW”. Many of our state’s students are unable to visit CSWs or attend the Bay Area’s several innovative science museums. Community Science Workshops are places that provide local access to hands-on opportunities for students to discover science and technology through interest and inquiry. Our CSW program builds off the Community Science Workshop model and brings CSW activities to students where they are, both in and out of the school day. Our CSW programs are now at eight different school sites as well as the Boys and Girls Club of Contra Costa County and growing.