Science and Social Studies Adventures (SASSAk12) is about bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise from within the community to enhance K-12 education. Whether in their classroom or in the field, our hands-on activities encourage the development of critical thinking skills and offer students innovative inquiry-based approaches for learning complex subjects. These materials are also adaptable to accommodate various learning styles, not just those developed for mainstream settings. We connect researchers with K-12 students to help both sides better understand the relationship between what happens in research and what happens in society. For us, science encompasses different ways diverse people explore and respond to phenomena in our natural and social worlds; social studies is concerned with the implications of these phenomena on past and present human groups. We further emphasize this connection by advocating K-12 participation in original research.
Our Programs
Our emphasis on experiential learning and original research means that SASSAk12 operates both in and out of the classroom. We help students in the Twin Cities fall in love with science and social studies.
Get Involved
Interested in helping students connect science and social studies to their communities and the world around them? If the answer is Yes!, we invite you to explore the following pages to see how you could get involved with SASSAk12.
SASSAk12 Spotlight
We have a lot of exciting things happening at SASSAk12! Take a look around our spotlight for more news and information on our volunteers and our activities within the community and beyond!
“SASSAk12 provided real hands-on learning in an innovative way!”
About Science and Social Studies Adventures
As the brainchild of a university researcher and K-12 educators, SASSAk12 is well-positioned to connect diverse individuals in higher education and research with K-12 schools in the Twin Cities area. SASSAk12 is filling a need within the educational community. In its first four years, SASSAk12 has worked with over 8,000 K-12 students and this number continues to grow.
The primary and most important advantage to our organization is our inclusive spirit and the collaborative nature of the programs. Everyone has a voice; we encourage them to be heard. We recognize the interplay between individual, group, and disciplinary perspectives; thus, we embrace an interdisciplinary approach. We also believe that all participants in our programs, regardless of age and background, can have an impact and we strive to connect our educational materials to issues that are relevant in their lives at local and global scales. Learn more about SASSAk12 →