Eastman Dental’s Pediatric Dentistry residents, hygienists, and social workers helped children make plaster casts of their thumbs, watch bacteria swim through a microscope, and use a giant toothbrush to practice good brushing techniques at the recent Family Science Day at the Rochester Public Library Arnett Branch.
Using hands-on experiments with professional scientists geared toward families with young children, Family Science Day uses science and literacy to encourage parent involvement in learning at home. Volunteers guided children through simple experiments and related literature to teach them about germs, nutrition, oral hygiene, and slime.
“Families were excited to receive hygiene supplies and informational material about oral health care services available at Eastman Dental,” said EIOH Social Worker Lenora A. Colaruotolo. She and Eastman Dental’s Pediatric Dental clinic organized a variety of fun and educational activities designed to engage the interest and curiosity of young children. “We had a lot of fun and look forward to participating in future Science Days.”
Family Science Day is sponsored by the Rochester Literacy Movement, the Rochester Preschool Parent Program and the Rochester Public Library. The EIOH volunteer team included Doctors Ritu Shah, Erin Shope, and Anthony Colaruotolo, hygienist Mary Montanarella, social work representatives Elise Linke-Judge and Lenora A. Colaruotolo, along with medical student and microscope expert Peter Creigh.
Making science fun for kids, as with most forms of academic teaching, is a key component to help them learn.
Awesome! This post is really inspiring especially to dentists like us. It’s good to do programs like this. This will really help the kids to learn to take care of their teeth at their young age when their teeth are more prone to caries.