Discover SCIENCE (a Scientific Creative Innovative Engaging New Cool Experience) with Dr. Bear engages children and families in the out-of-school time setting of community libraries in hands-on, inquiry-based art and science programs that help to improve the physical, cognitive and social development of children and their families. “SCIENCE” explores and combines STEM with a focus on health issues of concern to the community such as asthma, stress, cardiometabolic risk, sleep, genetics and genetic diseases, and injury prevention.
Goal #1
Empower children by encouraging curiosity and discovery in STEM and medical/health topics
Goal #2
Provide tools for educators, caregivers and youth to incorporate health and science messaging to improve school readiness
Goal #3
Offer professional development training for DCPL Children’s Librarians in informal STEM education and community health
We offer educators lesson plans linked to NGSS science standards for classroom use.
Caregivers can use our expert-reviewed lessons, which include background information on the topic and kid-friendly language, to engage kids in health and science activities from the comfort of the kitchen table. Most of the required materials are things already in the house! Local to the Washington, D.C. area? See below or click here for our upcoming events.
Resources for youth will engage kids in fun games, coloring, and other activities that will stimulate curiosity in STEM and health.
Upcoming Events
COVID-19 Update: We are currently not holding and in person activities in accordance with CDC, local, and Children’s National Hospital guidelines. We hope to offer some virtual programming on this website in the near future.
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Acknowledgements
Discover SCIENCE with Dr. Bear is a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) (R25OD023773-01) funded through by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), awarded to the Children’s Research Institute at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. The Principal Investigator of the program is Dr. Naomi Luban. SEPA projects create partnerships among biomedical and clinical researchers and teachers and schools, museums and science centers, media experts, and other educational organizations. SEPA K–12 resources target state and national K–12 standards for STEM teaching and learning and are rigorously evaluated for effectiveness.
Discover SCIENCE with Dr. Bear 