Long Beach: SEE US Succeed! - Science Education Experience to help Underserved Students Succeed!
Teachers and students from CSU Long Beach facilitated another year of summer camp as SEE US Succeed! volunteers. SEE US Succeed! — Science Education Experience to help Underserved Students Succeed! - offers a two week summer camp to homeless children in the Long Beach Unified School District and is funded by various foundations and individuals.* In 2011, 67 kindergarten through eighth grade students got the chance to experience first-hand the exciting world of science.
Students were grouped according to their grade level and participated in various activities during science camp. Students in grades K-12 experienced Down to Earth where they observed, drew, read and wrote about rocks, dirt, erosion, and weathering. Third and fourth graders were science magicians in their classes, It's not magic, it's science! There they learned how light behaves through the use of mirrors and their findings led to the construction of a magic bank that made coins disappear. They also experimented with polymers; making slime, bouncy balls and learning how to pierce a balloon with a skewer without popping it. At the end of camp, they performed a "magic" show for the K-2 students based on their new science knowledge.
Middle school students at the camp were crime scene investigators. The volunteer teachers devised various crime scene scenarios for the mini CSI team to investigate through forensic science. In order to solve a robbery, the case of the missing dog, and the case of the forged check, students examined footprints, finger prints and lip prints, tested handwriting, examined blood types, conducted hair and fiber analyses, and tested chemicals, including a few they created themselves. Officers from California Highway Patrol and the Long Beach Police Department made an appearance to discuss how they use forensic science in their investigations.
Experienced science camp leaders comprise the fully credentialed teaching staff for SEE US Succeed. The three lead teachers were enrolled in the Science Education Master's Program, while the six teaching associates (all CSULB credential students) had either previously worked with Young Scientists' Camp or were CSULB Noyce Scholars - talented science, technology, engineering, or mathematics majors recruited to become middle and high school teachers in "high need" schools. According to Noyce Scholar Tamara Flores, "Working at this camp was such an amazing experience. The kids really enjoyed the 'It's not Magic, It's Science' theme. They were able to have fun while learning science. I am truly fortunate to have been part of a camp that gave homeless children a chance to participate in summer camp. This experience helped me prepare for student teaching."
The SEE US Succeed! Program was modeled after the Young Scientists' Camp program with veteran teachers serving as mentors for teacher candidates in the credential program.
*The Verizon Foundation has supported the camp for the past three years, with additional donations from The Earl B. and Lorraine H. Miller Foundation, Severn Family Foundation, JAPAJAG Foundation, The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation, Alexander & Baldwin Foundation (Matson Navigation Company) and several individuals.
Find out more about service learning and community engagement at
Cal State Long Beach.
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