More than 1,500 community members, including nearly 800 elementary-aged children, gathered for the 8th annual DISCOVER Day on Saturday, November 2nd, setting a new attendance record. The event’s name, DISCOVER, stands for “Dive Into Science! Come Observe, Verify, Explore, and Reflect.” The event, hosted by Haverford’s Science Academy, featured numerous themed rooms set up and run by students, allowing children to explore and engage with various learning activities. It was free for families to attend, though donations were accepted to help alleviate the costs of running the event.
DISCOVER Day and the Science Academy are sponsored by Rebecca Mortland and Dr. Jeremy Tomaszewski, who are both science teachers at Haverford. “One of the things that’s most special for me,” said Dr. T, “is watching high school kids interact with the elementary kids, and the mutual benefit that both groups get from the whole day.”
The event has been held annually since its inception in 2017, though it was modified during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, science kits were sent home to elementary students, who could complete the activities by following a YouTube video. During the 2021-2022 school year, the event was held in-person in the spring instead of in the fall.
This year there were about thirty-seven different experiences run during DISCOVER Day, including Strawberry DNA Extraction, Salt Painting, the Reptile Room, and more. In general, each room featured a craft or activity for children to participate in, along with posters or displays that helped teach the topic of that room. For example, the salt painting room featured a craft where children added both salt and watercolor onto paper to make a cool texture. And in the Reptile Room, children got to look at different reptiles and learn about them. The goal of each experience was to get the elementary students engaged and interested in learning. Throughout the day, there were also science shows including the Chemistry Show in the cafeteria, the “Bug Man” presentation, and a performance by volunteers from Haverford’s String Ensemble in the Sound of Science room.
The Science Academy also hosts several community science events throughout the year, including assisting with elementary STEM days in the spring and running Discover STEM camps during the summer, so keep an eye out for upcoming events. Gerry Galiatsatos, a student helping to run the Sound of Science Room, said that, “I thought DISCOVER Day was well organized, and I’m excited for next year!”
