Volunteer Brings Scientists, Engineers Into Elementary Schools To Play Science With Kids
MOUNTAIN VIEW (KPIX 5) -- Paper clips, pennies, plastic cup -- they're not just basic supplies, but tools to teach science for Tzipor Ulman and her volunteers. Day-long sessions like a recent one at Monta Loma Elementary in Mountain View are her creation.
She founded the nonprofit Science is Elementary in 2008 to bring science to life for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students in low-income communities.
"I realized how lacking science and engineering education is in the U.S., and even in Silicon Valley," she explained.
Science is Elementary provides monthly lessons to 2,500 students in five Bay Area elementary schools. They're hands-on experiments that some regular classroom teachers say they don't have the time, money or expertise to do themselves.
Ulman, who has a Ph.D. in chemistry from Stanford, has recruited a specialized group of 250 volunteer instructors. "When scientists and engineers interact with kids they become children themselves," she said with a smile. "It's so much fun."
All of the experiments use everyday household items like a cup and string.
"We want to show children that you can be a scientist with whatever you have around you," Ulman said.
Volunteer David Milgram, a retired Lockheed Martin computer scientist, says Ulman has given him an outlet to share his passion.
"We use jargon, scientific jargon, because we want the kids to feel that this is special," Milgram said.
Teacher Kerri Fox says the students soak it up. "And they use the vocabulary they learned in their math, reading. and in the real world," Fox added.
So for creating fun, educational science classes for students in low-income communities, this week's Jefferson Award in the Bay Area goes to Tzipor Ulman.
Science is Elementary is funded through grants and individual donations, and schools pay a fee for classes. To volunteer or contribute, use this link.