What it means to be a Science Docent

Personal Gains: Volunteers in similar programs often report that they find it difficult to decide which is more rewarding:

1. The information they learn from the program staff, from the workshop activities and from the written material; OR,
2. Teaching children at school about science in a way that both they and the children enjoy.

Time Involved: Approximately 5 hours per month for Sept. – May (excluding December).

• Attending the monthly training session with Docent Program staff 2 hours
• Reading background information ½ hour
• Planning with partner docent prior to classroom visit 1 hour
• Presenting the classroom session with children 1 ½ hours

How the Science Docent Program Prepares You:The Science Docent Program will hold a 2-hour training session for each month of the program. At each workshop:

• The focus of the lesson for the month is explained.

• You’ll participate in activities so you know how to do them with the children.
• As a whole group you’ll discuss teaching techniques, and
• You’ll share thoughts on the past month’s workshop: what worked, what you changed, any problems you encountered and how these can be addressed.

Materials: For each workshop you will receive copies of a lesson plan, background information, and a complete description of the activities. The Science Docent Program will also have a library of ‘activity kits’ containing all of the materials necessary for each month’s lesson.

Your Service to the School:

• Children connect with and learn from a variety of adults.
• Teachers get help teaching the science concepts required by California State’s Science Content Standards.
• Children benefit from the additional resources Science Docent Program volunteers provide.
• Community/school relations often improve as volunteers get involved in the classroom.

Positive Side Effects:

• Your own family benefits from what you learn.
• You meet other people who share your interests.
• If you are a parent, you can share in your child’s school experience.
• If you are a community member, you get to know the children in the school.
• You’ll be made a SYRCL member and receive SYRCL’s quarterly newspaper.

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Role of the Science Docent

The Science Docent Program could not function without volunteers. It is your enthusiasm, energy, and love for the natural world that will make the Science Docent Program successful!

Communicate with the Classroom Teacher:

• Meet with your teacher to get to know him/her and so that you can discuss classroom norms, class management ideas, outdoor resources and boundaries, and school rules.
• With your teacher, schedule your lessons (check availability of activity kits at the SYRCL office before solidifying a date).
• The Science Docent Program will provide a list of lesson topics. Please share this with your teacher so that s/he can integrate them in other parts of the curriculum.
• Share the ideas included in each lesson about follow-up activities.
• Clarify if teacher will break the class up for small group activities and lead a group.

Attend the Science Docent training workshops

• At least 1 volunteer from each team needs to be at each training session.
• In case of emergency, illness, or pre-planned absence, you must notify your partner docent and find a replacement or reschedule your lesson.

Plan your classroom visit with your teammates

• Organize the order of activities (using lesson plan and training session):
  • What key concepts do you want children to get from the workshop?
  • How will you introduce the topic?
  • Who is responsible for leading/presenting each activity?
  • How will you transition from one activity to the next?
  • How do you plan to wrap-up the workshop?
• Reserve an activity kit at the SYRCL office so that it is available on your scheduled date.

Present your classroom science lesson

• Double check date with classroom teacher: Is there an assembly, party, substitute teacher, or other reason to reschedule?
• Show up – if suddenly you can't, notify your partner & find a substitute or phone the teacher to postpone the lesson.
• See “Teaching Techniques” sheet for hints to make the workshop run smoothly.
• Be prepared and be on time – the children are excited that you’re coming!
• Enjoy yourself!

After your Science Docent Lesson in the Classroom

• Leave the classroom as you found it.
• Return the activity kit and all materials to SYRCL in good order for the next team.
• Leave a note in the activity kit if you have suggestions about something you did that was a great addition to the unit.

Evaluating the Pilot Project:

• After each lesson, complete a short written evaluation of the lesson plan, the training, and your presentation (evaluation form will be provided).

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Docent Application

To download an application to become a Science Docent, please click here

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Teaching Techniques for Science Docents

To see one of our resources on Teaching Techniques for our Science Docents, please click here

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Meeting with the Classroom Teacher

To see SYRCL’s guidelines for your first meeting with the classroom teacher, please click here

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