Help 6th Grade Students with Science Fair Projects! Get involved with a class that makes a difference...
ALS 4932: Mentoring the Scientific Process
We are looking for 20 undergraduates with a science background (1 year of chemistry and biology) who are interested in motivating, mentoring, and helping underserved 6th graders with their science fair project over the fall of 2015. A commitment of a minimum of 20 hours of community service learning in addition to the 2-credit course is required. You would be required to attend all classes throughout the semester on Wednesdays from 4:20 until 6 p.m. Classes are held at Westwood Middle School. Undergraduates participating in the program must have their own transportation to the middle school.
This is the 12th year that students at UF have partnered with Westwood Middle School. Data from our program show that the amount of time and number of visits the undergrads made to the middle school made the biggest impact on how well the 6th graders did in science class and on their science fair judging scores. The 6th grader's FCAT reading and writing scores, GPA, gender, and race were not significant contributors. This means that YOU have the power to make a 6th grader successful, if you make the commitment to help.
The course, which will guide you through the research process and help you develop mentoring skills, is attendance based, so it is imperative that you attend every class. If you are interested in participating in this program (for 2 credits), please email Dr. Henken at henken@ufl.edu.
