The Mission:
The Hands-On Science Program cultivates curiosity, connections, and critical thinking skills through science and engineering education rooted in the Framework for K-12 Science Education for Indian HIlls’ learners of all ages.
The Vision:
The Hands-On Science Program inspires excellence in and a passion for science and engineering.
What is Hands-On Science?
With the support of our PTO for the 2023/2024 scholastic year, Indian Hills Elementary maintains a Hands-On Science Program at Indian Hills Elementary. There are four elements to the Hands-On Science Program.
1. Hands-On Science & Engineering Labs:
All Indian Hills students have the opportunity to attend science and engineering lab classes. During labs, individual classes visit the Hands-On Science classroom in the building or the outdoor classroom. Students work individually and together in small groups to further explore science content covered in their classrooms. Each class participates in 10 or more labs per year that range in time from 45 to 60 minutes depending on the grade level. Labs are correlated to the Utah SEEd Standards.
2. Field Trips & Classroom Visits:
The purpose of field trips and classroom visits is to connect classroom learning to science & engineering experiences from and within our greater community. Each grade has the opportunity to participate in at least one science-based field trip. Classroom visits from science-based organizations vary from year to year.
3. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Fairs:
The purpose of the STEAM Fairs is to provide a fun and meaningful way for students to engage with science & engineering content, concepts, and practices. All students are invited and encouraged to submit a science, engineering, or science-based art project for the STEAM Fairs. All students have the opportunity to speak with judges about their projects and receive recognition for their work.
4. Green Team:
The purpose of the Green Team is to promote environmental awareness through education resulting in students, faculty, staff, and the greater school community engaging in more sustainable practices. The Green Team Committee is composed of the Hands-On Science Teacher, staff, faculty, administration, and students from Indian Hills and creates and implements an action plan to accomplish student-driven initiatives.
How can you volunteer with the Hands-On Science Program?
1. Lab & Field Trip Volunteer:
Student learning during hands-on science and engineering labs is enhanced with additional adult support. The labs are already written and will be set up on the day of the labs. Volunteers come in right before the class begins and then help guide students through the lab. Science knowledge is not necessary. We will train you before the students arrive. Ideally, each lab will have 1-3 adult volunteers. You can volunteer to help with one lab, all labs, field trips, or any combination.
2. STEAM Fair Judge:
Adult judges are need to speak with 4th-6th grade students about their projects and assign a score to 10-20 projects based on a scoring rubric.
3. Green Team:
A Community Representative is needed to participate in the Green Team to help create, support, promote, and complete the sustainability initiative action plan.
How do you sign up to volunteer with the Hands-On Science Program?
1. Lab & Field Trip Volunteer:
Click your student's grade on the header above and follow the directions to the sign up.
2. STEAM Fair Judge:
Click on Volunteer with STEAM Fair, under MORE, on the header above and follow the directions to sign up.
3. Green Team Community Representative:
Click on GREEN TEAM, under MORE, on the header above and follow the directions to sign up.
All Hands-On Science schedules and e-mails are managed through Signup.com. Please be sure that you have a (free) signup.com account and that you allow Signup.com to send you e-mails.
About the Hands-On Science Teacher:
Kristen Bonner has a passion for helping learners of all ages connect to, understand, and develop critical thinking skills about their world through her career in science education. She has worked as the Indian Hills' Hands-On Science Teacher and Program Coordinator since 2017. Kristen is actively involved in Utah's greater science education community. She has presented at science education conferences, served on USBE science standards writing and testing committees, coordinates the SLCSD Science & Engineering Fair, and regularly attends professional development. Prior to Indian Hills, she worked as an educator for The Living Planet Aquarium, facilitated professional development programs for teachers for the Utah State Office of Education and Utah Society of Environmental Education, and had the opportunity to guide students on field trips in Great Salt Lake’s wetlands for the Nature Conservancy and USU Botanical Center. Kristen remains involved in informal education by volunteering with Friends of Great Salt Lake’s Lakeside Learning Program and the Nature Conservancy’s Wings & Water Wetlands Education Program. Kristen is the 2021 recipient of the Vern A. Fridley Formal Environmental Educator of the Year Award from the Utah Society for Environmental Education. Kristen holds a BS from the University of Utah in Environmental Studies and Biology Teaching. When she isn't in her classroom, Kristen can be found having adventures with her family, reading, and running on roads and trails.
To see what Kristen is working on find her on Instagram @krispmb80 or on LinkedIn at Kristen Bonner.
