Science Club - weigh in here...

[Erin Nash]

I recently started teaching at a new school in our district where the science club had lapsed. Lapsed is a kind word - non-existent is slightly more accurate.

For those of you who have successful science clubs, what has contributed to their success?
What activities do you conduct with your students?
Is it mostly student led or sponsor led?
What do you do about funding?

We really are starting afresh - so any ideas are welcome and greatly appreciated!!

[Terri Johnson]

We have a science club at the middle school where I teach. About 10-15 kids come every week. The club is pretty much teacher lead--but what we do is determined by the group. I've found the kids obviously love inquiry activities and building stuff.
I know this is a biology site, but we've built model houses, completed a Barbie Bungee Jump, and are about to start Science Fair projects. Oh--we also try to plan "field trips" where we can meet the kids outside of school around town. We went to a Venomous Snake Presentation at the college and Eagle Days.

I think if there's a strong science club in feeder schools, you can get more involvement!

[Michael Doyle]

I got a crack at our Astronomy Club this year, and while we're new, it's been going better than I had expected--almost too well.

Our club is (mostly) student led, but I steer them when they're in over their heads. While the specific activities matter (and with us, regularly scheduled Telescope Nights keep us focused), I think that the kids are just happy to have a safe place to act like, well, science kids.

I grump a lot because they never want to stop, but I love their enthusiasm, and they pretty much ignore my grumpiness.

We have been blessed with financial backing from our BOE, and astronomy equipment lasts forever if cared for. The stuff that has gotten dinged up gets fixed by the kids--they like to tinker.

I have tried to avoid projects that might cost the students money--we have a lot of students in our district who come from low-income homes, and last thing I need is a nerdy rich kids' club (though I'm perfectly fine with the nerdy part).

The first couple of weeks was a little unsettling since we didn't know each other, but I've got a great group of core members now that meet at least once a week.

[Erin Nash]

Thank you both for the replies so far! In both cases it sounds as if your clubs are teacher-led. Do either of you have other teachers helping you out, or are you both going solo?

@Michael - Besides the Astronomy Club at your school, do you also have other science clubs? Also - it sounds absolutely amazing by the way. I remember reading some of your blog posts about astronomy - I have to admit I have very little knowledge of astronomy.

@ Terri - I agree with what you said about feeder schools entirely. When I was at Lafayette I started my students working on the Science Olympiad at the request of some students who had come fresh out of the middle school program. I will have to check out what Spring Garden is doing right now.