Just Me and You ... and a Whole Community down by the Stream

The dread of summer learning loss that students experience make the approaching months of summer bittersweet. Although teachers may not be able to guarantee that students retain the specifics of their science lessons, they can begin taking steps now that can help science inquiry remain at the forefront of their minds during the break. A year-long science club can plant seeds of fascination with the children's surroundings that continue to foster their development as young scientists long after the final bell on the last day of school. This article discusses how a science club teaches students about their local environment while instilling positive ideas about science. Tips for starting a science club are also offered. (Contains 1 figure and 4 online resources.)