ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 3M believes
science education should be readily available: on demand where and
when students are ready to learn. As educators, parents, and
students navigate returning to school this fall, 3M is stepping up to provide free access to
Science at Home experiments to inspire STEM learning
everywhere.
With 3M Science at Home, teachers and
families have free access to resources that can help inspire a
child.
Science at Home is a series of science experiment videos
that feature 3M scientists and
special guests using common household items to make STEM learning
as accessible as possible while also showing kids, ages 6-12, that
they can connect science to just about anything.
"We unlock the power of people, ideas, and science to break down
barriers and inspire the next generation of innovators," says
Denise Rutherford, senior vice
president and chief corporate affairs officer, 3M. "With 3M
Science at Home, teachers and families have free access to
educational resources that can help a child become inspired by
science and open new opportunities for them. For 3M, this is another way we are helping to
reimagine what's possible and to improve every life — by
making science approachable and accessible."
Whether building a marshmallow tower with 3M advanced product development specialist,
Mary Caruso Daley, or inflating a
balloon using CO2 with 3M research
specialist, Cait Meree, Science at
Home has something to interest any child, including nearly 30
age-appropriate experiments that all follow the Next Generation
Science Standard (NGSS).
This year, Science at Home introduces a Scientist Spotlight
series – a library of videos featuring the scientists who have
conducted these experiments, explaining what it means to them to be
a scientist, what inspired them to pursue science, and helping kids
connect to their inner scientist.
According to 3M's original research, 73% of the world recognizes
that underrepresented minority groups often lack equal access to
STEM education. To help bridge this gap, and provide valuable and
needed educational resources to teachers, 3M continues to expand Science at Home to promote
and encourage STEM exploration and learning. And, to help
ensure these materials are reaching the teachers and students that
need them most, including underrepresented communities, 3M has
partnered with Teach For America and continues to work with
Discovery Education to share these STEM learning
resources.
All science experiments currently on the website are made in
partnership with The Bakken Museum and Scientific American. Be sure
to look out for 10 new videos to be added to the Science at Home
website this year. Examples of current experiments include:
- Make your own Lava Lamp with 3M
Scientist, Theresa Whiting, uses
everyday kitchen items to illustrate how polarity and general
chemistry can create an at-home lava lamp experience without a heat
source.
- Tune up your Rubber Band Guitar with educator, Michael Bonner, challenges kids to build their
own guitar with cardboard and rubber bands to learn about pitch,
frequency, and why we hear sound.
- Make your own Cotton-ball Launcher with 3M Scientist, Mike
Lewandowski, breaks down the role of potential and kinetic
energy to see how far kids can launch a cotton ball across a table
using a rubber band and toilet paper roll.
3M has a long history of
supporting and promoting STEM education. In 2020, 3M donated more than $25
million in cash and products to educational initiatives and
more than 78,000 volunteer hours, supporting K-12 programs,
including the "Visiting Wizards" program where 3M scientists demonstrate hands-on science
experiments in classrooms. 3M also
supports programs and initiatives for higher education and educator
and professional development, in addition to granting scholarships
to help students pursue careers in STEM.
In 2020, Science at Home expanded internationally to further
support STEM learning resources to teachers, caregivers, parents,
and students everywhere – including Russia, South
Korea, Mexico, Thailand, South
Africa, and more.
To learn more about 3M Science at
Home, visit 3M.com/scienceathome.
About 3M
At 3M, we
apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily as our
employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more
about 3M's creative solutions to global challenges
at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or
@3MNews.
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