Science enrichment through informal science. Final report

Hands On Science Outreach (HOSO) is a program of informal science education. Its mission is to bring to communities the option of out-of-school science explorations to small groups of children from the ages of 4-12. Such experiences encourage children to enjoy science without the fear of the consequences of failure that can occur in a formal school setting. It can start them on a life long pattern of participation, awareness and perhaps career interest, motivated by this kind of pleasurable learning. Since HOSO binds together adult training, materials and written guides, many of those not professionally employed in education, including parents, can and do become involved in {open_quotes}science for the fun of it.{close_quotes} The DOE grant to the HOSO program has funded the delivery of HOSO programming to five selected sites over the 1992-96 school years. It is the intention of both the DOE and HOSO to reach children who might otherwise not be able to afford the programming, with emphasis on underrepresented minorities. HOSO has developed fall, winter and spring theme-oriented informal science sessions on four age/grade levels. One hour classes take place once a week for eight weeks per session. At the original Washington, D.C. site, the program uses a mentoring model named STEPS (Successful Teaming for Educational Partnerships in Science) in partnership with the District of Columbia Schools, as well as HOSO and the DOE. That model continues to work in Washington, D.C. and has been replicated in parts of the Sacramento and Denver sites