We all know that science can sometimes be confusing. If you don’t totally grasp the point, then you’re lost.
A group of Motiva volunteers is doing its part to make science entertaining, hands-on and easy to understand for students at New Sarpy Kindergarten Center as part of a program called “Science Investigations.” It’s all part of the Partners in Education initiative at Motiva Norco Refining. Motiva Science Investigations volunteers Sean Vining and Joel Ocmand coordinate the scheduling and make the science investigation match what the children are learning in a given month by using a curriculum map provided by the school during monthly meetings.
This ensures that the demonstrations directly relate to the specific science lesson being taught in class. New Sarpy Kindergarten Center Principal Edie Sirmon explained, “Even in kindergarten, children have to meet certain requirements and developmental milestones to advance to the first grade. They develop and exhibit language arts skills as well as math, science and social studies. The Motiva volunteers weave the required science benchmarks into their investigations for the children.”
Some of the topics covered by the Science Investigations team include motion, weather, space, living and nonliving beings and solids, liquids and gases. “We get a lot of great help from additional volunteers at Norco,” Ocmand said. “They assist in putting investigations together and helping present topics to the kids.”
“The kids are always excited and very attentive. They are eager to learn, and they remember you and the material that was taught,” Vining noted. “It is a great feeling to know that you are appreciated and making a positive contribution in someone’s life.”
The program has great participation from volunteers, students and teachers. “The Motiva science investigations really bring the lessons to life for the children,” teacher Nancy Eberle said. “The Motiva volunteers put their lessons on a level that not only can the children understand but they are actually excited about. They make it visual and interactive. The children absorb excitement from the volunteers, and that makes their learning that much more valuable.”
In addition to learning scientific lessons, the kindergarteners also write about what they have learned and read to each other, adding language arts skills to the benefits they derive from the experience.
“When the Motiva employees arrive, the children get so excited,” teacher Sheila Augillard said. “They just love the science investigations, and when they see the Motiva folks, they know there will be a show. They really listen and take part, learning scientific data and methods. Afterwards, they write about it in their journals, and you’d be surprised how much information they internalize. The Motiva team really brings the lesson to the kindergarten level, incorporating scientific language and concepts in a way the children can understand, internalize and be excited about. Their journal entries really show their knowledge and enthusiasm.”
“Joel and I would like to thank all the volunteers, students, the staff at New Sarpy Kindergarten and New Sarpy Partners in Education for making Science Investigations a great success,” Vining said.
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