Union County, NJ – Afterschool providers in Union County can help boost the science skills of their young charges with help from a new curriculum suitable for children in grades 1 through 6. The curriculum, called “Sinking and Floating,” focuses on fun, hands-on exercises that illustrate basic principles such as density, buoyancy and opposing forces.
“Sinking and Floating” is available through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County 4-H Youth Development Program, which will host a workshop on the curriculum on Friday, December 16. The workshop is open to staff from local organizations that operate afterschool programs.
The fee for the workshop is $75, which includes lunch and all materials for conducting the program. To register or to get more information, contact James Nichnadowicz of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 908-654-9854 or jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org.
The Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County is supported in part by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and is headquartered in the County services building in Westfield.
“Programs like Sinking and Floating can help younger children gain confidence that will help them progress through middle school and beyond,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Deborah P. Scanlon. “An early interest in science can lead to a high value career, so these educational programs form an important part of workforce development in Union County.”
Scanlon noted that the program complements the ‘Green Boot Camp’ developed by educators at the Union County Vo-Tech High Schools in partnership with Honeywell. The Green Boot Camp is an annual workshop designed for middle school educators, to help them introduce hands-on, team based science and technology exercises to their students and prepare them for more challenging courses in high school.
For more information on all Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County 4-H programs, community health initiatives and volunteer opportunities call the Extension at 908-654-9854 or visit the Union County website,www.ucnj.org.
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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook at www.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter athttp://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.