In April, five second-year Berkeley students (Lindsey Sano, Molly Vang, Alix Westgaard, Lisa Tang, and Vickie Kuo) visited San Pedro Elementary School in San Rafael to teach two fifth grade classrooms the importance of eye health and wearing glasses. Lead by Dr. Emily Cooper, they are part of the Bay Area Scientists Inspiring Students (BASIS) initiative, which has been involved with K-3 classrooms in the Bay Area for over a decade in Richmond, Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville, and beyond.
When San Pedro Elementary School in San Rafael reached out concerned about the low number of students wearing their glasses, second-year optometry student Vickie Kuo created a classroom presentation and activities, guided by Dr. Angela Shahbazian and Dr. Premilla Banwait, to encourage students to wear their glasses and become interested in eye health. The presentation was also translated to Spanish by second-year Joselyne Calvillo to make the presentation more inclusive.
The lesson began with a hands-on demonstration: optometry students passed out glasses that simulated different eye conditions, like cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration to emphasize the importance of vision in everyday life. Next, they discussed the basic anatomy of the eye and how glasses, optometrists, and eye exams could help. Their goal was to make eye care professionals and eye exams less intimidating and to foster curiosity about the healthcare field, specifically optometry. By discussing the eye’s structure and its functions, then connecting these to everyday practices and hands-on scientific activities, the volunteers aimed to provide a holistic approach to teaching that enhances both health awareness and scientific curiosity.
In a previous article, we highlighted a group of PhD students who have been organizing classroom visits through the Bay Area Scientists Inspiring Students (BASIS) initiative.
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