RAYS (Reading Awakens Young Scientists) is an interdisciplinary program that introduces young minds to science through classroom workshops, engaging students in lively storytelling and well-designed hands-on science experiences. RAYS brings science alive to the smallest of scientists through the pages of literature. Through literature and storytelling, this award-winning program reveals the science that surrounds us in our daily lives. Designed for young elementary grade students, RAYS introduces children to the vocabulary of science and reinforces scientific concepts. After participating in an exciting storytelling session of a great piece of children’s literature, students don lab coats and work together on interactive science investigations.
The RAYS curriculum is consistent with recognized criteria and uses National Science Foundation standards, Benchmarks for Science Literacy, and California Science Content standards. These standards are designed to improve the teaching and learning of science.
Programs include:
Music Over Manhattan. Using oversized illustration boards, our effervescent storyteller will delight the class with a lively retelling of the book Music Over Manhattan. The retelling will be followed by an exciting hands-on science lesson designed to reinforce the concept:something must vibrate to produce sound. This lesson investigates vibration and how sound is produced. Students rotate through four learning centers, as they study the effects of pitch and frequency on vibration (appropriate for grades K-3).
The Wartville Wizard. Our animated storyteller delivers the sticky tale of the Wartville Wizard. The story is followed by a fun filled, hands-on science lesson designed to reinforce the following concepts: When certain objects are rubbed together static electricity is produced. Objects that are statically charged may affect other objects (appropriate for grades 1-4).
Hey Little Ant. This engaging tale offers children a moral dilemma to explore: Should a boy step on an ant? In the follow-up experiment on insect behavior children discover that the lives of insects are altered by a variety of stimuli. In this lesson mealworms are subjected to stimulation by sight, smell, and touch (appropriate for grades 1-3).
Stone Soup. This is a delightful modern retelling of the timeless tale set in a small village in China. Magnificent watercolor illustrations enhance our storyteller’s ability to bring this classic to life. The book serves as a springboard for a hands-on chemistry experiment. Students working in lab teams are challenged to think like scientists, as they create a substance with the properties of paste. Teams formulate hypotheses and then measure, mix and test the combinations. Test formulas are recorded on prepared lab sheets for this fun-filled lesson (appropriate for grades 4-5).
Puddle Pail.Puddle Pail explores what scientists do, the concept of exploring and the properties of water. Students work collaboratively, just like real scientists, to conduct investigations that include the concepts of gravity and surface tension.
All workshops are presented at your school.
For information and reservations call (818) 879-2021.
*International Science Center Award for Innovation for RAYS: Honorable mention given by the Association of Science and Technology Centers in Washington DC. The competition included 350 + science centers from around the world.
