Bringing hope and courage through science education

Because pediatric patients sometimes require long hospital stays, they often miss school or lack social interaction with peers. Days full of procedures can push play to the sidelines. This can lead to a sense of isolation and sadness. That’s where the global nonprofit, TEACH, which stands for Together Educating All Children in Hospitals, has stepped in.

For the past seven years, undergraduates and medical students from 15 universities have volunteered in about 30 hospitals worldwide to bring engaging, hands-on educational programming to hospitalized children, sparking their interest in science and natural phenomena. And perhaps most importantly, they’ve lifted the spirits and confidence of thousands of sick children.

Last year, TEACH was the recipient of a $2,500 STEM Action Grant, which they’re using to expand programming to hospitals in Maryland and Michigan, as well as supplies in current branches. Since its inception, TEACH has reached more than 3,400 children, with over 700 served in 2019 alone.

TEACH modules are creative and interactive, with activities ranging from playing with silly putty to learn about polymers, to building bridges out of gumdrops, to using lava lamps to exhibit density or creating paintings out of salt. The activities are crafted to ignite kids’ STEM imagination. The modules come with one-page manuals, instructions, illustrations and resources. The experiments and activities, which are both developed and led by the volunteers, impart STEM concepts suited for children ages 3-21 in both inpatient and outpatient settings. They include two module activities at all of their events; one tailored to elementary- age children, the other for teenagers.

Isaac Snyder, TEACH Executive Director and student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, shared that it’s heartwarming to watch the older teenage patients help the younger patients with some of the more advanced activities, such as engineering experiments. TEACH expands experiences beyond the typical coloring books, movies or games on a tablet. According to Isaac, this is an opportunity to teach kids about how science applies to their own illnesses. Besides inspiring kids to see science in a new light, the modules help kids understand the diseases that are putting them in the hospital.

“This can alleviate their fears and help them to have a positive attitude towards science,” Isaac explained. Sharing the example of using a sickle cell module to explain the disease to a sick child, Isaac said, “Play-Doh and clear plastic tubing are used to explain what happens with sickle cell disease and how it causes a sickle crisis in these children.”

Isaac knows TEACH can inspire volunteers to pursue medicine. Though he started out as just a volunteer, Isaac was eventually inspired to pursue medicine and make a difference in the lives of pediatric patients. The organization welcomes student volunteers to create modules as well as test and implement them in hospitals.

Watching the sick patients light up while completing the TEACH modules definitely inspires the motivation of the volunteers. Isaac shared an anecdote about a child who tried to run away from the hospital the day before one of the first times he volunteered. Knowing the child had tried to run away, Isaac taught the module by the child’s bed.

“I was able to get him to come out from under the covers, and he enjoyed the experiment so much that he wound up not letting the staff take it away from his bed all day!” Isaac explained. “I truly believe that the joy TEACH brings to the children, helps them to have better outcomes medically.”  

Jared Silverberg, the president of TEACH’s University of Michigan branch, echoed Isaac’s assessment. “We had a young boy who was at the module I ran in January. While seeing him still in the hospital was disappointing, watching him get messy, have fun and shift his attention away from the other daily events he experiences in the hospital for a brief period at our module just made the entire day so worthwhile and rewarding!”

When the Society asked Isaac what he’s witnessed in the patients’ emotional state and spirit as they engaged in TEACH’s programs, he shared: “The feedback we received from one of our volunteers a few years back sums up this question the best— the parents told the volunteer that this was the first time their child had smiled in days, and they were so relieved.”

Interested in volunteering or getting involved with TEACH? Find out more here.