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The Delaware County Daily Times - June 30, 2009 Science in Summer Heats UpBy Paul Luce Consisting of four 45-minute classes taught by certified teachers from the area, the library hosted four groups of 15 students in two groups: Those entering second and third grade, and those entering fourth through sixth. Throughout the week, students learned the science of genetics by building a cell, extracting DNA from a strawberry and examining their fingerprints. Now in its 23rd year of operation, Science in the Summer is funded through grants from GlaxoSmithKline and administered through the American Association for the Advancement of Science. “Science in the Summer is a tremendous program,” said Delfi Krishna, 32, principal biopharmaceutical scientist at GlaxoSmithKline in Chester Springs. “(It) can nurture talent at a young age and inspire more people to be passionate about science and find good careers later in life.” “I love it,” student Raeleen Keffer-Scharps said as she examined a human red blood cell under a microscope at the library. “It’s fun. I like learning these things.” Christian Heine, a fifth-grade science teacher at Cornwells Elementary School in Bensalem, guided the students through their course on genes. A Science in the Summer teacher for 18 years, Heine said he loves seeing young students become excited about learning science. “It’s just a wonderful program,” Heine said. “This is science hands-on, something that kids love. It’s 45 minutes where you wow them.” Heine helped the children determine what their body dominance was in regard to their eyes, hands and feet. Children also attempted to fit an 18-foot-long strip of tissue paper into a plastic Easter egg, demonstrating how chromosomes are fit into the nucleus of a cell. Giggles erupted throughout the upstairs classroom of the library when Heine told the children if they didn’t like a particular physical trait of their bodies, they should blame their parents for giving them the genes. “I thought it to be kind of fun, learning about science,” said Kaitlyn Tran, of Upper Darby. Tran, who will be 7 years old in August, said one of her favorite parts of the day was comparing brain sizes of different animals. Corey Hall, 8, said he was surprised scientific experiments could be performed in a library. The Upper Darby resident said he developed an interest in science from observing the colonies of ants and termites living in a cut-down tree in his backyard. Science in the Summer will also be offered at the Swarthmore Public Library, Memorial Library of Radnor Township, Marple Public Library, Mary M. Campbell Public Library in Marcus Hook, Rachel Kohl Community Library in Concordville, Upper Darby Municipal Library and Upper Darby Primos Branch Library. Courses are also offered at libraries in Bucks, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Subjects include bioscience, physical science, electricity, chemistry and oceanography. UPPER DARBY — As she classified the traits of toy turtles from “the coolest to the lamest,” 11-year-old Rosa Othey chose to weather the rainy days of June in the Upper Darby Sellers Library, learning about genes. Consisting of four 45-minute classes taught by certified teachers from the area, the library hosted four groups of 15 students in two groups: Those entering second and third grade, and those entering fourth through sixth. Throughout the week, students learned the science of genetics by building a cell, extracting DNA from a strawberry and examining their fingerprints. Now in its 23rd year of operation, Science in the Summer is funded through grants from GlaxoSmithKline and administered through the American Association for the Advancement of Science. “Science in the Summer is a tremendous program,” said Delfi Krishna, 32, principal biopharmaceutical scientist at GlaxoSmithKline in Chester Springs. “(It) can nurture talent at a young age and inspire more people to be passionate about science and find good careers later in life.” “I love it,” student Raeleen Keffer-Scharps said as she examined a human red blood cell under a microscope at the library. “It’s fun. I like learning these things.” Christian Heine, a fifth-grade science teacher at Cornwells Elementary School in Bensalem, guided the students through their course on genes. A Science in the Summer teacher for 18 years, Heine said he loves seeing young students become excited about learning science. “It’s just a wonderful program,” Heine said. “This is science hands-on, something that kids love. It’s 45 minutes where you wow them.” Heine helped the children determine what their body dominance was in regard to their eyes, hands and feet. Children also attempted to fit an 18-foot-long strip of tissue paper into a plastic Easter egg, demonstrating how chromosomes are fit into the nucleus of a cell. Giggles erupted throughout the upstairs classroom of the library when Heine told the children if they didn’t like a particular physical trait of their bodies, they should blame their parents for giving them the genes. “I thought it to be kind of fun, learning about science,” said Kaitlyn Tran, of Upper Darby. Tran, who will be 7 years old in August, said one of her favorite parts of the day was comparing brain sizes of different animals. Corey Hall, 8, said he was surprised scientific experiments could be performed in a library. The Upper Darby resident said he developed an interest in science from observing the colonies of ants and termites living in a cut-down tree in his backyard. Science in the Summer will also be offered at the Swarthmore Public Library, Memorial Library of Radnor Township, Marple Public Library, Mary M. Campbell Public Library in Marcus Hook, Rachel Kohl Community Library in Concordville, Upper Darby Municipal Library and Upper Darby Primos Branch Library. Courses are also offered at libraries in Bucks, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Subjects include bioscience, physical science, electricity, chemistry and oceanography. |
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