Sparking Excitement for Science!

When you think of science class, you probably remember how much fun you had doing hands-on experiments! Opportunities to explore are what can spark passion in topics like electricity and technology. Our Centers have Maker’s Labs where Specialists like Lex can create STEAM programs that offer children space to ask questions and investigate. One of our favorite parts about spending time in our Maker’s Labs is seeing kids build confidence in their new skills when they get a light or fan to work all on their own! 

Each group of young engineers has their own circuit projects that they are building. The youngest kids (6-8) are working on simple projects with copper tape, a cell battery, and light to make light up Valentine’s cards for their parents. As they learn more, they’ll begin making other cool projects like origami lightning bugs! Middle & high schoolers have learned many of the principles of electricity and are starting to put them into practice during their experiments. They are currently working their way up to more complex systems during each session and are eager to keep learning!  

Each day children arrive at our Centers excited to dive right into their lesson. Lex starts the kids off with a labeled, wired battery pack, and the goal is to correctly connect a small motor fan or lightbulb and power it up. Lex says that they like to give their classes independent experiments like this, because the kids see it as a puzzle game. During this exercise, Lex offers some guidance, but often encourages their class to keep trying certain ideas on their own instead of giving direct answers.  

This “hands-off” style of teaching really works! Each child’s confidence soars as the bulbs light up and the fans start turning. “I don’t think people realize how fun and easy electricity is to learn about and work with!” Lex says children often recall and retain much more of their learning when they independently problem-solve. With each circuit completed, the excitement to take on the next challenge grows. 

The CYC Maker’s Labs are incredibly special because they help children recognize that breaking something or making a mistake is just another step towards understanding and solving a problem. With encouragement from mentors like Lex, kids know they can tackle any topic they want! CYC spaces and programming are full of these daily "a-ha" moments. When children feel free to tinker with things like technology, they can continue to uncover new possibilities.  

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