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Kathleen - HI, Valerie and everyone! Val, thank you for agreeing to chat about how you organized your Family Science night!
Valerie S. - I attended a 2 day workshop on Family Science summer of '97. We held our first night on March 4, 1998 for 125 families, about 450 people.
Valerie S. - Family Science is a program developed by a group called EQUALS. I couldn't find a site on Family Science but here is EQUALS site on Family Math... http://equals.lhs.berkeley.edu/equals.html
Sandy/K/MO - Do they put out a book like they did for family math?
Jeanna - what kind of activities did you do?
Valerie S. - No, Sandy... they are trying to print one but at the present time it is just a packet.
Valerie S. - Jeanna...our theme for the night was Space. We rented a Star Lab for an opening and closing activity and had 4 presenters each present a short activity.
Mary Ann - How was it organized? Each grade did a project? each student?
KTeach2000 - When I was in the 5th grade we had a family science night, but it was more like a science fair..
Valerie S. - Mary Ann...We did not have an area in our school big enough for everyone so we split into groups by families last name. Everyone did all activities.
Sandy/K/MO - is it best to have a theme and did you do anything that was "take home"
Valerie S. - Sandy...everything we did was "take home" I'll give the activities in a sec... I think a theme is easier to organize around.
Sandy/K/MO - we had thought to just have various experiments and then something take home like crystal garden
Kathleen - LuAnne, thank you for coming to Teachers.Net tonight to share information about your very sucessful Family Science Night!
Valerie S. - We made "creep", crystals, did a action, reaction experiment and a classification experiment.
LuAnne J. - I think it is better to have a theme, don't you VAl? Helps with keeping the ideas together.
Valerie S. - We started our night at 5:30 with people visiting the Star Lab. Then called everyone into their "rooms" at 6pm. We presented activities until 7:30 and let everyone visit the Star Lab until they were done.
sue - can you give me an idea if how many activities are planned and if it was done by grade level please
Kathleen - Valerie, so there were stations in separate classrooms, not just in one big room?
Valerie S. - Sue...We planned activities that would be able to be done at any grade level with assistance from parents. We did 4 activities. They were around 15-20 minutes each.
Valerie S. - Kat...They were HUGE groups in too rooms - either the Gathering Room or Cafeteria. About 60 families in each room.
LuAnne J. - We broke up into groups by last names ( according to the alphabet) not grade levels
Valerie S. - We presented the activities one at a time - whole group.
Mary Ann - A family visiting would not be there for 2 hrs then?
LuAnne J. - Even though you may not think so, this worked very well. We had a great evening, parents really enjoyed it.
sue - val,how did you choose the actvities?
Valerie S. - Sue...we had 4 teachers presenting and basically each person chose the activity that they would like to present.
LuAnne J. - We planned the theme first, then chose activities to go with our theme. In this case space!
Valerie S. - Mary Ann...All families were there the entire 2 hours.
Kathleen - Val, would you describe each activity to give us a picture of how it worked?
sue - we would need very basic actvities for our area, low literacy rate for parents-- averages around 8th grade ed level
LuAnne J. - Actually the Family's stayed the whole time. Had a hard time getting people to leave.
Kathleen - LuAnne, that WAS a big success, if they didn't want to leave!
Valerie S. - OK Kat...Here goes... 5:30-6:00 Star Lab in the gym. 6:00 families went to the Gathering Room or Cafeteria depending on last name...(more)
Kathleen - LuAnne, how did all of those people get to visit the Star Lab?
LuAnne J. - We started one group off taking off into space. The activity had to do with baloons and a string and measuring how far the balloon traveled.
Valerie S. - 6pm Crystals was presented in Cafeteria, Creep was presented in Gathering Room...(more)
sue - val,please explain creep
LuAnne J. - We had the star lab opened from 5:30 to 6:00 and then again at the end of the activities.
Valerie S. - About 6:20, Action-Reaction was presented in Gathering Room, Classifying experiment in Cafeteria... (more)
Kathleen - LuAnne, how long would each person spend inside Star Lab? Did they just file through?
Valerie S. - About 6:40 Crystals was in Gathering Room and Creep was in Cafeteria...(more)
LuAnne J. - Action-Reaction was the Balloon Activity I was talking about.
roo - Is the starlab inside a room or gym
LuAnne J. - No Kathleen, there was a mini demonstration. About how long Val? 5 minutes?
Sandy/K/mo - sorry what is star lab and how do you get it?
Valerie S. - About 7pm Action-Reaction was in Cafeteria and Classifying was in Gathering Room (whew...done!)
