From Dissecting A Heart To Learning About Senses, Kids Connect With Science In Summer

Elementary school-aged kids from around Levittown got a hands-on science lesson last week.

GlaxoSmithKline and The Franklin Institute’s Science in the Summer program brought together students from grades two to six at 152 libraries in the Philadelphia region. Locally, free courses took place last week at the Bucks County Free Library’s Levittown branch in Bristol Township.

Brian Reilly, who led the local Science in the Summer program and is a teacher in the Rose Tree Media School District in Delaware County, said the course teaches students about different scientific theories and processes.

This year, the theme of the program was “The Science of Me” and hit a number of topics related to human bodies.

During the four-day program that offered hour-long classes, students extracted DNA from strawberries, explored their organs, dissected a sheep’s heart, and learned about their senses.

Reilly said dissecting the sheep’s heart was a highlight for the kids.

Lindsay Dos, the children’s library in Levittown, said her son attended the course and loved it.

“They learn so much everyday,” she said.

The Science in the Summer program was started in Philadelphia more than 30 years ago by retired GlaxoSmithKline scientist Dr. Virginia Cunningham. The program aims to keep elementary school students engaged in the sciences during the summer break and works to reach as many local kids as possible by not costing a dime for parents.

“Our goal is to demonstrate that by thinking about everyday processes – like what happens to food when you eat it or how your brain tells you to move – that you are thinking like a scientist, and this could be your future,” GlaxoSmithKline Manager of Community Partnerships Marti Skold-Jordan said.

“In STEM, the possibilities are endless with thousands of different interest points, topics, careers, and opportunities. Experiences like this expose children to just a fraction of that, and hopefully trigger a genuine appreciation for science and all its wonders,” said a statement from The Franklin Institute.

Reilly has been teacher at Science in the Summer for 20 years and said he enjoys the program.

“This is pure education,” Reilly said. “There’s no grades or administration involved. The kids are learning.”