Elementary School Students Get a College Lesson

More than 500 first-, second-, and third-graders from Buffalo Public School 39 Martin Luther King and School 45 International School are attending “I Am College Bound” at Buffalo State during March and April.

Buffalo Public Schools and Buffalo State are working together to make college graduation a goal for these young students.

“We want children to be thinking about college as early as possible,” said John Siskar, director of the Center for Excellence in Urban and Rural Education (CEURE). “Research shows that children who are aware of college at an early age are much more likely to earn a college degree.”

Program in Its Second Year
The project is in its second year. In 2011, just first- and second-graders came. “The principals, teachers, and parents wanted to increase grade-level participation,” said Allison Turley, project director with CEURE. “They wish, as we do, to expand the program to include students from grade levels 1 through 8 over the next two years. We feel that continuing to support the students through middle school will provide them with a greater chance of achieving success."

Last year, parents reported that children who attended talked more about college and the importance of working hard. The teachers, too, were enthusiastic. “I was amazed at the excitement the children expressed,” said one. Another said, “The students are excited to be in a college.”

Science = Excitement
Part of the excitement comes from the activities, which are science-based. This year, three of Buffalo State’s participating professors—Kevin Williams, assistant professor, and Joseph Zawicki, associate professor, both of earth sciences and science education, and David Henry, associate professor of elementary ed and reading—met with the youngsters’ teachers to make sure that the college presentations match the teachers’ curricula.

Lessons for the second-graders include explaining why some things sink while others float. They will also visit the Burchfield Penney Art Center for a lesson about weather.

In one of the labs in the Physics Department, department chair and professor Mike DeMarco will use liquid nitrogen to show third-graders how very cold temperatures can change materials. Another hands-on activity will involve electricity—and sparks! A third will use motion sensors to show children how a computer graphs their movements and speed.

The first-graders visited the college’s Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium, where Williams, the planetarium director, pointed out how some stars make the shapes of animals. He also showed the effects of light pollution. Third-graders will visit the planetarium and learn about why we have day and night.

The visit will include tours of the campus, E. H. Butler Library, classrooms, and labs. “Our goal is to show the children what college is all about,” explained Siskar. “It’s different from grade school. They become excited about the different programs, living arrangements, and food choices. Most importantly, they see that college is a place where they would be welcomed.”

Lunch with a Bengal
College is also a chance to play sports, and members of several Bengal teams will put on their jerseys and have lunch with the children. “Our student athletes love talking to the kids,” said Jerry Boyes, director of intercollegiate athletics. “When they see how much the little kids look up to them, our students realize, ‘Hey, maybe I really am a role model.’”

“Our teachers discuss the importance of attending college regularly,” said one of the principals whose school was involved last year. “However, it is one thing to talk about college; it’s another thing to actually experience college.”

That experience makes all the difference, Siskar agrees. “We give each student an ID card that says ‘I Am College Bound,’” he said. “We hope they hold onto it until the day they have their own college ID.”