Sunflower
Science Discovery After School
Endorsed by the
U.S. Department of Education
Expert Panel on Mathematics
and Science Education
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Sunflower is designed to promote activity-based learning through a variety of group science and environmental education investigations and experiments. Sunflower activity books are available in English and Spanish in order to meet curriculum needs in a variety of informal education programs.
The colorful format of Sunflower invites children to engage in science activities and to carry out investigations in their after-sch ool programs. The curriculum, geared toward elementary school children in grades 2-4, presents science information and experiments in stimulating graphic formats and poses interesting and relevant questions for children based on current scientific developments.
Each unit of Sunflower is presented in a full-color magazine format activity book for children with an accompanying leader's guide with complete lesson plans, extension activities and evaluation materials. The materials needed for experiments are always low-cost and easily obtainable.
Sunflower is organized by thematic units: Plants, Water, Human Body and Air. The Trash unit will be available soon. Convenient sets are available for 12 children: 12 activity books, 1 leader's guide and a materials kit. Individual copies may also be purchased. |
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The development of Sunflower was supported in part by the National Science Foundation
with additional support by the
ARCO Foundation
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Boston Sunflower Afterschool Science
Discovery Program
An opportunity to engage children in grades 2-4 in fun, hands-on science activities during afterschool.
All materials and training are FREE for City of Boston programs.
The Intercultural Center for Research in Education (INCRE) is once again seeking applications from after-school programs throughout the City of Boston that would like to use the award-winning Sunflower science discovery curriculum.
If you are interested in using Sunflower in 2008-09 with your children in grades 2-4, complete the attached application form and fax it to INCRE at 781-643-1315 or send by e-mail to John Zuman at jzuman@incre.org. Applications will be considered on a first-come basis, so please respond right away. If you have any questions you can call INCRE at 781-643-2142.
Three Sunflower units will be offered in 2008-09: Human Body, Trash and Air. Each unit takes about 10 weeks to complete. Participating programs will receive free activity books, leader guides and materials kits valued at $500 for each group of 12 children.
Program staff are not expected to be science teachers and do not need to know a lot about science. This is a VERY user-friendly and kid-friendly curriculum. All we ask is that programs commit to using the Sunflower curriculum on a regular basis throughout 2008-09.
All programs must commit to sending at least one staff member to a half-day morning workshop for each unit. Only programs that are represented at workshops will receive their free materials.
We hope you will take advantage of this great opportunity.
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