LuAnne J. - The star lab was a huge success!
Kathleen - OK, so crystals, for ex: teacher explained an activity and the families performed it, made a crystal to take home (crystal garden maybe??)
LuAnne J. - VAl, you will have to answer Sandy!
Valerie S. - Uh oh...I don't have the amounts for the Creep recipe :( It's glue, borax and water to make like a silly putty type material.
¤êrã§êr¤ - my site @ http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/1594/index2.html has tons of links for science in the updated teacher links
Kathleen - We hosted a session the other night by StarDogs Astronomy, they travel with a portable planetarium, must be like your Star Lab. (see the transcript in the archive at http://teachers.net/archive)
Sandy/K/mo - its at ooey gooey recipes
sue - val, thanks we call it gack/slime
LuAnne J. - Kathleen, yes, teacher presented the activity and the families performed. Everything they needed was pre-measured and already placed on tables.
Kathleen - Valerie, so the families each made a batch of 'CREEP'..were there activities to do with the creep?
Valerie S. - Star Lab...another teacher and myself went to a training at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. It is a domed shaped fabric enclosure that looks like a Jiffy Pop popcorn container...(more)
Valerie S. - When you are inside, a special projector is used to project a star field on the dome and activities are done with the star field. We basically just let families go in and look. We did activities with the students during the week during the school day.
Valerie S. - You got it Sue...Creep by any other name is the same material :)
LuAnne J. - Val, didn't Carmella give them a short version of the activities in the Star Lab?
Sandy/K/mo - cool would universities have these or where do you think could visit one?
Valerie S. - Yes, LuAnne but very short...just to get an idea of what the kids had done.
Kathleen - Sandy, Star Dog travels the country, check out the transcript at http://teachers.net/archive ..his contact info is there
Valerie S. - I'm not sure Sandy...Try your local Natural History Museum.
Kathleen - Valerie, how many times was an activity presented during the evening?
Valerie S. - I don't mean to undercut Star Dog. He charges quite a bit but will do your program for you. We rented it for a week for $130 and did our own program.
LuAnne J. - The pre-measuring and getting all the supplies for all the activities was the most work, but we all chipped in and had some students help out.
LuAnne J. - Kathleen, about every 15-20 minutes.
Valerie S. - Kat...each activity had to be presented twice so everyone in each room could see it. Once in the Gathering Room then once in the Cafeteria.
Sandy/K/mo - we don't have money :-) do you think the numbers would have been better smaller? The first grade teacher and I had just thought about us doing it
LuAnne J. - For all the materials, we just sent home a list of items we needed and more than enough was donated by parents:)
Valerie S. - Sandy...that was our only expense. We sent out a donation sheet with all the materials that were needed and EVERYTHING was donated by parents.
Kathleen - Did any activity result in something that each family took home?
LuAnne J. - They took home the crystals and the creep!
Valerie S. - Kat...yes, families took home everything except the classification experiment materials.
Sandy/K/mo - that's awesome.. I am trying to get a feel for this.. when we did math we had about 15 activities.. how will that compare for science..
Valerie S. - Sandy...we are going to attempt math for the first time this year! It depends how long your activities are but that sounds like a lot to me!
LuAnne J. - 15 activities sounds like much when you are talking about doing some experiments.
Sandy/K/mo - We did our Math around the 100th day
Sandy/K/mo - we are blindly feeling our way around this
LuAnne J. - That is what we are doing this year Sandy, we will have to talk later and share some ideas :)
LuAnne J. - I was worried about the organization at first, because this was our first time and the people who responded was overwhelming (more)
Sandy/K/mo - it will just be the 2 of us doing this so would you recommend just a few, maybe 8 different easy experiments its kdg. and first grade
LuAnne J. - but, it all worked out and we had a very successful evening :)
Valerie S. - Sandy...are you going to set them up as centers or present them whole group?
Arizgirl - We just fininshed our math night...our science night is in april..I want to do ecology, water etc.
joy/mo - Teach multi-age 5th/6th...we're thinking about a science night slumber party...and comments?
Valerie S. - We only did 4 activities and our Star Lab was a 5th.
Sandy/K/mo - a little bit of both we thought you know explain centers, behaviors and then let them go
Valerie S. - That sounds like a GREAT theme Arizgirl! if you missed it, our theme was Space.
Valerie S. - Sounds like quite an undertaking Joy!
Kathleen - I've heard of Family Science Theme of Bubbles, too
LuAnne J. - Sandy- How long is you evening planned for?
Valerie S. - Sandy...we decided not to do that because our population is predictable. The parents would stand and talk and the kids would run wild to try the activities.
