SPARKS was developed by the Bronx Zoo after a study indicated that parents who have a basic understanding of science have kids that perform better in science.  To further their mission, The Bronx Zoo went out and trained thirty more zoos in their SPARKS program, including the Prospect Park and Queens Zoos. (The Prospect Park Zoo is the only zoo in NYC that is currently offering SPARKS.) The hands on learning program isn’t just about science either, a lot of the curriculum is devoted to the different ways kids learn, which can help parents deal with lots of different school subjects in the coming months.  

The SPARKS workshops are taking place on 2 consecutive Saturdays this month and it’s free plus the zoo will give attendees a $50 stipend to help defray childcare costs (thanks to a federal grant that supports the program.)

SPARKS isn’t meant for parents to go home and work on science experiments with their kids, instead, it is meant to give them the confidence to address science with their children and be better prepared to be advocates for their children’s science education.  And of course, since it is coming from a zoo, parents will also take away a baseline knowledge of biology from the two day program.  

No boring lectures here, these workshops are fun.  Hands on experiments as well as group discussions, plus participants can meet zoo animals!  The first day has pupils working in groups to explore the properties of foam and observing animal skulls to understand scientific inquiry as well as the pros and cons of the different methods used to teach science to children today.

Even if you are a top biologist, you can still benefit from this program. The second day delves into how people learn and the concept of multiple intelligences which can be applied to many different disciplines.  The curriculum also covers the extremely important subject of connecting urban children to nature through hands on composting with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Educators at the zoo often find a ripple effect with the parents who attend SPARKS. They become so excited about science education that they report back to the zoo how they have used the program to foster science knowledge in their community, in fact one parent regularly borrows skulls from the zoo’s collection to conduct her own science programs at her child’s school.

SPARKS is scheduled for two upcoming Saturdays, August 14 and 21, 2010 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm on both days.  At press time, registration was about 1/3 full and registrations will be taken until a day or two before the session starts on a first come first served basis.

To make a reservation or for more information call 718-399-7322.