Hands-On Science

Children across the United States and Canada are learning science through an inquiry based Hands-On Science Program discovering the answers to these questions. This research-based model was developed by the National Science Resources Center (NSRC), an organization of the Smithsonian Institute and The National Academies. Thanks to the teamwork among teachers, communities, the NSRC, and companies like Dow, these teaching models are available.

“In 1987, the NSRC reformed science education by developing hands-on science curriculums and kits that allow children to learn by doing, not by memorizing,” said Sandra Dust, Pre-college Education Manager for Dow. “Dow got involved immediately with NSRC funding, plus supported over 25 hands-on science centers in our communities across North America.”

Bay City Public Schools are in their third year of implementing hands-on science and they are already noticing improved scores. “Our kids actually enjoy science class,” says Diane Huckins, Director of the Science Center. “Science class has become one of their favorite classes. It gives students the opportunity to collaborate with their peers — we say science is spoken here. This program has significantly improved our teaching.”

Teachers from all three middle schools have noticed that the students coming from the hands-on science environment are retaining their science knowledge and have a better understanding of the scientific method.