The document describes ScienceDemo, a program that allows LSU science students to earn extra credit by sharing science demonstrations with K-12 students. Students can choose from various demos, coordinate with a school, practice their presentation, and check out a demo kit. The 12-step process provides tips for effective demonstrations, including preparing thoroughly, practicing safety, engaging students, and getting feedback. The goal is for LSU students to improve their skills while inspiring younger students about science.

1. ScienceDemo
www.lsu.edu/ScienceDemo
CHEMISTRY ● GEOLOGY ● CxC ● CCELL ● CAS

2. What is ScienceDemo?
A unique opportunity for you to:
• earn extra credit in your course
• better understand science concepts
• improve your communication skills and
learning strategies
• work with the community by sharing
science with K-12 students

3. Learning Support Resources
College of
Science
Science
Knowledge
YOU CCELL K-12
Partnerships
LSU Science
Students
CxC CAS
Oral & Visual Learning &
Presentation Teaching Styles
Skills

4. How to do ScienceDemo
1. Complete pre-survey
2. Attend orientation

5. How to do ScienceDemo
1. Complete pre-survey
2. Attend orientation

6. How to do ScienceDemo
1. Complete pre-survey
2. Attend orientation
3. Select a demo
www.lsu.edu/sciencedemo

7. How to do ScienceDemo
1. Complete pre-survey
2. Attend orientation
3. Select a demo
4. Coordinate with a K-12 partner

8. GEOLOGY CHEMISTRY
9th–12th grade partners K–12th grade partners
Select from binder in Select any school
151 Coates Hall
Some school listings are
available in 614 Choppin Hall
See EBR Parish School
website for more contacts
*Be sure to consider your class schedule, your
K-12 partner’s class time, and location of school

9. Check with your K-12
school for their
testing and holiday
schedules.

10. How to do ScienceDemo
1. Complete pre-survey
2. Attend orientation
3. Select a demo
4. Coordinate with a K-12 partner
5. Reserve demo kit
www.lsu.edu/sciencedemo

11. How to do ScienceDemo
1. Complete pre-survey
2. Attend orientation
3. Select a demo
4. Coordinate with a K-12 partner
5. Reserve demo kit
6. Plan, prepare, & practice

12. TALK WITH YOUR
K-12 TEACHER about what the
students know about your demo topic .
Doing that simple thing helped me know
how much background I needed
to give the students.

13. ScienceDemo Teaching Tips
• Learning aids are good (candy is not an aid)
Consider using
• PowerPoint with clear visuals
• Outline of activities
• Handout to take home
• Poster of process or vocabulary terms
• Maps, movie clips, models
• SHOW and TELL
DEMONSTRATE and EXPLAIN
WHAT HAPPENED and WHY

14. Make sure you meet with the
ScienceDemo TAs. When I met with
them, they helped me PREPARE
and gave me extra pointers on
HOW TO EXPLAIN THE
DEMO TO KIDS.

15. Sensory Preferences
VISUAL AURAL
READ/WRITE KINESTHETIC

16. Interactive learning can
increase
long-term retention
rates 10x!
Passive
Active

17. www.lsu.edu/sciencedemo
• Take the learning
style survey to
determine your
learning
preference
• Incorporate styles
other than your
own for maximum
impact and
engagement

18. I definitely suggest using the
CxC Studio to PRACTICE. They
really helped me improve my
presentation.

19. Plan to. . .
• Arrive early, check in at the main office
• Introduce yourself & the material – create
excitement!
• Explain the science at students’ level
• Be safe and alert in doing the Demo
• Recap – what happened & why?
• Finish strong!
• Clean up Always be
• Follow up aware of the time!

20. UNDERSTAND YOUR DEMO
so you can answer questions from
your K-12 teacher and students
about the science. But if you don’t
know the answer, admit it.

21. I assumed everything would just
work out…don’t do that!
THINK THROUGH EVERY
STEP AND BE PREPARED
for something to go wrong or for
something to change.

22. PRACTICE THE EXPERIMENT
BEFORE you go to the class. I
practiced my presentation but did not
practice the experiment and a few
things went wrong that could have
easily been avoided with proper prep.

