December 20th 2018 was my last day at my old job. I worked as an instructor at the educational non-profit, Science from Scientists, for over 5 years. Fittingly, my last day took place at Lipman Middle School, the same school I started in when I moved to CA in 2015.

Nestled on the side of San Bruno Mountain in Brisbane CA (pronounced “Briz-bane,” not like the “BRIS-bin” in Australia), Lipman is in an idyllic environment. Like many public schools in CA, it comprises a collection of smaller buildings, which students walk between and among to get to classes. (One aspect of school I always disliked when I was a student was the “closed campus” rule that students couldn’t leave the grounds during school hours. If they did, even to go to, say, the pizza place across the street for lunch, they faced severe consequences. Suspension for getting a slice of pizza—a strange prison-like mentality.)

Lipman, though, has an outdoor classroom the woods, and we were able to do some of our SciSci lessons outside. Beanbag tossing with prism goggles could get a little rowdier than usual outside, and no one would mind.

Other days, we fished, we looked at the moon, we made DNA origami, and we built models of brains.
Our last class before Christmas break was a lesson called “Rover Restraint.” Many schools do this: students have to build a contraption to keep a raw egg from breaking when dropped from a height of around 8 feet. In our version, we compare it to landing a Mars rover like Curiosity.
And to keep expectations in check and the playing field level for everyone, we limit the planning and building to one class period, using only the materials we bring with us from SciSci. I stand on a stool and drop each entrant from the same height. This procedure usually leads to a nice mix of some eggs cracking and some surviving, and a range of designs and budgets, making it relatively straightforward to pick a winner. (The winning group gets a nice set of SciSci pencils!)
Onward and upward! I’m going to miss Lipman, and Rover Restraint. This post is 2 weeks late for Dr. KO’s Mundane Monday prompt, Motion.

Hi Karen – making science fun for children is essential … love the ideas – and kids are so creative … good luck for the new things in the year ahead … cheers Hilary
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Unfortunately I’m so busy it’s hard to find time to blog!
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No worries! I like this! I knew you started a new job! Hope it goes really well!
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what a rewarding experience – all the best for whatever comes next
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I am training for a full-time teaching job in my own classroom.
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Good luck with your training! Hope it’s everything you want.
I’ll have to ask my scientist husband if he’s heard of your old group (I’m sure he has 🙂 ). Sounds cool! I have a friend in Kansas who used to go around to different classrooms with math education (K through 3rd grade, I believe). I didn’t know that kind of thing was so popular.
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There are a lot of little programs like it. Many are volunteer though, which I have mixed feelings about. It’s important work and it deserves to be paid!
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