Sandy/K/mo - we thought about hour and half..
LuAnne J. - Kat- there is a lot you could do with bubbles :)
Kami/KS/3 - Life size bubble experiment would be really cool
Arizgirl - Joy.. I attended a science teachers convention...they did a presentation on "Night of a Thousand stars" the invited parents, they made star finders , had all diff. telescopes.
joy/mo - Thinking about 5-6 rotating activities, so # of kids would be around 10 per group...
Valerie S. - Joy...my kid's school attempted that last year but couldn't get parents to spend the night so they ended it at midnight.
joy/mo - Not inviting the parents!?!
LuAnne J. - Just Kids?
Valerie S. - Sandy...we wanted to make extra sure that the parents were interacting with their kids.
Valerie S. - Wow Joy!!! How many kids, teachers?
Arizgirl - They had a bar-b- que prior to the start then after dark they used the star finders and looked for the differnt constellations...each student had their particular constellation they presented on.
Sandy/K/mo - our parents last year had more fun doing the things then the kids.. especially the Dad's had to tell them to try some of the other things :-)
LuAnne J. - We were worried about our parents taking part, because the tend to stand around and talk, but they really enjoyed the evening and everyone was taking part in the activities!
joy/mo - Rotating activities, snack, perhaps astronomy demo (if we can find enough telescopes), maybe more activites, science fiction movie, lights out...boys and girls in separate rooms or buildings
LuAnne J. - Our Dads were a riot too Sandy, had to figure out ways the Balloons would travel the farthest!
Arizgirl - We did space last year...in one house we had our planatrium...another did rockets...another house strayed and did plants?....our house we had telescopes..made starfinders and dipperfinders...they had a great time.
Valerie S. - Joy...that's where a Star Lab would come in handy. All the stars, no telescope needed!
LuAnne J. - Sounds like fun Joy!
joy/mo - 60 kids- 6 teachers (for activites) 3-4 teachers for the night
Kami/KS/3 - I have never been involved with a family night of any kind...if I was to orgnaize something like this...where should I start???
LuAnne J. - Kami, - VAl and I first came up with a theme, then invited any teacher who would like to help to the first meeting (more)
joy/mo - 5th and 6th graders...and yes, probably separate buildings...worry more about the girls "visiting" than the boys
joy/mo - Sandy, just visited Jeff City last month...good trip
Arizgirl - Kami...our department chairs coordinate the night...we received donations to give prizes to parents that attend...they do the planning after the date is set..the theme. is a team decision.
LuAnne J. - then we came up with activities that we would each present and the times. We made a list of the materials needed and sent that home for donations.
Kami/KS/3 - Department Chairs??? What grade do you teach?
Sandy/K/mo - Kami it helps if you have someone with you
Arizgirl - 7&8 grade middle school
Valerie S. - Here are some pics from our Family Science Night... http://www.geocities.com/enchantedforest/cottage/2674/fsn.html
Kathleen - Did each family receive some sort of guide (handout) to help them proceed through the evening's activities?
Kami/KS/3 - oh I see arizgirl
joy/mo - Kami, we have family night once a quarter...each teacher decides what to do (primary usually comes up with a theme for them) activities about 30 minutes then PTO has pie and beverage fundraiser...not hard to do and the kids and parents seem to love it.
Valerie S. - Kat...yes, a program with directions for each experiment to follow along and take home to recreate if desired.
LuAnne J. - Yes, we had a guide and some papers where they could mark down their measurements and different data needed for some of the activities.
Arizgirl - for our math night each family had a sheet that they hd to take to each station and solve the problem/puzzle they would then get points the family wh the most points received a gift certf.
Kathleen - Valerie and Luanne, was there a culminating activity that brought everyone together again at the end of the evening?
LuAnne J. - Val, that's a good idea for our math night!
Valerie S. - Kat...those that had not done so - or if they wanted to go again... visited the Star Lab until we could throw them out!
Sandy/K/mo - We didn't have prizes.. just food did you Valerie and LuAnne
Valerie S. - Sandy...no prizes or food! We wanted it to be as simple as possible!
LuAnne J. - No prizes or Food! Just activities and a Star Lab
Arizgirl - Our ptso recd donations from Target and Wal-mart in gift certficates..
Sandy/K/mo - Arizgirl that sounds like our Math trail math problems in each room of the school teams made up of one child per grade.
joy/mo - Our family night food comes from parents...each room is responsible for 4 pies (cakes, cookies, etc.) we sell piece of pie and beverage for $1.00
Sandy/K/mo - We did the math trail for one of our activities for Catholic School Week
LuAnne J. - What do you use the money you get for joy?
littlebit - We have a combination of family science and family math, and money comes from school board to help offset supplies, food, and prizes.
