Greater Plymouth Community Center Presents Science Saturdays

The Greater Plymouth Community Center (GPCC), located at 2910 Jolly Road in Plymouth Meeting, will hold new class for youth, called Science Saturdays.

Science Saturdays will take place from April 20 to May 18, and will be geared toward youth in grades 1-3 and 4-6.

“We have some patrons that have been asking about doing a science class and another few that would like something for their children to do on Saturday mornings,” Shawn Mazei, GPCC Recreation Services specialist, said in an e-mail. “So, we combined both ideas and came up with Science Saturdays.”

Plymouth Township resident MaryBeth McGroary will teach the class. McGroary, a GPCC member and a science teacher of 10 years, had helped create the class as she sees a need to develop interests in the sciences and math within youth.

“There is a high demand for math and science skills in the world,” McGroary said in an e-mail. “However, finding places and opportunities to develop these skills can be difficult.”

McGroary said that all the activities will be hands-on:

Examples of such activities for youth participants in grades 1-3:

• Classifying different types of objects

• Plant activities

• Learning about the stars in the sky

• Learning how to measure

• Observing different chemical reactions

Examples of science activities for those in grades 4-6:

• Growing crystals

• Observing different chemical reactions

• Creating an astrolabe for locating stars

• Testing acids and bases

“I am looking forward to teaching this course in the hopes that it will develop a love of science in my students,” McGroary said.

The classes for grades 1-3 will run from 9 – 9:45 a.m.., while grades 4-6 run from 10 – 10:45 a.m.

Prices for the classes are $45 for residents with a GPCC pass, $52 for residents, 55 for non residents with a GPCC pass and $65 for non-residents.

For more information about the Greater Plymouth Community Center Science Saturdays program, visit the Plymouth Whitemarsh Patch calendar listing.