PEF Expands Hands-on Science Program to Elementary Schools
Updated: Aug 24
As part of its mission to ensure that students in the Pacifica School District (PSD) receive a high-quality science education, the Pacifica Education Foundation (PEF) has expanded its partnership with Science from Scientists (SciSci) to include students in the 3rd, 4th and 5th grades at all five elementary schools in the district. PEF will also continue its support for SciSci for sixth graders at Cabrillo School and at IBL to experience this award-winning experiential STEM program.
SciSci is an award-winning national nonprofit dedicated to inspiring students to identify and solve real-world problems through improved STEM literacy. The organization’s innovative program brings real scientists into classrooms to deliver engaging, hands-on STEM lessons during the school day. Each Scientist Educator receives specialized training to connect effectively with students, making science and engineering accessible, relevant, and achievable for all.
PEF's funding for SciSci, coupled with continued funding from IBL Middle School and its PTO, mean that starting in the 2026 - 27 school year, all students from the 3rd to 8th grades at all six PSD schools will get bi-weekly visits from SciSci's scientists throughout the year, providing them with hands-on learning through curriculum-aligned experiments in a host of STEM disciplines, from marine biology to chemistry to engineering and more. Additionally, Science from Scientists covers approximately half of the cost of running the program through donations and grants from its own network of supporters.
In October, the PEF team had the opportunity to observe SciSci in action at IBL. It was fantastic to see how enthusiastic and engaged the students were — and how skillfully the two SciSci scientists delivered the lesson. When the students entered the classroom and saw the scientists, they greeted them with an excited chorus of “You’re back!” eager to welcome Dr. Esther and Dr. Mariliz for another hands-on experience.
That day’s lesson focused on process engineering. What could have been a dry topic about documenting processes was transformed into a lively, interactive activity. Students built unique LEGO structures, documented each step, and then exchanged instructions with a partner, who attempted to recreate the design based solely on those written directions.
Throughout the hour, students were highly engaged, with hands raised to share observations and ideas. They left understanding that process engineering is essential because it transforms raw materials into useful products safely, efficiently, and sustainably.
You can see more of the photos from our visit below and learn more about SciSci here.
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