BEING HUMAN IN STEM
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Getting Berry Comfortable with STEM

Pictured left to right above: Lauren McNeil (class of 2021), Alicia Ugenti (class of 2021), and Kate Weiss (class of 2019).

Kate, Lauren, and Alicia 
worked this semester to engage elementary school students in the wonders of science at a local Science Night. They knew they would be one table out of many vying for the children's attention, so they prepared by first examining the literature surrounding elementary student engagement with, persistence in, and perceptions of science. Through this dive into the literature and by collaborating with key campus partners, they developed a quick and interactive experience. First, the children followed the protocol sheet below to extract DNA from a strawberry. Then, they filled a vial with the DNA and put it on a necklace to take as a souvenir. Finally, they dressed up in a lab coat and goggles to pose with a mock Instagram frame and have their photo taken as a scientist! The children loved the necklaces and the Polaroids of themselves dressed up, and it was clear that Kate's, Lauren's, and Alicia's table was a crowd favorite!

Elementary School Outreach Gallery

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Extracting DNA from Strawberries handout page 1
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Extracting DNA from Strawberries handout page 2
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Alicia, Lauren, and Kate (left to right above) set up their table before Science Night. Their organized table was quickly turned into an active laboratory once the children began to arrive!
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Kate, Lauren, and Alicia (left to right above) test out the mock Instagram frame. The children attending the event could have an instant photo taken of them dressed up with a lab coat and goggles.
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This is the poster that Lauren, Alicia, and Kate presented at the Inclusion and Representation in the Sciences Summit at Brown University on 25 April 2019.
© COPYRIGHT 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • About the Initiative
    • Inspiration & Mission
    • Timeline
    • Documentary
  • Amherst HSTEM Course
    • About
    • Spring 2020 Course
    • Spring 2019 Course >
      • Consolidating STEM Student Resources
      • Examining Mental Health in STEM
      • Outreach to Local Elementary Schools
    • Summer 2018 Condensed Course
    • Spring 2018 Course >
      • Expanding HSTEM Initiatives: Developing a Condensed Model for HSTEM Course
      • Developing Workshops to Foster Conversations about & Assess the State of Inclusion in STEM at Amherst College and Beyond
      • Supporting Engagement of Elementary School-Aged Children in STEM
      • About Us
    • Fall 2017 Course >
      • Expanding/Deepening HSTEM Interventions at Amherst College
      • Documenting/Archiving HSTEM Story and Artifacts
      • Engaging Stakeholders Beyond Amherst College
      • Supporting Engagement of Elementary School Aged Children in STEM
      • About Us
    • Spring 2017 Course
    • Fall 2016 Course
    • Spring 2016 Course >
      • The Interview Project
      • The Amherst Context
      • Sample Workshop Ideas
      • About Us: the Pioneers >
        • Ashley Bohan
        • Emma Ryan
        • Ruth Manzanares
        • Sheila Jaswal
        • Chelsea Nkansah-Siriboe
        • Sanyu Takirambudde
        • Louise Atadja
        • Gaby Mayer
        • Olivia Truax
        • Doyin Ariyibi
  • HOW TO HSTEM
    • Resources & Activities
    • Inclusive Curricular Resources
    • Readings >
      • Effective Practices
      • Background Reading on Inclusive STEM practices
      • Background Readings on Diversity in STEM
  • Beyond Amherst
    • Other HSTEM Courses >
      • About
    • In the News
  • Updates
  • Contact