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 BOOT and the SCC, Indian Hills Elementary maintains a Hands-On Science Program at Indian Hills Elementary. There are five components to the Hands-On Science Program.
1. Hands-On Science 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:
Each Indian Hills' grade has the opportunity to participate in an outdoor science based field trip. For example, 6th grade visits Antelope Island to explore Great Salt Lake ecology.
3. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Fair:
All students are invited and encouraged to submit a science, engineering, or science-based art project for the school wide STEAM Fair. All students have the opportunity to speak with judges about their projects and receive recognition for their work.
4. Green Team:
A Green Team committee composed of the Hands-On Science Teacher, staff, faculty, administration, and students from Indian Hills create an action plan that involves the entire Indian Hills school community resulting in more sustainable practices, like turning off classrooms lights to reduce electricity use.
5. ARTS Night Booth:
All attendees are invited to stop by the Hands-On Science booth to explore a scientific phenomenon that is unique to Utah.
How can you volunteer with the Hands-On Science Program?
1. Class & Field Trip Volunteer:
Student learning during hands-on science and engineering labs are 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 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.
4. ARTS Night Volunteer:
Hands-On Science always has a booth at Indian Hills' ARTS Night. Volunteers are needed to help learners engage with the information at the booth.
How do you sign up to volunteer with the Hands-On Science Program?
1. Class & Field Trip Volunteer:
Click your student's grade on the header above and follow the link to the sign up. Within two weeks you will receive information from the Hands-On Science Teacher. Additionally, you can e-mail your name, your student's name, and your student's teacher's name to the Hands-On Science Teacher at indianhillsscience@gmail.com. Within two weeks you will receive an invitation from Signup.com to register.
2. STEAM Fair Judge:
Click on Volunteer with STEAM Fair, under MORE, on the header above and follow the link to sign up. You will receive information from the Hands-On Science Teacher in January. Additionally, you can e-mail your name and your interest in being a STEAM Fair Judge to the Hands-On Science Teacher at indianhillsscience@gmail.com
3. Green Team Community Representative:
Click on GREEN TEAM, under MORE, on the header above and follow the link to sign up. You will receive information from the Hands-On Science teacher in September. Additionally, you can e-mail your name and your interest in being the Green Team Community Representative to the Hands-On Science Teacher at indianhillsscience@gmail.com.
4. ARTS Night Volunteer:
E-mail the Hands-On Science Teacher at indianhillsscience@gmail.com. Additionally, you can e-mail BOOT.
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 BOOT and the SCC, Indian Hills Elementary maintains a Hands-On Science Program at Indian Hills Elementary. There are five components to the Hands-On Science Program.
1. Hands-On Science 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:
Each Indian Hills' grade has the opportunity to participate in an outdoor science based field trip. For example, 6th grade visits Antelope Island to explore Great Salt Lake ecology.
3. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Fair:
All students are invited and encouraged to submit a science, engineering, or science-based art project for the school wide STEAM Fair. All students have the opportunity to speak with judges about their projects and receive recognition for their work.
4. Green Team:
A Green Team committee composed of the Hands-On Science Teacher, staff, faculty, administration, and students from Indian Hills create an action plan that involves the entire Indian Hills school community resulting in more sustainable practices, like turning off classrooms lights to reduce electricity use.
5. ARTS Night Booth:
All attendees are invited to stop by the Hands-On Science booth to explore a scientific phenomenon that is unique to Utah.
How can you volunteer with the Hands-On Science Program?
1. Class & Field Trip Volunteer:
Student learning during hands-on science and engineering labs are 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 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.
4. ARTS Night Volunteer:
Hands-On Science always has a booth at Indian Hills' ARTS Night. Volunteers are needed to help learners engage with the information at the booth.
How do you sign up to volunteer with the Hands-On Science Program?
1. Class & Field Trip Volunteer:
Click your student's grade on the header above and follow the link to the sign up. Within two weeks you will receive information from the Hands-On Science Teacher. Additionally, you can e-mail your name, your student's name, and your student's teacher's name to the Hands-On Science Teacher at indianhillsscience@gmail.com. Within two weeks you will receive an invitation from Signup.com to register.
2. STEAM Fair Judge:
Click on Volunteer with STEAM Fair, under MORE, on the header above and follow the link to sign up. You will receive information from the Hands-On Science Teacher in January. Additionally, you can e-mail your name and your interest in being a STEAM Fair Judge to the Hands-On Science Teacher at indianhillsscience@gmail.com
3. Green Team Community Representative:
Click on GREEN TEAM, under MORE, on the header above and follow the link to sign up. You will receive information from the Hands-On Science teacher in September. Additionally, you can e-mail your name and your interest in being the Green Team Community Representative to the Hands-On Science Teacher at indianhillsscience@gmail.com.
4. ARTS Night Volunteer:
E-mail the Hands-On Science Teacher at indianhillsscience@gmail.com. Additionally, you can e-mail BOOT.
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.
