By Bella Watson
Staff Writer
Ally Kennedy and Tamara Tran may not be presidents of the United States, but they are presidents of their science program at Pacific Elementary.
Kennedy started the a science program at Pacific Elementary School at the beginning of the 2016 school year. The science program is an after school class for the fourth graders where they can do experiments with their friends. Kennedy is the president of the club and co-president Tamara Tran run the program and help the children conduct the experiments.
“Ally was the one who contacted the principal of Pacific because she was an alumni there and she thought this would be a really fun program,” Tamara Tran(co-president of the the club) said. “The program is not only fun for the kids, but for Ally and I too!”
Kennedy started the science program at Pacific because she was inspired by her teacher Ms. Cope. Kennedy said that Ms. Cope had pushed out the idea that it was okay to fail and encouraged using different ways to solve experiments.
“It’s really cool to be able to teach kids what we find most interesting about science, and see their reactions to the projects and experiments we do,” Tran said. “ Being in the program has also really allowed me to further understand scientific concepts.”
Link: Click link if you want to check out photos!
During the STEM program, Kennedy and the others instruct the kids on how to do experiments for an hour on Monday. The kids must work in groups to figure out ways to get the experiments to work. Kennedy includes different experiments like the egg drop where they must find a way to have an egg not break after its dropped and making slime.
Link: Click here to find out more about how she makes the experiments
“I really like seeing the ways the kids can come up with new ideas during the program,” Kennedy said. “For example, during the egg drop the kids hd to build a structure around the egg and some of them can up with some really creative ideas.”
Kennedy and other group members have bake sales on the Manhattan Pier in order to raise money to pay for the experiment materials. Before the program, Kennedy must look up experiments online and consult with the rest of the group to see if they are safe, easy, and affordable.
Link: Clisk here to check on Pacific where she hold the program
“It is important for me to stay on top of all the experiments and making sure the kids are safe which can be a little stressful,” Kennedy said. “ I also have to make sure to buy quality materials that are also inexpensive because we have to raise the money ourselves.”
In the future, Kennedy plans on expanding the program to other schools in Manhattan Beach School Districts. She also plans on having the program available to all of the elementary grades instead of just fourth grade. Kennedy also hopes to expand the program to low income schools.
“We are really hoping to expand the program to there schools in Manhattan Beach and lower income school within the LAUSD next year,” Kennedy said. “I think it would be really cool to give everyone a chance to experience this even if they don’t have the money.
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