Let’s Talk Science Partnership Program Activity Report

The University of British Columbia

December 2003

Number of Volunteers Registered: 95

Number of Teachers Registered: 56

Number of Partnerships: 44

Number of Activities: 13

Number of Students Reached: 294 individuals students contacted

387 student contacts have been made

Percentage of Activities Conducted in Primary Schools (Grades K-7): 78.57%

Percentage of Activities Conducted in Secondary Schools (Grades 8-12): 21.43%

Average Number of Hours Spent by Volunteers on Preparation: 4.36 hrs per visit

Average Number of Hours Spent by Volunteers on Activity Delivery: 2.95 hrs per visit

Short Descriptions of Notable Activities:

Training Sessions

October 9th, 2003 – The first Volunteer Training Session for 2003-2004, attended by over 40 volunteers, was held in the Penthouse at the Graduate Student Centre. The training session developed by the LTS national office, including a presentation on LTS’s history and mandate, as well as tips on teaching Science, was used. In addition, there was discussion of the UBC Partnership Program in particular, including the roles of the volunteers and the coordinators. Returning volunteers were given the opportunity to share their experiences with the new volunteers. As well, small group activities getting the volunteers to brainstorm innovative ways to teach different concepts to kids were run, with prizes been awarded to the best ideas. Pizza and pop was enjoyed by all. Volunteers left the training session with a number of resources, including the Volunteer Training Manual and their teacher partner’s contact information. Before volunteers received their package, they were required to sign a Volunteer Agreement which outlined their roles and responsibilities as a UBC LTS Partnership Program volunteer, as well as what they can expect from the coordinators. The evening was a great success!

November 21st, 2003 - Since not all volunteers were able to attend the first Volunteer Training Session, a second session, covering the same material as the first, was held in the Forest Sciences Centre and was attended by 9 volunteers.

Additionally training session(s) are being planned for the second term for those volunteers who could not attend either of the first two training sessions and for new volunteers who have joined the Partnership Program after the second training session was held.

Any Volunteers Deserving Special Mention:

  • Justin Bourne, Alissa Krocenski and Cathy Safadi have already visited their three grade 7 classes at Champlain Heights Elementary School twice – one visit served as an introduction to hydrogeology and the second time preparing for their upcoming field trip to the Britannia Mine!
  • Crystal Cinq-Mars, the first volunteer to report a visit for 2003-2004, explored Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating with her grade 2/3 class at University Hill Elementary School.
  • Kirsten MacKenzie, one of our most prolific returning volunteers, continued her series of exciting activity booklets for her visit to her grade 5 class at University Hill Elementary School, focusing on food webs in aquatic ecosystems, pollution, water quality and pH.

Any Notable Publicity (TV Appearances, Newsletters, etc.) (Please attach copy):

  • an article, written by Beth Simpson and Yona Sipos Randor, ran in October issue of The Graduate (the UBC Graduate Students’ Society magazine) (the article can be accessed at Octoberpage3.html)
  • the UBC LTS Partnership Program e-newsletter, vol. 7, issue 1, was emailed to volunteers in December (and was emailed to the National Partnership Program Coordinator at that time)
  • Beth & Yona filmed a series of short science demonstrations to be aired on MTV Select, a show with a target audience aged 12-17. The segments, which were filmed in December, will air periodically over the next few months. The National Office will be notified before each one airs (as the producer of the segments will be notifying us when each one airs!)