Children’s Science Center brings hands-on fun to Columbia Elementary School
 |
| An experiment with paper airplanes at the science fair at Columbia Elementary School in Annandale. |
Science can be lots of fun – at least that’s how it looked
at Columbia Elementary School’s science fair Nov. 17 as kids enthusiastically
clustered around a dozen tables with hands-on activities like aviation with
paper airplanes, 3D math with castle geometry, forensic science with
fingerprint analysis, and much more.
at Columbia Elementary School’s science fair Nov. 17 as kids enthusiastically
clustered around a dozen tables with hands-on activities like aviation with
paper airplanes, 3D math with castle geometry, forensic science with
fingerprint analysis, and much more.
The science fair was run by staff and volunteers from the
Children’s Science Center, a nonprofit organization that opened a Children’s Science
Center Lab in Fair Oaks Mall in June, and plans to establish a full-fledged, 30,000-square
foot children’s science museum near Dulles Airport in 2020.
Children’s Science Center, a nonprofit organization that opened a Children’s Science
Center Lab in Fair Oaks Mall in June, and plans to establish a full-fledged, 30,000-square
foot children’s science museum near Dulles Airport in 2020.
The Children’s Science Center is aimed at getting kids
interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through
fun, interactive activities and programs in an informal setting.
interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through
fun, interactive activities and programs in an informal setting.
“Until the science lab opened a few months ago, Northern
Virginia was the most populous community without a children’s museum or science
center. That’s an incredible void,” says Adalene “Nene” Spivy, executive
director of the Children’s Science Center.
Virginia was the most populous community without a children’s museum or science
center. That’s an incredible void,” says Adalene “Nene” Spivy, executive
director of the Children’s Science Center.
The science lab has so far had 20,000 visitors, Spivy says. It’s
open seven days a week, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased
online.
open seven days a week, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased
online.
Several members of the Children’s Science Center-sponsored Youth
Leadership Council helped explain science experiments at the Columbia Science Fair.
Council members, age 10-16, learn about science while working on presentation skills.
Leadership Council helped explain science experiments at the Columbia Science Fair.
Council members, age 10-16, learn about science while working on presentation skills.
The Children’s Science Center hosts about 50 science fairs a
year at elementary schools throughout Northern Virginia. Upcoming science fairs
in the Annandale/Mason area are scheduled for Dec. 1 at Canterbury Woods
Elementary School, Dec. 5 at Woodburn, in January at Beech Tree, and April at
Westlawn.
year at elementary schools throughout Northern Virginia. Upcoming science fairs
in the Annandale/Mason area are scheduled for Dec. 1 at Canterbury Woods
Elementary School, Dec. 5 at Woodburn, in January at Beech Tree, and April at
Westlawn.
The science fairs are so popular, school sites are chosen by
lottery. It took Columbia five years of trying before the school was selected,
says Assistant Principal Rekha Patel. The best things about the science fair, she says, are the focus on hands-on learning and engaging parents.
lottery. It took Columbia five years of trying before the school was selected,
says Assistant Principal Rekha Patel. The best things about the science fair, she says, are the focus on hands-on learning and engaging parents.
2 responses to “Children’s Science Center brings hands-on fun to Columbia Elementary School”
Leave a reply
Nice to read a positive tale . Thanks for the story.
This was a great event for Columbia. Thanks for covering it, Ellie!