Great Explorations in Math and Science
GEMS News Flash
A new pilot project is being tested in Shasta County. Early Childhood Science (ECS) revolves around colorful tote bags filled with goodies such as rubber ants, illustrated books, and instructions for hands-on activities for children ages three to five. The program is a playful way to build understanding of basic science concepts in young children.
Themes for the totes include Ants; Tree Homes and Animals; Eggs Everywhere; and Penguins. These fun science-centered tote bags are designed to be explored at home with parents. Workshops were recently held in Redding with guided instruction for families by Lawrence Hall of Science staff. One important goal of the workshops was helping parents develop confidence in involving their children in science activities at home, and in their own ability to share science discovery and learning with their children.
Families, teachers and child care providers will be asked to provide feedback for the GEMS team to revise and improve the tote bags. After refinements were made, the tote bags were distributed to families in conjunction with Week of the Young Child events in Shasta County in April 2008. The ECS program is being developed in collaboration with the Shasta County Office of Education, Shasta Community College Early Childhood Education Center, Shasta Head Start, and Turtle Bay Exploration Park.
GEMS – Great Explorations in Math and Science
GEMS is an innovative science and math curriculum developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science, the public science education center at the University of California at Berkeley. Tested in thousands of classrooms nationwide, over 70 GEMS teacher's guides and handbooks offer a wide range of inquiry-based learning experiences for preschool through eighth grade.
Captivating the imagination of students by challenging them is a strong emphasis of the GEMS approach. Students come away feeling that they can be successful at math and science.
Redding has one of only 12 GEMS sites and centers in California. In 2002, with help from McConnell Foundation funding, Turtle Bay Exploration Park was established as a GEMS center, allowing North State teachers access to cutting-edge teaching materials and intensive workshops presented by the staff of LHS and local teachers who have become GEMS-trained associates.
GEMS activities engage students in direct experience and experimentation to introduce essential, standards-based principles and concepts. Clear step-by-step instructions enable all teachers to be successful presenting the activities. GEMS units offer effective, practical, and economical ways to provide high-quality science and math learning to all students. Most materials needed for GEMS units are everyday items that can be either collected or purchased inexpensively.
Captivating the imagination of students by challenging them is a strong emphasis of the GEMS approach. Students come away feeling that they can be successful at math and science. High student interest increases the quality of their learning and the likelihood that they will continue to study science.