1	The UIUC Physics Van (and some other outreach efforts)
2	UIUC Physics Van Overview Traveling science show of exciting experiments staffed by volunteer undergraduates from all over campus. Target area elementary schools (~100 mile radius). Other venues… Illinois State Fair Adler Planetarium Snowmass (Colorado!) Chicago Academy of Sciences Girl/Boy Scouts, Home Schools, BOAST, IMSA etc… Many others… We have done ~320 shows since 1994: Seen by over 43,000 kids & 3400 adults ! We are funded (largely) by the UIUC Physics Department. About $5,000 per year for supplies/travel + 2 x 25% TA positions.
3	Physics Van: How it’s done…
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7	Everyone Has Fun
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12	“Whys Guy Wednesday” Live Shots We do “Live Science” shots every Wednesday morning on Channel 3 (WCIA). Connection to Ch. 3 developed because of Physics Van (long story).
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14	Physics 123: How The World Works A science class for elementary education majors Current “Physical Science” requirements is 2 Gen-Ed’s Students usually take Nutrition & Geography Most are very intimidated by “hard” science. K-4 Education Standards say elementary school teachers should know how to teach quite a bit of physics: Properties of matter, forces & motion, heat, sound, light, electricity, magnets… We are designing a new 3-hr “PS Gen Ed” class targeting these students (about 150/year). Using inquiry based teaching (working with Ed. College). Each Week: 2 hour inquiry based lab (Monday) Web based homework & instructor feed-back 1 hour lecture/discussion (Friday)
15	Physics 123: How The World Works A science class for elementary education majors Introduction 1. Uncertainty and the Nature of Science Properties of Matter 2. Atoms and Molecules 3. States of Matter 4. Volume and Density 5. Floating and Sinking Forces and Motion 6. Measuring and Graphing Motion 7. Simple Forces 8. Investigating Gravity 9. Rolling and Ramps 10. Levers & Pulleys Electricity and Magnetism 11. Playing with simple circuits 12. Understanding Voltage and Current 13. Making Magnets 14. Fun with static electricity
16	Other Efforts Participation in GAMES summer camp for middle school girls. Every summer. Physics 111 Labs for High School Students Provide hands on experience with university labs. CyberClub Computer Literacy and Mathematics Enrichment Program for Disadvantaged Middle School Youths. The Physics of Baseball (Al Nathan)