In
1980, Jane Hoffman, The Backyard Scientist launched the Backyard Scientist
program to teach young children complex concepts in chemistry and physics,
using simple to do, fun and interesting, easily repeated hands-on experiments.
These children were as young as 4 years old. The program was an immediate
success drawing the attention of the national press. No one, including most
schools were doing hands-on science in the early grades as Jane was doing.
Jane Hoffman seems to have been one of the pioneers in this area of education.
Her activities then and today turn children onto science. In fact, mothers
have contacted Jane over the years saying their children hated science until
they began using the Backyard Scientist hands-on methods and materials. Many
of these youngsters have become scientists and engineers. A lot these were
girls.
Today, Jane concentrates her activities on teaching teachers and parents how to teach science to their students. The impact of working with many teachers and parents is far greater than working with like numbers of students.
The Backyard Scientist teacher inservices get rave reviews from new teachers and those teachers who have been in the classroom for many years. These inservices are high energy, filled with learning and fun too. No watching a bunch of overheads or listening to lectures. Teachers learn science concepts and her methods and materials by doing the very same experiments they will have their students do in the classroom. It takes 20 man-hours to setup for a day-long inservice. That will give you an indication of how hands-on these really are. Teachers appreciate that most supplies come from the grocery store or discount store.
Administrators like the program because it is so cost effective. They also like the fact that it is quickly and easily implemented and the teachers use what they learn for years to come. Much has been written about this program in the educational press.
Here is a partial list of school districts that have benefited from the Backyard Scientist program. Some have had Jane return several times to teach and motivate more of their teachers.
Jane is a sought-after speaker at educational conferences. Here is a partial list of conferences at which Jane has spoken and shared her knowledge and enthusiasm for hands-on science:
•
Began activities in 1980 
Back in 1980 when all of this began, Mary Kohleman who was the Director of Education at the National Science Foundation used some of Jane's materials at several Washington DC schools. She did these with groups of students numbering as many as 100. Reports from Mary said the children were very successful, learned a lot, and loved learning science this way. Mary has since retired from the Foundation. She gave a lot of the encouragement that she needed in those early years of the Backyard Scientist program.