Get involved with ECO!
Find stuff out on FINDING STUFF OUT, a new kid's show on Fridays at 5:30 p.m. on TVO. SiS is the content supervisor for this cool science and tech show. Check it out!
Are you interested in having a 'Science Day' at your school? Contact us to get it organized!
Give your Parent Council the SiS experience! Contact us for a hands-on presentation that will highlight the benefits of bringing SiS into the classroom!
Professional Development for Teachers! Contact us to set up a Lunch N' Learn or afterschool training opportunity.
Powerful Teacher Resources!
Use these resources for your 'energy' based lesson plans:
- 2012 International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
- Green Fuels
- Natural Resources Canada
- Energy Kids
- Energy Labs
- Energy Matters
- Energy Quest
- Find resources for other science and technology strands here.
WELCOME TO SiS EAST CENTRAL ONTARIO!
Serving Toronto, Durham, York, Peterborough and the Kawarthas, Northumberland, Victoria, Clarington, Simcoe County and the surrounding area.
ECO is the founding and largest branch of Scientists in School. Our innovative approach to science education has been inspiring children in our region since 1989. In 2010-11, our 200 presenters delivered more than 15,000 hands-on workshops both in classrooms and at community events in our region - reaching more than 400,000 junior scientists. We are dedicated to providing teachers, students, and parents with an excellent classroom experience, professional and courteous communication, and award-winning customer service. If you have a favourite presenter or two, please don't hesitate to request them!
We love re-connecting with you.
Foster an understanding of the importance of sustainable energy and get a chance to win!
The United Nations has declared 2012 - The International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. To mark this recognition of the critical role energy plays in our lives, we are offering you a chance to win a free workshop.
Energy issues are at the forefront of global change and opportunity. Access to energy transforms societies and lives. Sustainable energy is essential for strengthening economies, protecting ecosystems, and achieving equity.
Help celebrate The International Year of Sustainable Energy for All and prepare your students for the critical role sustainable energy will play in their future by hosting one of these featured energy workshops in your classroom.
ENERGY MAKES IT HAPPEN
(Grade 1, Matter and Energy)
Investigate the power of the sun as you explore the impact energy has on our daily lives! Make a bubble grow using heat as you investigate thermal energy. Build a class circuit to make light and sound. Discover what dinosaurs and your car have in common. Uncover your inner Picasso and create abstract paintings using solar power!
ENERGY: THE POWER TO CHANGE
(Grade 5, Earth and Space Systems)
Be inspired to embrace energy conservation! Discover where energy comes from, different forms of energy and how energy is transferred or transformed. Identify energy stored in household objects, investigate how to launch a ping pong ball into space and discover how the energy in your body can power wind-up toys. Explore how changing your light bulbs and adding insulation can save energy. Experiment with solar panels and use one to play a tune!
ELECTRICITY: GET CHARGED
(Grade 6, Matter and Energy)
Step into the physics lab and build a human battery! Explore the nature of electricity, its generation and use. Investigate how static electricity makes objects move. Design and build circuits and learn how a house is wired. Test conductors, insulators and switches. Explore electromagnets, simple motors and use your own energy to power a generator.
HOT STUFF!
(Grade 7, Earth and Space Systems)
Join our Research and Development team at the 'SiS Toy Company'. Challenge yourself to discover the secret workings behind a candle-powered putt-putt boat. Analyze how conduction, convection and radiation work together to propel these boats. Investigate how the particle theory explains changes in state, the properties of matter and how energy transformations keep things moving!
Submit your booking request for one of these four energy workshops and you will be automatically entered into a drawing for a complimentary workshop of your choice. Two complimentary workshops will be awarded.
The Power Of Partnership
The support of local community and corporate partners is vital to SiS's program in East Central Ontario. On a regular basis, we'll profile some of these partners who help make our program a success. Thank you!
Partner Spotlight
Since 1997, Toyota Canada and the Toyota Canada Foundation have been the key partners of Scientists in School, ensuring the success of our program. Toyota has fueled SiS's growth from a grassroots outreach project to a dynamic charitable organization reaching close to 600,000 children and youth each year. SiS is grateful for Toyota's unwavering support and enthusiasm and looks forward to continued success as we work together to 'spark' scientific curiosity in children across Canada.