The Hands-On Science Program cultivates curiosity, connections, and critical thinking skills through science and engineering education rooted in the Framework for K-12 Science Education for Indian HIlls’ learners of all ages.
The Vision:
The Hands-On Science Program inspires excellence in and a passion for science and engineering.
What is Hands-On Science?
With the support of our PTO for the 2023/2024 scholastic year, Indian Hills Elementary maintains a Hands-On Science Program at Indian Hills Elementary. There are four elements to the Hands-On Science Program.
1. Hands-On Science & Engineering Labs:
All Indian Hills students have the opportunity to attend science and engineering lab classes. During labs, individual classes visit the Hands-On Science classroom in the building or the outdoor classroom. Students work individually and together in small groups to further explore science content covered in their classrooms. Each class participates in 10 or more labs per year that range in time from 45 to 60 minutes depending on the grade level. Labs are correlated to the Utah SEEd Standards.
2. Field Trips & Classroom Visits:
The purpose of field trips and classroom visits is to connect classroom learning to science & engineering experiences from and within our greater community. Each grade has the opportunity to participate in at least one science-based field trip. Classroom visits from science-based organizations vary from year to year.
3. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Fairs:
The purpose of the STEAM Fairs is to provide a fun and meaningful way for students to engage with science & engineering content, concepts, and practices. All students are invited and encouraged to submit a science, engineering, or science-based art project for the STEAM Fairs. All students have the opportunity to speak with judges about their projects and receive recognition for their work.
4. Green Team:
The purpose of the Green Team is to promote environmental awareness through education resulting in students, faculty, staff, and the greater school community engaging in more sustainable practices. The Green Team Committee is composed of the Hands-On Science Teacher, staff, faculty, administration, and students from Indian Hills and creates and implements an action plan to accomplish student-driven initiatives.
How can you volunteer with the Hands-On Science Program?
1. Lab & Field Trip Volunteer:
Student learning during hands-on science and engineering labs is enhanced with additional adult support. The labs are already written and will be set up on the day of the labs. Volunteers come in right before the class begins and then help guide students through the lab. Science knowledge is not necessary. We will train you before the students arrive. Ideally, each lab will have 1-3 adult volunteers. You can volunteer to help with one lab, all labs, field trips, or any combination.
2. STEAM Fair Judge:
Adult judges are need to speak with 4th-6th grade students about their projects and assign a score to 10-20 projects based on a scoring rubric.
3. Green Team:
A Community Representative is needed to participate in the Green Team to help create, support, promote, and complete the sustainability initiative action plan.
How do you sign up to volunteer with the Hands-On Science Program?
1. Lab & Field Trip Volunteer:
Click your student's grade on the header above and follow the directions to the sign up.
2. STEAM Fair Judge:
Click on Volunteer with STEAM Fair, under MORE, on the header above and follow the directions to sign up.
3. Green Team Community Representative:
Click on GREEN TEAM, under MORE, on the header above and follow the directions to sign up.
All Hands-On Science schedules and e-mails are managed through Signup.com. Please be sure that you have a (free) signup.com account and that you allow Signup.com to send you e-mails.
About the Hands-On Science Teacher:
Kristen Bonner has a passion for helping learners of all ages connect to, understand, and develop critical thinking skills about their world through her career in science education. She has worked as the Indian Hills' Hands-On Science Teacher and Program Coordinator since 2017. Kristen is actively involved in Utah's greater science education community. She has presented at science education conferences, served on USBE science standards writing and testing committees, coordinates the SLCSD Science & Engineering Fair, and regularly attends professional development. Prior to Indian Hills, she worked as an educator for The Living Planet Aquarium, facilitated professional development programs for teachers for the Utah State Office of Education and Utah Society of Environmental Education, and had the opportunity to guide students on field trips in Great Salt Lake’s wetlands for the Nature Conservancy and USU Botanical Center. Kristen remains involved in informal education by volunteering with Friends of Great Salt Lake’s Lakeside Learning Program and the Nature Conservancy’s Wings & Water Wetlands Education Program. Kristen is the 2021 recipient of the Vern A. Fridley Formal Environmental Educator of the Year Award from the Utah Society for Environmental Education. Kristen holds a BS from the University of Utah in Environmental Studies and Biology Teaching. When she isn't in her classroom, Kristen can be found having adventures with her family, reading, and running on roads and trails.
To see what Kristen is working on find her on Instagram @krispmb80 or on LinkedIn at Kristen Bonner.