© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Leading Hands-On
Science Activities
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Today’s Agenda
• Why Lead Science Activities?
• What is FETCH!?
• Hang Time Activity
• Your Role as Leader
• Open vs. Closed Questions
• What’s the Buzz? Activity
• Resources
• Questions
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Why Lead
Science Activities?
Hands-on science experiences can…
• spark kids’ interest in doing science
• open doors to future studies & careers
• send the message that everyone can
do science
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
What is FETCH?
• PBS show for kids ages 6 to 10
• Hosted by slightly neurotic, but
irresistible dog—Ruff Ruffman
• Airs on PBS (check local listings)
• Download from iTunes
• Activities stand alone—no TV
viewing necessary
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
What is FETCH?
Six contestants solve exciting challenges
and….
• flex their problem-solving muscles
• use science skills
• work in teams
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
What is FETCH?
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Hang Time
From the FETCH! Web site
pbskidsgo.org/fetch
Challenge
Make a copter that finishes LAST!
Materials
• paper
• scissors
• paperclips
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Share Your
“Hang Time” Results
What happened?
• How did your first copter fly?
• What changes did you try so it would
fall more slowly?
• What made it fall more quickly?
• Follow-up challenge—Make the
smallest or largest copter.
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Thinking Like
a Scientist
How and when did we think like
scientists?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ask questions
Observe
Make predictions
Change one variable
Revise and test
Analyze results
Share discoveries
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Your Role as Leader
• Gather materials
• Try every challenge first
• Facilitate brainstorm sessions (as
needed)
• Circulate around the room
• Ask kids open-ended questions
• Point out when kids think like scientists
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Open vs. Closed
Questions
Which of these questions ask kids to
explain and expand upon their thoughts?
A. How could you change your copter?
B. Why do you think it’s falling so
quickly?
C. Did it work?
D. What could you do to make it fall
more slowly?
E. How long are your copter blades?
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Science Inquiry
Asking questions can help kids…
• explain and expand their thinking
• slow down and clarify next steps
• work through setbacks
• solve problems independently
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
What’s the Buzz?
From the FETCH! Web site
pbskidsgo.org/fetch
Challenge
Make a kazoo and get the buzz on sound
vibrations!
Materials
• toilet paper tubes
• waxed paper
• aluminum foil
• plastic wrap
• rubber bands
• scissors
• sharpened pencil
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Share Your
“What’s the Buzz?” Results
What happened?
• What adjustments did you make to
your kazoo?
• What happened when you tried
different materials?
• What happens when you put your
finger over the hole you made?
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Preparing to Lead
• Materials
• Trouble spots
• Introducing the activity
• Questions
• Thinking like scientists
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Questions to Ask
• What do you know about kazoos?
• Where have you seen one before?
• What would happen if…?
• How did you decide where to…?
• What could you change to make it
work better?
• Why did that happen?
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Web site
pbskidsgo.org/fetch
• Hosted by Ruff Ruffman
• Mirrors the experience of show’s
contestants
• Background on
Ruff, contestants,
and the show
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Over 30 FETCH! Activities
on the Web site
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
FETCH! Hands-On
Science Training
Learn more about leading science
activities! In this training, you’ll…
• watch slide shows demonstrating an
activity
• explore effective tips and techniques
• put new skills to practice
• chart your progress as an activity
leader
pbs.org/parents/fetch/training
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Options for Leading
Activities
One-Time Event
• Promote a FETCH! Activity Meeting
• Photocopy hand-out
Hosting a Club
• Kids like belonging to a group and
earning points
• Membership Cards
• Certificates
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
For Leaders
FETCH! News Updates
• offers of new resources
• tips for leading activities
• extension ideas
• production updates
• event details
Sign up by sending your name,
organization, and address to:
fetchnews@wgbh.org
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Is Funded By…
FETCH! is produced by WGBH Boston. Major funding for Fetch! is
provided by the National Science Foundation and public television
viewers. This FETCH! material is based upon work supported by the
National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0813513. Any
opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed
in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. © 2009 WGBH
Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. FETCH!, the characters
and related indicia are trademarks of the WGBH Educational
Foundation. All third party trademarks are the property of their
respective owners. Used with permission. pbskidsgo.org/fetch
© 2009 WGBH Educational Foundation
Thank You
• Watch FETCH! on PBS
• Check out pbskidsgo.org/fetch
• Take the FETCH! Hands-On Science
Training on the FETCH! Web site
• Sign up for FETCH news updates at:
fetchnews@WGBH.org
• Questions?