Our sincerest thanks are also extended to our other regional supporters including:
- TD Friends of the Environment Foundation - Barrie, Durham, Etobicoke, Lake Simcoe, Markham/Stouffville/Agincourt, Northern York, Southern York, Scarborough/East York and Toronto/North York chapters.
- Cameco Corporation
- Ontario Power Generation - Darlington and Pickering Nuclear
- RBC Foundation
- Hydro One
- Energizer Canada
- Pfizer
- Imperial Oil Foundation
- Canadian Nuclear Society
- Huronia Community Foundation
- Veridian
- Purdue Pharma
- Eli Lilly Canada
- Optimist Club of Ajax
- Women's Association of the Mining Industry of Canada
- Durham Community Foundation
We love connecting with you!
Scientists in School -
East Central Ontario Region
103 - 92 Church Street South
Ajax, Ontario L1S 6B4
T: 905-426-3434 or
1-866-678-3434
F: 905-426-4996
E: eco@scientistsinschool.ca
Your opinion is important to us!
Have you participated in a workshop lately? Do you have any comments about our program? SiS continually strives to improve our workshops and your feedback is invaluable!
Please share your thoughts in this short, online survey.
WE INSPIRE EXCITEMENT FOR SCIENCE
DID YOU KNOW ...
Last year, Kindergarten scientists planted 6780 Eastern White Pine tree seeds in 'Young Friends of the Earth'. Mature White Pine trees are known to live for up to 250 years
"Scientists in School is a wonderful program for young learners. The topics support the science, language and math curriculum. The hands-on activities are fun, meaningful and support all learning modalities. Students get to try scientific equipment and further their learning in a wide array of topics. The activities foster mathematical thinking, creativity, inquiry, team building and collaboration, reading/writing skills and appreciating the environment! The program is so interactive, children can't wait to get started!"
- Kindergarten teacher, Central Park Public School, YRDSB
DID YOU KNOW ...
In 2011, 19,225 Grade 1 scientists used solar power to create an original work of art in 'Energy Makes It Happen'. Art and Science are the perfect partners for developing creativity and lateral thinking.
"The 'Energy Makes It Happen' workshop was engaging and thorough. Through hands-on activities, students gained concrete, enduring understanding of the concepts. After the workshop, they clearly articulated what renewable and non-renewable energy sources are and why we should be using more renewable sources. They also identified ways to conserve at home and at school! I found the workshop a great development opportunity and came away with a bank of hands-on lessons I can use!"
- Grade 1 teacher, George Webster ES, TDSB
DID YOU KNOW ...
Grade 5 scientists tested the efficiency of 1752 insulated houses in 'Energy: The Power to Change' last year. Better insulation of buildings has been shown to reduce CO2 emissions, making insulation a key climate technology.
"The activities in this workshop were appropriate and equipped beyond what we have in the school. The content was appropriate and at a deep level with factual information as well as a high level of scientific method and critical thinking."
- Grade 5 teacher, Bayview Glen School, Toronto
DID YOU KNOW ...
In 2011, our 'Hot Stuff' workshop challenged over 4200 Grade 7 students to research energy transformations while working for the SiS Toy Company. Understanding energy transformations is key to the development of energy efficiencies.
"'Hot Stuff!' is an excellent workshop for an intermediate classroom! The content was curriculum-focused, taught us high level scientific vocabulary and expanded our understanding of scientific concepts. Each student was able to actively participate in all experiments - we loved the candle-powered boats and scientific equipment! The additional resources provided helped sum up key concepts extracted from our observations while other activities and websites increased our interest in science. You made science "HOT" for us!"
- Grade 7 teacher, St. Teresa Catholic School, DCDSB
DID YOU KNOW ...
Ben Franklin started working with electricity in the 1740s and performed his famous kite experiment in 1752. This year, Grade 6 students will design and build over 47,040 circuits while participating in our 'Electricity: Get Charged' workshop.
"SiS came to my class for the first time and I am still wondering what I ever did without them! The booking process was simple, my presenter extremely accommodating. The workshop was everything I hoped it would be and more - informative, organized and constantly engaging with meaningful, hands-on experiments! The presenter was very experienced and showed an invaluable enthusiasm that kept the kids energized. An energy she also knew how to manage! Thank you ... and see you next year!"
- Grade 6 teacher, Lester B Pearson Public School, TDSB