GlaxoSmithKline’s Science in the Summer Brings Hair-Raising Experiments to Children

GlaxoSmithKline’s Science in the Summer (www.scienceinthesummer.com)

returned to 24 public libraries in Delaware County this week with hair-raising experiments and the promise of fun for elementary students entering second through sixth grades. Now in its 26^th year, GlaxoSmithKline’s Science in the Summer transforms libraries into laboratories and students into scientists with exciting hands-on experiments.

“My two daughters looked forward to GlaxoSmithKline’s Science in the Summer every year — and even became program volunteers in middle school,” said Vi Jolly, a working mom of two who is now a librarian at the participating Sharon Hill Public Library in Delaware County. “We didn’t go away on expensive vacations, so this was often the highlight of our summers.” Jolly feels that the unique hands-on learning experience influenced her daughters’ career choices too. Both in their twenties, one daughter is now a teacher, and the other is pursuing a science career in pharmacology.

The 2012 program will be especially exciting, according to Mary Linda Andrews, Director, Community Partnerships, GlaxoSmithKline: “We are pleased to partner with a leader in inspiring scientific curiosity, The Franklin Institute, to bring this program to libraries in the Philadelphia area. Together, we look forward to introducing school children to the scientific wonders of our everyday world by engaging their minds and senses through hands-on exploration and experimentation.  This and other programs emphasize GlaxoSmithKline’s long-standing commitment to science education and building healthy communities."

Courses and times vary by county, but begin in late June and continue through early August. This year, students in Delaware County will learn about Physical Science and Electricity, answering questions such as:  “How do magnets work?” “What is a magnetic force field?” and “What makes electricity?”  Students will make a compass and an electromagnet, as well as an electrostatic generator. This course teaches about magnetism, static electricity, electrical currents and circuits.  Discover why it’s a hair-raising experience!  Through hands-on experiments, young chemists will learn what matter is and that it is not always the same. They will observe physical and chemical changes with fun experiments like turning pennies into gold, making crystals, and watching popcorn “dance.” Students also will decide if substances are acids, bases, or neutrals by using litmus and pH papers and a universal indicator. Other courses include: Genetics (Bucks County), Chemistry (Chester County), Simple Machines (Montgomery County) and Oceanography (Philadelphia County).  GlaxoSmithKline also offers the program to students in North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Pa., and, for the first time, the Metropolitan Washington/Baltimore area.

Research shows that over summer breaks children tend to forget some of what they learned during the school year.  Furthermore, statistics show that U.S. students are not doing as well as their peers around the world in science and math, ranking 22^nd and 31^st respectively.¹  

By supporting the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s academic standards, GlaxoSmithKline’s Science in the Summer program is helping to address these trends. Since its inception, more than 100,000 students from the Greater Philadelphia area have participated in GlaxoSmithKline’s Science in the Summer, and, this year, approximately 4,700 elementary school students from this area alone will participate in the program. 

According to Allison Jolly, a pharmaceutical tech and former program participant and volunteer, “Every summer, I looked forward to learning about another area of science in GlaxoSmithKline’s Science in the Summer and to conducting the hands-on experiments.  I knew at a young age that I wanted to pursue a career in science.”

In addition to supporting the classes at local libraries, GlaxoSmithKline also provides an annual grant to each participating library to purchase science books as part of GlaxoSmithKline’s Science in the Summer program.

GlaxoSmithKline’s Science in the Summer program is conducted in partnership with local libraries and The Franklin Institute. For more information about the program, please visit www.scienceinthesummer.com or your local library.

About GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information go to us.gsk.com, follow us on twitter.com/GSKUS or visit our blog (www.morethanmedicine.us.gsk.com/blog/).  

 About The Franklin Institute – Founded in honor of America’s first scientist, Benjamin Franklin, The Franklin Institute is a renowned and innovative leader in the field of science and technology learning, as well as a dynamic center of activity. It is dedicated to creating a passion for science by offering new and exciting access to science and technology in ways that would dazzle and delight its namesake. For more information, please visit www.fi.edu.

¹The Heritage Foundation Backgrounder 2504, nces.ed.gov/pubs2008/2008016.pdf