Guest blog: What are you passionate about?
This blog is guest-written by Dr. Diane Rivers, Everyday Science and Science Support
What are you passionate about?
I founded Everyday Science and Science Support because of my passion for learning about our world. I believe in everyone’s ability to learn and have access to science. My philosophy was shaped by my love for the ocean and growing up near the Atlantic. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Everyday Science and Science Support nonprofit emerged from this passion.
I developed a science teaching guide for parents of toddlers, curated at-home science kits for parents, and as they say, “the rest is history.” The community and families are engaged through well-curated STEM materials, books, curriculum, and a love for sharing and giving. Through workshops, afterschool partnerships, and special events science comes alive for everyone.
Here is an example of our needs for one 6-week afterschool program and the impactful activities for our multiage youth.
What can $1200 do for our community of scientists?
This amount can provide 6 weeks of dynamic STEM focused energy investigations for 35 children ages 4-12. It will integrate the sciences with fun-filled multidisciplinary and cultural connections.
Here is one example:
Eco-Action-Habitats – Energy Cycles in Nature. Investigations and Activities include:
- Using Yeast – chemical and thermal
- Pedology Investigate - Microorganisms and electroculture in the study of soil
- Energy from the Sun – Solar Energy - Creating solar ovens that work
- Energy from Wind – wind generators – Creating wind mills and learn how wind is formed in weather patterns
- Energy from Water – electrical and aquatic energy - Creating Ecosystems and explaining how the Water cycle in nature is important to all living organisms
It's my mission as a woman of color to bring STEM to families at special events, to afterschool programs, and to summer and recreational programs. Other big-picture STEM programs offered include River City Math Rodeo and Bridges STEAM.
Fall 2024 will be the launch of River City Math Rodeo with the training of 8 staff members with the impact at two Omaha Public Schools’ afterschool programs in direct services with approximately 70 students impacted by these fun math programs. Afro Capes and Curls will also host River City Math Rodeo with an impact of about 100-200 children on Oct. 12, 2024 at their annual AfroCon. River City Math Rodeo puts the M – in STEM. The programming includes a Recipe for Success - measuring, Geodesic Domes – geometry, and My City, My Neighborhood - engineering and infrastructure mapping in neighborhoods.
Bridges S.T.E.A.M is a multidisciplinary art focused STEM program customized for WhyArts Inc. and their staff to bring to their Omaha Public Schools’ programming. It is also available for site-licensing and completely adaptable. The impact includes 4 staff members who participated in training-the-trainer professional development program and a review of the electronic standards-based curriculum for grades 5-8th. The total impact was over 300 students receiving art and other subject disciplines through the use of “Bridges” as a thematic focus.
Everyday Science and Science Support uses the acronym T.A.S.K. to describe our lessons. We also use multidisciplinary teaching approaches and three-dimensional learning frameworks from the Nebraska Department of Education’s Art, Math, and Science Standards (NDE) and the Next Generation Science Standards. (NGSS)
T. teaching
A. art
S. science
K. kinship
When you donate to Everyday Science and Science Support, you invest into future scientists, engineers, marine biologists, doctors, architects, and into families. STEM informs all of us to become better stewards and consumers. Please consider adding this to your annual donations and donate to Everyday Science and Science Support. Thank you. --- Dr. Diane Rivers, Executive Director and Founder
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