23. How to do ScienceDemo
1. Complete pre-survey
2. Attend orientation
3. Select a demo
4. Coordinate with a K-12 partner
5. Reserve demo kit
6. Plan, prep & practice
7. Complete travel form
www.lsu.edu/sciencedemo

24. How to do ScienceDemo
1. Complete pre-survey
2. Attend orientation
3. Select a demo
4. Coordinate with a K-12 partner
5. Reserve demo kit
6. Plan, prep & practice
7. Complete travel form
8. Pick up demo kit

25. GEOLOGY CHEMISTRY
You will receive an email You will receive an email
confirmation with pick-up confirmation with pick-up
details details
Pick up in Pick up in
151 Coates Hall 609 Choppin Hall
Materials will likely NOT fit in your backpack & may be heavy.
Plan accordingly!

26. How to do ScienceDemo
1. Complete pre-survey
2. Attend orientation
3. Select a demo
4. Coordinate with a K-12 partner
5. Reserve demo kit
6. Plan, prep & practice
7. Complete travel form
8. Pick up demo kit
9. Do your demo!

27. Safety First!
• Use safety equipment
• Follow guidelines in lesson plans
• Warn students in advance of any safety
precautions or dangers
Safety: Students should wear safety glasses. Most chemicals used are dilute
(except for the 1 M NaOH) and not particularly dangerous. Needless to say, none
should be consumed (except for the Sprite). If students get any chemicals on their
clothes or skin it can be simply washed off in the bathroom. The sodium
bicarbonate is not dangerous (but should not be consumed) and can be used to
neutralize any vinegar or NaOH solution that gets spilled. The Dry Ice (solid CO2) is
very cold. It can give anyone touching it frostbite relatively quickly. DO NOT LET
THE STUDENTS TOUCH OR PLAY WITH THE DRY ICE! All chemicals, except for the
dry ice, can be safely washed down a bathroom sink.

28. GIVE YOURSELF PLENTY
OF TIME. I didn’t anticipate
traffic or getting lost, and I was so
late that I didn’t have enough time
to do my demo.

29. ScienceDemo Teaching Tips
• Attitude matters!
• Tell the students about yourself & LSU
• Preview, do, review
• Check understanding with open-ended Q’s &
be prepared to explain again
• Respond: good, thank you, interesting (adding
info for correction as needed)
• Be open to comments, questions
• Welcome extended discussions if time permits

30. How to do ScienceDemo
1. Complete pre-survey
2. Attend orientation
3. Select a demo
4. Coordinate with a K-12 partner
5. Reserve demo kit
6. Plan, prep & practice
7. Complete travel form
8. Pick up demo kit
9. Do your demo!
10. Return demo kit

31. How to do ScienceDemo
1. Complete pre-survey
2. Attend orientation
3. Select a demo
4. Coordinate with a K-12 partner
5. Reserve demo kit
6. Plan, prep & practice
7. Complete travel form www.lsu.edu/sciencedemo
8. Pick up demo kit
9. Do your demo!
10. Return demo kit
11. Write your reflection

32. How to do ScienceDemo
1. Complete pre-survey
2. Attend orientation
3. Select a demo
4. Coordinate with a K-12 partner
5. Reserve demo kit
6. Plan, prep & practice
7. Complete travel form
8. Pick up demo kit
9. Do your demo!
10. Return demo kit
11. Write your reflection
12. Complete post-survey

33. How to do ScienceDemo
1. Complete pre-survey
2. Attend orientation
3. Select a demo
4. Coordinate with a K-12 partner
5. Reserve demo kit
6. Plan, prep & practice
7. Complete travel form
8. Pick up demo kit
9. Do your demo!
10. Return demo kit
11. Write your reflection
12. Complete post-survey

34. ScienceDemo was a great experience!
Everything I needed to prepare for
teaching was readily available. Tell
other students to USE THE
WEBSITE, CHECK THEIR EMAIL
REGULARLY, AND TALK WITH
THE SCIENCEDEMO STAFF.

35. I definitely suggest using
the CxC Studio.

36. ScienceDemo was A LOT OF
FUN! It made this class much
more enjoyable , and I’m glad I
did it. I would tell future
students to do it too!

37. ScienceDemo
www.lsu.edu/ScienceDemo
CHEMISTRY ● GEOLOGY ● CxC ● CCELL ● CAS