See those front feet, how they got little
claws on them-see how there’s little claws
on those front feet. They grab stuff.
It’s called the 4H science class, the purpose
is to connect science and youth, using a hands
on approach.
Hands on is crucial. We want to get them in
here and get them dirty, let them experience
it not something that’s abstract, something
that’s local. Something that they know is
happening right here in their own lives, at
home, and in their communities so that’s
why we’re going out to the river taking
a look at the water quality testing out here,
experiments and giving them resources on they
can go home and measure their own carbon footprint
to see the impact they and their family have
on the environment.
Kids measure the effect of carbon monoxide
on water by using a straw to blow into a cup
of water, changing the color from blue to
yellow. But for scientist in the making Jonathan,
it was all about the bugs.
The umm bugs umm they’re like creepy crawly
things. I saw a fish in there. It might even
have got curled up in a leaf too.
Everywhere you looked Jonathan and his dad
Brad were digging science.
I think kids naturally gravitate towards science.
They’re naturally interested in it. It’s
just that if there’s nothing for them, that
it doesn’t fuel that interest. So long as
there’s things like this around that the
interest will already be there it’s just
a matter of fostering it and helping it grow.
The 4H initiative, 1 million new scientists,
1 million new ideas, recognizes the need to
enhance science education in our youth because
there’s science in everything.
It’s really important because they’ll
be aware, they’ll know what out there and
they’ll get experiences and have fun with
it and if you have fun with it you’ll love
it and that’s a good thing to have an interest
and can stick with it throughout their whole
life and theirs many opportunities, there’s
so many things you can with science.
Part of it is just helping to show kids that
what they are doing is science. They are scientists
we’re just uncovering that potential.
Need to know precisely what to use in order
differentiate one bug from another? Just ask
Jonathan.
I could look at it because I have a microscope
and like slides and extra ones to put it on.
I have lots of things I could do with those
bugs I can find. From Michigan State University,
I’m Kraig Ehm reporting.
