Creative Arts & Sciences is the enrichment program run by the Newton Public Schools for elementary and middle schools. For more than two decades, CA&S has brought a wide range of engaging presentations to Newton classrooms, funded solely by each school’s PTO. CA&S, working closely with PTO volunteers from each school, carefully vets the presenters to ensure that their topics are relevant, aligned with curricula, interesting, and grade-appropriate — and that the presenters are able to manage well in a classroom.
Cheryl Nelson, director of CA&S, reports that approximately one-third of the CA&S programs that schools book are STEM-related. Each is targeted at a specific grade level. Here is a sampling:
| Explore the Ocean World Honeybees and the Art of Keeping Bees The Tree Canopy Guy Insects and Other Small Creatures North American Birds of Prey Connections Between Climate and Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, and Volcanoes Engineers Teaching Algebra The Earth’s Biological Legacy |
Bugworks Eyes on Owls Fruits and Seeds Geodome Workshop Origami Simple Machines Starlab Insect Friends Circuits and Electricity Levers and Catapults |
Eric Olson, a NewtonSTEM board member and Brandeis professor, is a CA&S presenter and says that even with his busy schedule, he makes sure to respond to CA&S requests for classroom visits each year because “it’s important work and it’s such an honor to teach in our amazing public schools.”
CA&S is welcomes recommendations for new programs and inquiries from potential volunteers. Contact Cheryl Nelson at 617-559-6152 or cheryl_nelson@newton.k12.ma.us.