Young Science Groups (Kamatz)
Satisfaction and a sense of success emerge when students with low motivation – but huge potential – study together in a science lab.
KAMATZ, developed by the Davidson Institute of Science Education, assists underprivileged junior high school students, through science education, to tap in to their potential and boost their motivation for learning and the pursuit of excellence. The program consists of weekly three-hour meetings, usually held in local community centers across the country.
Each year a “theme project” is introduced, based on topics that are covered in the science and technology curriculum in middle schools. Each activity consists of two parts: A brief theoretical discussion, presenting the scientific theme and its impact on students’ everyday life, followed by practical work, during which students build a product or a model illustrating the principles of the scientific or technological topic they studied. Students’ learning outcomes and individual or group projects are presented to family members, teachers, instructors, and peers at a graduation ceremony at the end of the school year at the Davidson Institute.
Audience:
Local municipalities and school principals. The program is for students in grades 7 and 8.
Time:
Up to 25 sessions held once a week, for 3-4 hours, from September to April. At the beginning of the school year the program will be presented to parents and educational staff of the schools, the program will end around Passover. Activity dates will be determined in coordination with the invited participants.
Place:
Local community centers or schools.
Price:
Please contact us via email: tamar.levy@weizmann.ac.il
How:
For more information please visit the Hebrew site
More about the program
The Young Science Group consists of 20 students facilitated by two professional instructors trained in a scientific-educational approach guided and supported by the staff of the Davidson Institute of Science Education. We believe this program can have a significant impact on improving students' personal competence and empowerment beyond the study of science and technology in school. We believe promoting the achievements of the students participating in the program may also contribute to raising the achievement in science and technology of all their peers. Running the program at the school is done in coordination and cooperation with the school administration, teaching staff and consultants.