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Activities and Events

Calendar

*Note: Family Science Nights will be on a date determined by the district SMILE teachers before December 1st.

Activities & Events

Teachers' Professional Development

Professional development workshops are the foundation of the program structure.  SMILE provides continuous support to the club teachers through professional development workshops, networking, curriculum materials, and equipment. Workshops are conducted three times a year, are led by URI resource faculty and SMILE professional staff.  The workshops provide: hands-on science and math activities, scientific knowledge and curriculum, techniques for integrating math and science, culturally appropriate techniques, computers and technology training.

Weekly Club Meetings

All activities and events revolve around the weekly after school club meetings that take place in each school. Club meetings last 1.5-2 hours and provide fun, integrated math and science activities in a relaxed atmosphere. In each school, the SMILE club has a year round schedule of activities that focus on:

• Hands-on and Engaging Science and Math
• Scientific and Career Exploration Field trips
• College Awareness

District-Wide Family Science Nights

Family Science Nights bring together SMILE students, their families, and community members. Students demonstrate interactive science activities. SMILE personnel inform parents and students about college admissions and student financial aid. The Family Science Night is a wonderful expression of interest and support by parents and community members. Parents have the opportunity to get more involved in their children's education, and see them as competent learners. The children's self esteem soars!

Annual Activities

ELEMENTARY OUTDOOR SCIENCE ADVENTURE

This is a three day adventure at URI Alton Jones Campus for elementary students that focuses on biology and environmental science. Every year, URI offers a Spring course for 25 college students interested in mentoring and teaching science. They develop activities for elementary students that integrate science and math and develop an appreciation for the natural environment. During the weekend, these college students act as teachers, counselors, and mentors and stay at Alton Jones with the elementary SMILE students.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGINEERING CHALLENGE WEEKEND

The Engineering Challenge Weekend brings together middle school students and teachers from all the participating school districts at the University of Rhode Island. The students work in teams with URI student and faculty mentors as well as volunteers from local corporations to design, build and test an engineering project.   Students also tour the campus, visit labs, and learn about college admission procedures and financial aid availability.

CHECK OUT THE 2009 CHALLENGE ON YouTube

HIGH SCHOOL CHALLENGE WEEKEND

This is a two-day overnight experience of science exploration and problem solving held at the URI Kingston campus. Students work in teams to master real life science problems using scientific principles. They are guided by student, scientist, and professional mentors who help them develop new skills, identify the problem, collect and analyze data, and create an effective presentation. Students also tour the URI campus and learn about college admissions.

CHECK OUT THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE 2010 CHALLENGE

High School Challenge Article

Contact Information

The SMILE Program
University of Rhode Island
305 Memorial Union
Kingston, RI 02881

p. 401.874.2036
f. 401.874.2620

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