Kathleen - Vel, will your math night have a theme?
joy/mo - PTO gets it and they are very good to get whatever the teachers want...in the past it's included die-cut machine, playground equipment, inside recess games, etc.
Arizgirl - littlebit...nice school board we have to raise all of our own funds to even take a field trip...
littlebit - We try to have hands-on activities that the students have done and can show their parents how to do.
Valerie S. - Kathleen...It is 100th day theme but we had to move it up a week so it's really the 93rd day of school :)
joy/mo - Of course, I'm talking about all fundraising activites, not just this one.
Arizgirl - My principal wants to have a "science Fair"...I'm not sure that's a good idea..
littlebit - The board gives a total of $300 to each school that does family science and family math, as long as we have receipts.
Kathleen - Ariz, sounds like if you have to choose, the Family Science gets more people involved.
Arizgirl - I agree...I don't think that Science fair project are usually not something that has really followed the scientific method...
littlebit - Do any of you combine the two - math and science? We had separate nights last year, and the science was much better attended.
Valerie S. - Ariz...you also run the risk of total parent completion instead of invovement :)
joy/mo - Valarie, you guys want to come spend the night if we have the science slumber party?
Kathleen - littlebit, do you think people are more frightened of math, or perhaps it was just a conflict with other activities for families?
Valerie S. - Kat...we won't have any experience yet but our night is at the end of January!
Arizgirl - I want it to be something in which each family takes something home...we can place the science projects at a point but I still want to have the family involvement..
Kathleen - Val, that's ok!
littlebit - We had physics activities that were participation only, but we also had activities that families made objects to take home that demonstrated concepts.
Valerie S. - Littlebit...you could also give them directions how to recreate the physics activities at home.
Arizgirl - The science night is right around my MESA day ...I would like to spotlight the group but will it be too much?
littlebit - Arizgirl, what is the MESA day?
Arizgirl - Oh sorry Math Engineering Science Acheivment...a club of students that compete state wide.
Valerie S. - Ariz...why not have them present the activities?
littlebit - Sounds kind of like SECME, which includes both family science and math.
Arizgirl - That's an idea...
LuAnne J - Or AIMS, that is both science and math
joy/mo - It's fun to watch the kids teach their parents...they get rather bossy...I prefer they're like the parents and not teaching like me!
Kathleen - Did any children show up without family???
littlebit - Several of ours did.
Kathleen - Or parents without the children??
LuAnne J - Just some 8th graders who were there to help us, and they really did help!
Arizgirl - We have several children come with out their families...I ended up taking two of them home..
Valerie S. - Kathleen...we included on the invitation that "all students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian" and no one showed up without an adult.
Kathleen - how did you handle that, kids without their families present?
LuAnne J - Actually, they were a big help.
joy/mo - No parents without children, but some children without parents...parents were with other children in another grade's room.
littlebit - Some of our students helped with supplies and directions.
joy/mo - We tell them that parents have to be in the building.
Valerie S. - Joy...that's why we decided to do it by family's last name instead of grade level!
Arizgirl - We matched the kids w/o families together and they each kept a score sheet
Kathleen - It sounds like a huge but rewarding and enjoyable undertaking!
Kathleen - Please, as you plan future events like this, store all written info and forms on disk so that you can enter them into our Lesson Bank. :-)
Valerie S. - How much do you want there Kat? I have just about everything on a disk!
LuAnne J - VAl, we can do that for Family Math Night!
Kathleen - Val, everything that would prevent someone else from re-inventing the wheel ;-)
Kathleen - What a wonderful resource for others who are interested in doing Family Nights!
Valerie S. - Do you want the invitation and donation request sheet? Can they be entered as part of the "lesson?"
Kathleen - Val, yes, they would be helpful, too.
LuAnne J - Well all, I hope I was able to help you on questions about Family Science Night! I still have some work to do, so I must go :(
Kathleen - LuAnne, Thank you very much!!!
Kathleen - Valerie, thank YOU very much also! We'll add to information about Family Nights on Dec. 9, in our Lesson Bank and should consider more sessions on the topic early next year!
Kathleen - Thank you to all who came, and to those who added their information here tonight.
Valerie S. - Hope I could help!
Valerie S. - Kat...do you have a link to the Lesson Plan Bank?
Kathleen - http://teachers.net/lessons
Kathleen - Goodnight, all!
