Return to Programs: Educational Equity: Elementary and Middle School Programs
PROVIDENCE SCIENCE OUTREACH
What is Providence Science Outreach? Providence Science Outreach (PSO) is a volunteer-staffed community service organization to teach science in poorly funded Providence public schools. Our teams of students go into 5th and 6th grade classrooms each week to teach lessons in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Math and Engineering. Our hands-on projects, team-teaching methods, demonstrations, and interactive learning techniques have been successful in educating over 3000 students throughout the past ten years.
How Do We Do It? Teams of four or five Brown students teach a year-long series of lessons in 5th and 6th grade classrooms, which involve team-teaching, demonstrations, and hands-on experiments in order to generate a greater understanding and interest in science. PSO helps students discover the world of science by making it accessible and enjoyable. Lessons include testing the five senses, making slime, building bridges, and making ice-cream! The program is coordinated by Brown University's Swearer Center for Public Service and operates during the university's academic year
Goals: PSO utilizes hands-on-learning projects to get kids excited about science. In this way, PSO helps supplement their science curriculum, which is often limited by budget, time, and resources.
Brown volunteers serve as positive, stable role models for Providence urban youth. Through interactive learning, students see that anyone can learn science.
The program enables Brown students to acquire integral teaching experiences and provides and excellent opportunity to explore education while performing public service.