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Advice on working with students

These resources help prepare scientists who want to work with children directly. Most focus on giving a presentation to a school class or after-school group and give advice to make these interactions more effective.

1. The "Sharing Science with Children" guides from the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science are outstanding resources and quick reads. They may be reproduced: you can download just the text, or a nice color versions that you can print in brochure form and hand out to colleagues, or you can order brochures from the museum.

   1. Survival Guide for Scientists and Engineers—written for scientists and engineers interested in making effective classroom presentations. [ noao.edu ]
   2. Survival Guide for Teachers—written for teachers interested in linking students with scientists and engineers. [ noao.edu ]
   3. Guide for Parents—written for parents interested in science learning in their home and community. [ noao.edu ]

2. Community Resources for Science is a community organization that matches scientists with elementary classrooms. These two one-pagers from their scientist training sessions will help you plan an inquiry-based science presentations for young children. [ crscience.org ]

   The ABCs of Classroom Science for Kids [ PDF ]
   Essential Elements of a Classroom Presentation [ PDF ]

3. Sandia Laboratories compiled this useful guide, which may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment. The section on "Working Effectively with Students" gives background information on child development and principles of learning, and advice for planning your presentation and coordinating with the teacher.

   "Science Education In Our Elementary and Secondary Schools: A Guide for Technical Professionals Who Want to Help." [ nas.edu ]

4. These materials from the NIH Human Genome Institute apply to any topic, not just genetics. They apply primarily to older students (high school) where an interactive lecture may be appropriate.

   1. Get inspiration and tips on organizing a presentation for high school students.
      [ genome.gov | PDF ]

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