Physics Outreach Program Teaches Young Kids to Love Science

Fresno State Physics Professor Don Williams is on a mission to promote the importance of science, by getting young students interested in the topic at an early age. Williams teaches a physics outreach course at Fresno State, where he takes his students to visit various elementary schools every Friday to teach physics.

Last Friday, they visited Cedarwood Elementary School and taught kindergarteners about science. Williams and his students brought a bed of nails, a spinning chair, and different materials to present basic concepts in physics.

Fresno State student Michael Muniz is in this course because plans to become a science teacher once he graduates. This course has created many memorable experiences for him as he continues to learn to create lessons that present science topics in a fun and interesting way.

“And it isn’t hard,” Muniz says. “It’s actually a really, really cool thing. And through our presentations, the kids are really learning that.”

Williams said the idea to get kids interested in learning is by getting them excited about science.

“Then I also teach them,” Williams says. “Let the kids touch it, feel it, taste it, do it, step on it, do that. Don’t look at on TV or a little box right? Actually touch it, feel it, because that’s what physics is about. It’s about the world.”

Williams is a hands-on professor. He said he has implemented hands-on techniques for more than 45 years when teaching. In the kindergarten class, he encouraged the kids to lie on the bed of nails and to volunteer during the presentation.

Interaction and experiencing new things are key in every child’s education. The kids were laughing, excited and quickly lost their fear about science after trying it out first hand.