Ever wonder what makes a top spin? Or how the stars change in the evening sky? Or what a musical note looks like? Every year, over 100 fifth-grade children from the Lincoln Public Schools get the chance to answer these and many other questions during the Saturday Science program.
Children spend two hours in the UNL Department of Physics and Astronomy for four consecutive Saturdays during the month of February. One hour is spent listening to a presentation by a university faculty member on a specific topic (spinning tops, electricity and magnetism, color and light, to name a few) and then the students spend the second hour working in small groups where they conduct hands-on experiments related to the same concept(s). Each week the lab activities include at least one project that the students make and take home with them.
Undergraduate and graduate physics and education students from UNL work with the children during the hands-on activities. The program at UNL is coordinated by Dr. Cliff Bettis. The running of the program and selection of students is overseen by the Lincoln Public Schools and the coordinators include Linda Bettis and James Blake among others.
If you would be interested in volunteering to assist with the labs for the next Saturday Science program, please contact Dr. Cliff Bettis and at 402-472-2789.
A student demonstrates how his magnet works to his groupmates.
Students write their findings on the magnetism of a variety of materials.
Teaching Assistants explain lessons to captivated Lincoln Public Schools students.
Two students balance magnetized strips on needles.
Teaching Assistant Shi Cao explains how the magnet is able to hold many paperclips at one time.
Teaching Assistant demonstrates how static electricity makes balloons stick to the wall after rubbing them on a sleeve.