OUR PROGRAMS
Comegys Day School (Elementary-Middle School)
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Comegys fellows, in groups of 3-5 Fellows, lead a weekly science class at Benjamin B Comegys School during normal school hours. Lessons are drawn from the School District of Philadelphia curriculum and make use of inquiry-based science kits, such as FOSS® and STC® kits. Science kit lessons are intended to encourage ‘learning by doing’ about a broad spectrum of scientific topics, from magnetism and electricity to plant growth and development.
Lea Day School (Elementary School)
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LDS Fellows, in groups of 3-5 Fellows, assist teachers in leading a weekly after school Lego-Robotics Program at Lea Day School. The program is geared towards children in grades 3-5 and is designed to stimulate their interest in STEM based robotics projects. Fellows work hand in hand with the two head teachers who run the program in order to assist in lesson planning and help teach the weekly project. Each Fellow is responsible for working directly with about 4-6 children. PSAA Day School Fellows volunteer, on average, for 2-2.5 hours per week at Lea, and an additional 20 minutes on Penn’s campus to review the upcoming week’s lesson plan.
Lea Community School (After School)
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LCS fellows lead interactive science lessons for small groups of students once a week at Henry C. Lea School. Approximately 100 Lea students participate in LCS, an after-school program at Lea that runs from Mondays to Thursdays. Lessons are intended to complement science material covered during the school day and to be fun and engaging. (~3 hours per week total)
Science Leadership Academy
Science Leadership Academy (SLA) is a partnership high school formed through a collaboration between the School District of Philadelphia and the Franklin Institute. Founded in 2006, SLA is an inquiry-driven, project-based high school that uses innovative teaching techniques to prepare its students for success in the 21st century.
SLA Fellows lead interactive science mini-courses for classes of 20 SLA students. PSAA-led classes take place on Wednesday afternoons at the Franklin Institute at 20th St. and Race St.
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Upward Bound
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Upward Bound Fellows lead Saturday teaching sessions. In groups of 4-5, Fellows work with high school students on activities that will supplement their high school science curriculum and help them prepare for college. All Fellows participate in two programs within Upward Bound: Math/Science and Classic. Math/Science lessons are geared towards students interested in career paths in STEM, like preparing for Science Olympiad competitions or learning about how basic microscopy techniques are used in different fields. Classic is focused on college prep science lessons, which supplement curriculum so that students will be prepared for college-level science courses. Both programs focus on ‘learning by doing’ teaching and are based on activities, rather than lectures.
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