School ProgramsSTEM Outreach programs for schools and other organizations grab students’ attention with exciting demonstrations while introducing them to the wonders of our world and confronting their stereotypes of the scientists who explore these wonders. The programs address science concepts in an age-appropriate manner and help students to master the Illinois Learning Standards. To encourage interaction between students and presenters, group sizes are kept small. Presenter Patricia Sievert is an experienced science educator who has engaged thousands of students in more than sixty schools across northern Illinois. We request a “suggested donation” from schools or parent organizations that can afford to help us bring our programming to their communities, but for most programs we do not require a fee from schools that cannot afford it.
Logistics and Pricing Guide with Contact Instructions
It’s Not Magic, It’s Science is a program designed to open the eyes of children in kindergarten through second grade to science. Children are natural scientists, exploring their world through play. Together, we uncover the science in rocket balloons, thunder drums, toilet paper, rainbow glasses and a fire-breathing can. Suggested program length is 45 minutes.
Frontier Science Road Show programs for students in third through eighth grades can be customized for each audience by choosing Road Show Modules that address a related set of science concepts. Modules include:
Demonstrations using liquid nitrogen, plasma globes, strong magnets, lasers and diffraction-lensed rainbow glasses among other intriguing demos excite students as they bring STEM concepts to life. Suggested program length is 60 minutes, including a question and answer session.
Contact Instructions with suggested donations
STEM Faculty or Student Visits to your school can be arranged through the NIU STEM Outreach Office. Options include STEM faculty or graduate student volunteers speaking about their research or STEM undergraduate students relating their latest success in an engineering competition, discussion of STEM careers, or other topics of interest. This could either be in the classroom or an evening event. Please call 815-752-1201 to make arrangements. It is best to allow approximately three weeks to arrange a visit. (No fee)
Afternoon of Inquiry: Let us bring a full afternoon (or morning) of exciting science to your classroom. A certified physics teacher can bring into your elementary classroom an inquiry lab in either Batteries and Bulbs or Roller Coaster Motion. The labs are designed to get students involved from the first moment and keep them engaged and learning. Best of all, the equipment is inexpensive, making this an excellent opportunity for you to repeat on your own with future classes. Contact Pati Sievert psievert@niu.edu for more information or to schedule the program.
NIU’s Haunted Physics Laboratory has been a big hit on the road as well as on the DeKalb Campus of NIU. Using the "Haunted Hook" to draw families in, children and adults alike play with nearly 100 interactive displays which capture the essence of various physical science concepts. NIU’s Physics Phun Lab is a similar program without the "Haunted" theme. Bringing either Lab to your school can generate community wide interest in science as you recruit parent and high school volunteers to make it happen. Contact Pati Sievert psievert@niu.edu for additional information on bringing one of these programs to your community or for workshops on developing your own hands-on science experience.
Family STEM Night Support: Hosting a "Family Night" in any of the STEM fields? Contact NIU STEM Outreach to arrange for researchers to share their passion for their work and outreach volunteers with hands-on activities to participate.
Science Day Camps: We assist school districts in planning and hosting their own Science Day Camps. Contact Pati Sievert psievert@niu.edu for more information.