is pleased to announce

A SUMMER 2000 SCIENCE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

AUGUST 7-11, 2000, in Long Beach, CA

.....for teams of educators interested in becoming members of a national network dedicated to making high quality science instruction available to youngsters of ages 3-5

......If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder...he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.

Rachel Carson, from "A Sense of Wonder"

OVERVIEW:

With the generous support of the American Honda Foundation, the Center for Science in Early Childhood at California State University, Long Beach will conduct Summer 2000 and 2001 Leadership Institutes to prepare and assist teams of educators to establish local "Head Start on Science" Training and Dissemination Centers. The goal is to form a national network of approximately twenty Centers to encourage and help make available developmentally-appropriate science instruction to increasing numbers of early childhood teachers, parents and their youngsters.

BENEFITS OF THE INSTITUTE

Gain familiarity with developmentally-appropriate science teaching and learning materials and approaches for young children;

Learn how to prepare Head Start and other teachers to incorporate science in the early childhood curriculum, and how to use "sense of wonder" science as a vehicle for literacy education;

Receive your own personal copies of "A Head Start on Science" curricular materials, including (a) the Teacher's Guide with more than 100 classroom-proven "sense of wonder" science activities, (b) the project video, designed to increase interest in science in early childhood, (c) "How to Conduct a Workshop," which provides detailed instructions for offering "Head Start on Science" teacher workshops, (d) project brochures, and MORE!

Obtain partially-subsidized travel to Long Beach, CA for the August 2000 Summer Institute, full room and board for a week-long stay on campus, and modest start-up funds to help establish a successful "Head Start on Science" in your home town;

Receive continuing collegial support for your dissemination activities from network members located at CSULB and at other Centers across the USA through regular e-mail contact and through periodic meetings at selected sites.

MORE ABOUT THE "A HEAD START ON SCIENCE" PROJECT

In 1995, the Department of Science Education of California State University, Long Beach received a grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services for a project entitled "A Head Start on Science." The purpose of the project was to demonstrate, evaluate, and replicate a summer institute prototype designed for Head Start teachers, teacher assistants, and home visitors. A major goal has been that of preparing participants to become more capable, comfortable, confident, and enthusiastic about increasing their own, their childrens' and their families' "sense of wonder" about the world.

In 1996, the first of several annual summer institutes was offered in Long Beach, CA. A year later, faculty at Syracuse University collaborated with CSULB to replicate the project's institute design. Since that time, more than 300 teachers of young children have successfully completed "Head Start on Science" workshops and have begun to involve their youngsters in "sense of wonder" science.

Overall guidance for the project has been given by a National Advisory Board knowledgeable and experienced in science education, early childhood education and the Head Start program. Instruction at each of the project-affiliated institutes has been carried out by persons expert in these same fields. All activities of the project have been monitored by an outside evaluator. A copy of the project assessment summary and more detailed information about the project are available for review at the project web site: <http://www.csulb.edu/~sci4kids>.

WHO SHOULD APPLY:

Three-person local teams - bringing together (1) a science educator, (2) an early childhood educator, and (3) an administrator/leader of a Head Start, day care, or other early childhood organization are encouraged. to apply. TEAMS WITH EXPERTISE ACROSS THESE THREE CATEGORIES WILL RECEIVE PREFERENCE IN THE SELECTION PROCESS.

Team members should have a record of successful experience in training teachers, teacher aides, and/or family members;

Teams able to demonstrate the availability of strong local support for the establishment of a Dissemination Center in their locale will receive preference. Evidence of local Center support in the form of commitments such as pledges of space, materials, and/or personnel are especially desirable.

BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECT:

You and your colleagues become part of a national network of educators who establish local Centers dedicated to bringing science to young children. Your trained and supported team will, on your return home, establish a local Dissemination/Training Center. Typical activities of a local "Science for Kids" Center might include:

working closely with local educators, parents, and administrators to encourage the inclusion of developmentally-appropriate science in the early childhood curriculum;

providing awareness workshops as well as in-depth training for local Head Start and other early childhood teachers and parents;

collaborating with members of both the national and local Centers on a variety of activities to encourage and support the inclusion of science in the early childhood curriculum;

maintaining contact with other Centers and their members to share data, best practices, and innovative approaches to the teaching of science, as well as to share their experiences in running effective and cost-efficient Centers.

To get you started, the project will provide:

one full week of hands-on training by faculty and Head Start teachers, to familiarize your team with the "Head Start on Science" philosophy, curriculum and teacher preparation approach and activities;

full room and board on the CSULB campus during the week-long institute;

a travel allowance not to exceed $200 per team member participating in the summer institute;

your own personal set of "Head Start on Science" curriculum and related materials;

modest start-up funds to assist your team to establish a "Head Start on Science" Dissemination Center in your home town (presently, $500 per team; we are seeking additional support for the newly-established Centers).

AND IN RETURN,we have the following expectations of you and your team:

participate fully in the week-long summer institute in Long Beach, CA;

upon return to your home locale, establish a "Head Start on Science" Dissemination Center;

maintain close contact with the National Center at CSULB and with the network of other centers (i.e., through electronic communication);

conduct at least one 5-day science workshop for Head Start or other early childhood teachers;

agree to share mutually beneficial evaluation data with the National Center in a timely manner;

engage in fund-raising (i.e., proposal preparation and submission) for the purpose of maintaining / expanding the Center's science dissemination efforts.

APPLICATION PROCESS

FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, CONTACT:

The National Center for Science in Early Childhood
Department of Science Education
California State University, Long Beach
Long Beach, CA 90840-4501

Telephone: (562) 985-4801 FAX: (562) 985-7164

E-Mail: sci4kids@csulb.edu URL: <http://www.csulb.edu/~sci4kids>

OR, MAIL THIS FORM TO REQUEST AN APPLICATION:

Please send an application packet for the Head Start on Science Leadership Institute to:

NAME: ______________________________________ PHONE: ( ) ___________

TITLE & ORGANIZATION: _______________________________________________

ADDRESS: __________________________________________
Street Address

__________________________________________
City, State, and ZIP Code

AREA TO BE SERVED BY PROPOSED CENTER:____________________________