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Museum on a Mission
By Kimberly
M. Riel
Carnegie
Science Center Launches Mission Discovery To Help Middle School Students
Connect Science to Everyday Life
Carnegie
Science Center is on a mission—to go where few museums have gone before, and
to make an impact on families that will last a lifetime. In March 2002, a
team of four staff members from Carnegie Science Center moved into a
3,600-square-foot space at one of the Hill House buildings on Wylie Avenue
in the Hill District. In a matter of months, the team had transformed the
space into a colorful science studio and launched Mission Discovery, a
program designed to interest middle school students in science, math, and
technology and involve families in their children’s education.
“We
created Mission Discovery for several reasons,” says Ron Baillie, interim
director of Carnegie Science Center. “When we realized the Hill District
was an underrepresented community among Science Center visitors, we also
noticed that middle school students throughout the Pittsburgh City Schools
tested lowest in math and science on annual standardized tests. We decided
that both of these issues gave us an opportunity to make a significant
impact on one of our local communities and that the best way to do that was
to bring the Science Center to the Hill District.”
After
18 months of planning, curriculum development, and grant writing, Mission
Discovery received the resources it needed to take off from the National
Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF gave Carnegie Science Center and its
partner, Hill House, a three-year grant to develop and conduct an inner
city, after-school program that the Science Center staff hopes will become
a model for others throughout Pennsylvania and across the country.
“We
want to prove that you can have a really positive impact on ‘at-risk’
children by providing a fun, safe, stimulating environment for them on an
ongoing, year-round basis, and by involving their families in their
education and development,” says Baillie. “That’s why we’ve made a
long-term commitment to the Hill District community. We’re not going to be
here today and gone tomorrow; we’re here to stay.”
Something
for Everyone
Thirty
children can be enrolled in Mission Discovery at one time. To be eligible,
children must either attend school or live in the Hill District. Tuition is
$15 per child per month, and parents or caregivers must commit at least
four hours every month to volunteer at the center. “We ask parents and
caregivers to volunteer because it gives them an opportunity to become more
involved in their children’s lives, and helps them take ownership of the
program,” says Aleina Smith, director of Community Affairs at Carnegie
Science Center.
Parents
and children alike enjoy Mission Discovery. “I come to Mission Discovery
because my mom likes it and thinks it’s good for me,” says Mareena, 13.
“Even though it’s a lot like school, we have more fun because we get to
take care of animals and plants, go on field trips, cook, and do different
science projects every week.”
Amon ,
11, didn’t want to join Mission Discovery, but now he’s glad he did. “I
come every day after school with a friend, and we get to build some cool
things and use the computers,” he says.
From
caring for live plants and animals, to learning about chemistry through
cooking, and exploring technology by using computers, microscopes, and
telescopes, all Mission Discovery activities focus on making learning fun.
“If we make science, math, and technology fun and show kids how they use
these often-intimidating subjects in their daily lives, they’re much more
likely to develop an interest in them and retain what we’re trying to
teach,” says Jamie Saulsbery, on-site coordinator for Mission Discovery.
“And, by encouraging parents to join us on our field trips and help with
our weekly activities, we hope they’ll extend the learning process by
picking up our take-home activities and sharing them with the rest of the
family.”
Extending
the learning process is a big part of Mission Discovery’s goals. The
program targets middle school students not only because Science Center
staff hope to help improve students’ test scores in math and science, but
also because the Science Center wanted to expand its education program.
“Before
Mission Discovery, we did a good job of making science and math fun for
children in elementary school through our Science on the Road program. And
our Science in Your Neighborhood program, which was designed specifically
to interest high school students in math, science, and technology careers,
also has been very successful, but we weren’t reaching kids in those middle
school grades,” says Baillie. “Mission Discovery changed all that. Now we
have something for everyone.”
Science
With a Twist
To
pique and then maintain children’s curiosity in science and math, Mission
Discovery shows students and parent-volunteers alike how these
sometimes-scary subjects are at work in their homes and neighborhoods.
Mission Discovery educators use simple, inexpensive household items in all
of their projects so they can be duplicated easily at home for siblings,
relatives, and friends. One autumn afternoon, students were learning about
simple machines like levers and pulleys. To help students understand
exactly how levers and pulleys work, each child was encouraged to build a
simple machine that included a lever or pulley using a diagram and Legos.
Educators
also strive to make science relevant by focusing the subject matter on
places and things within the Hill District community. For example, children
may spend a week learning how plants grow and help the environment and then
take a field trip to beautify a local vacant lot by planting flowers. Or,
they may spend a week learning about how the public water supply works, and
then bring in samples of their own tap water for testing.
“Over
time, we hope that by encouraging parents to become involved in their
children’s education, and by helping families become involved in their
community, we’ll have a significant impact not only on the middle schoolers
in our program, but also on the entire Hill District,” says Smith.
Committed
to the Community
To
increase the Science Center’s involvement in the Hill District community
even further, Mission Discovery staff participate on local committees and
in neighborhood initiatives, visit local churches and schools, and take
part in other Hill House-sponsored programs. “For Mission Discovery to
succeed, we need to build trust and relationships by immersing ourselves in
the community and all its activities and issues,” says Baillie. “We realize
that’s a lot to ask of our staff, but they’re committed to building bridges
not only between students and science, and parents and their children, but
also between the Science Center and the Hill District.”
Managing
Mission Discovery is often challenging but also rewarding. While the
Science Center does not require educators to have teaching certificates,
they must be highly trained educators with a working knowledge of math,
science, and technology, and experience in curriculum development and
conducting hands-on activities. They also must be familiar with child
development as it relates to the middle school student, and willing to work
in an urban environment.
“I
worked for the Science Center’s Education department on the Science on the
Road program, summer camps, workshops, and classes before joining Mission
Discovery earlier this year. On my very first day, I knew this is where I
wanted to be,” says Saulsbery. “The staff were enthusiastic, the kids were
great, and I knew right away I was making a difference.
“There
are lots of days that are tough because there are times when we have to get
involved with issues the kids are facing at school or at home. And because
they’re all young teenagers, attitudes and discipline problems pop up from
time to time,” she says. “I go home exhausted every day, but it’s worth it
for the fulfillment I have when I watch a parent and child working
side-by-side or when one of the kids really gets into a project. I can almost see the light bulb go
on.”
For
more information about Mission Discovery, call 412.237.3332.
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