Visit to the Discovery Science Center

I went to an open-house, teacher –night at Discovery Science Center on February 7, 2008. I stayed a total of two hours. There were a mountain of resources available at this gathering. Some were relatively cheap; others were quite expensive.
The programs that come from the Discovery Center seem to be the most organized and promising programs. They include the FSEA (Future Scientists and Engineers of America), field-trips, water programs, after-school programs, teachers’ programs, Science-to-go (lab experiences covering a variety of topics), and assemblies. These programs, however, can be expensive. They range from $9 a student to $1,500 for a whole program. I like the range of activities they have. I may not be in a position to get the FSEA to come to my school, but I could at least set up another one of these fun, educational activities.
Community organizations also presented many interesting programs. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department offers a Drug-Free Program and the Irvine Ranch Conservancy takes students on hikes to fossil sites. OCTA (Orange County Transportation Authority) also has a program that familiarizes students with our County’ s public transportation system.
Another invaluable resource I stumbled across is the Orange County CREEC. This Internet-based program tracks hundreds of science-related events and programs throughout the county, then sends links and information to its web-page. As a teacher, I can access this site and find new events and programs that I otherwise would not have discovered on my own.
Wow! This event featured some great programs—many of which I would use in my classroom. I would, at least, want to have a science lab brought to my school. And I would push for a program like FSEA if I knew there would be a large student turnout and enthusiasm. The Internet resource CREEC also has many great events. I have subscribed to their newsletter, and I hopefully will find events and programs that could benefit my classroom.