Connecticut’s BioBus Visits Fraser-Woods

By Susan Coney

The students at Fraser-Woods School were treated to a visit from the Connecticut BioBus, which offers educational programs enabling students to individually complete two-hour, inquiry-based, hands-on bioscience experiments. All of the experiments offered by the BioBus align with Connecticut’s curriculum goals and standards for students attending kindergarten through the twelfth grade.

Rebecca Wood, science coordinator for the middle school at Fraser-Woods, said that there is a two- to three-year waiting list for the BioBus. She said the staff and children from the school were thrilled to have Donna Rhoads-Frost, director of BioBus Educational Programs, visit their school for two days last week, providing the students in grades four through eight with the opportunity to try several hands-on experiments.

While at the school Ms Frost presented students with experiments ranging from DNA fingerprinting to an enzyme test used to detect Lyme disease. Experiments selected are age appropriate for the students participating in the workshop.

Fourth grader Chloe Janesky said, “We were detectives. We worked with agarose gel and 1XTAE, which is a very strong, salty vinegar, and electricity to find the real Mona Lisa painting. It was a lot of fun.”

Chris Clapis, an eighth grader at Fraser-Woods said, “The BioBus is one of life’s rare experiences that is fun and educational at the same time. It’s truly unforgettable.”

Eighth grade students Isabel Levy-Nance and Dana Whaley enjoyed working together as partners on the DNA fingerprinting experiment. Dana said, “I like the hands-on of the experiment. It makes it really fun.” Her science lab partner Isabel remarked, “It’s fun to find out about how DNA works. We get to do the experiments ourselves.”

Ms Wood said that the lessons provided by the BioBus visit were a hit with the students. “They were really great and the kids that participated recalled and remembered the information. It was very productive.”

The BioBus was originally launched in September 2001. The goal for the program is to provide more exposure to students in all types of school settings with more advanced, hands-on science opportunities.