Students at Kyrene del Cielo Elementary School are getting their hands dirty during daily science workshops in the one-of-a-kind “Discovery Room,” developed by a group of parent volunteers.
“It’s brand new this year, and we’re very excited to have it,” said Oslynn Benjamin, a parent who worked with Cielo Principal Mike Deignan to create the Discovery Room following a conversation the parents were having with the principal at a coffee chat last year.
Benjamin said she had enjoyed a science project her daughter worked on and wanted to pursue more scientific opportunities for students.
“Mike had a few ideas that might work,” she said. “We were thinking of a science fair, a club or some type of exploratory room.”
Marni Anbar, who also volunteers in the room, said another parent mentioned students were allowed to visit the art rooms during recess, and thought it would be great if they could mess around with circuits or science-related topics, as well.
“Mike was really jazzed about what they started calling the Discovery Room, because it was a potential resource for both students and teachers,” she said.
A group of about five parents volunteer once a day for an hour-long session of science activities during the after-lunch recess. Each day, passes are administered to different students in every grade level, cycling through classes to give each student an equal opportunity to visit the room, Benjamin said.
Anbar worked with kids visiting the room on their recess break on Sept. 16. Throughout the afternoon session, kids brought in small bugs caught outside to feed Aubrey, the Discovery Room’s carnivorous plant – a Venus Flytrap.
Other groups of students got together to build magnet towers and connect circuits. One student teacher studying elementary education at Arizona State University helped the kids mix water and starch together and asked questions regarding the feel of the mixture that hardens when touched and liquefies when left alone.
After developing a partnership with ASU, student teacher assessors with the university are developing monthly workshops based on science themes, for example weather.
“Our student teachers are getting an opportunity to practice with two ASU supervisors, and their mentor teachers are also here to supervise them,” Nancy Perry, assistant dean of teacher experiences at ASU, said.
“They are also learning about how to participate with parents, and how influential parents can be.”
Alissa Koerner, clinical instructor for the Kyrene District, said student teachers will continue to be involved with the Discovery Room during ASU’s year-long student teaching program at Cielo.
“We have a fantastic relationship with Cielo,” she said.
“We couldn’t ask for a better experience to work with kids in a creative, science-driven environment.”
