Sun Devils’ afterschool program turns kids into Science Detectives

The Science Detectives afterschool program, run by Sun Devils, allows K–8th graders to learn, engage and discuss science through virtual presentations and hands-on experiments taught by ASU students.  

The mission of the program is to expose students to science at a young age, to provide role models for students interested in pursuing a career in science and to teach students real scientific theory through hands-on experiments.

Student leads and Co-Presidents Marie Nguyen, a junior studying psychology and biomedical sciences, and Varshini Methuku, a junior studying medical microbiology with a minor in chemistry, got involved in Science Detectives their sophomore year at ASU.

In previous semesters, ASU students led in-person science lessons. Now they've moved to a virtual format.

Since their involvement in the program, the two have worked hand in hand to revamp it. The program has grown from including one local elementary school in the fall 2019 semester to five for the fall 2020 semester. Participating schools include Holdeman Elementary School, Rover Elementary School, Ward Traditional Academy and the Chandler Unified School District.

After reevaluating plans for the fall 2020 semester, Nguyen and Methuku decided to move the program online but managed to keep the hands-on aspect of the program alive. 

“Science detectives is a laboratory-intensive afterschool program for elementary students,” Methuku said. The ASU students use Google Meets through Google Classroom to meet with elementary school students from each school once a week.

Before every lesson, an email is sent to parents and teachers that notifies them of supplies students will need to participate in that week's experiment. According to Nguyen, before the program moved to a virtual format Science Detectives provided students with supplies they would need to participate. 

Now, however, students have to gather supplies on their own. Because of this Science Detectives choose experiments with simple, inexpensive and easy-to-find materials. A majority of supplies can be easily found around the house, Nguyen said. Supplies may include water, salt, vinegar, baking soda or balloons. 

“With Science Detectives, we are giving teachers a free opportunity to enhance their students' learning,” Nguyen said. 

A majority of the experiments are related to real-world examples. One example was an experiment that simulated oil spills in the ocean, Methuku shared. A lava-lamp making experiment showed the elementary school students how oil and water don’t mix. 

Aside from teaching students about science, Science Detectives also works to raise money to provide students with school supplies that are dropped off through the Somali American United Council and Backpacks 4 Kids AZ. Specific items include notebooks, pencils, erasers, crayons, colored pencils, highlighters, backpacks, notecards, folders, binders, hand sanitizer and tissue boxes. 

More information on Science Detectives can be found on Facebook and Instagram. Donations to school supply drives can be made through a Somali American United Council Go Fund Me and Backpacks 4 Kids Go Fund Me. Sun Devils interested in getting involved in Science Detectives can reach out through email at asusciencedetectives@gmail.com or can sign up here.