Learn. Create. Grow.
The Little Hearts Science Crate
An initiative to create a heart-healthy future for kids
A partnership between Danny’s Place UProject and Light on the Heart
>700,000
People die of heart disease in the United States every year
What is the Little Hearts Science Crate?
Sparking a passion for hands-on science in underserved communities of young learners, The Little Hearts Science Crate is a cardiology-based kit for kids with curious minds and a love for science.
Quality education breaks the cycle of poverty, but progress toward this endeavor has been significantly slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Acton, Massachusetts is a relatively affluent town in the New England region, 19% of our town is below the national poverty level. 5,186 students qualify for free or reduced-cost benefits through their income level, resulting in even less access to quality learning materials.
Measuring Impact
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Address economic inequity barrier to education that many people in our community face by making the kits free of cost and accessible to students with fewer resources.
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Learning about the heart at a young age is crucial, as research shows that increased awareness of cardiovascular risk factors greatly reduces the chance of getting such factors when one is older.
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Will expose kids to STEM through hands-on learning and possible pathways to explore in high school and beyond
Kit Distribution
01.
Acton-Boxborough Elementary Schools
02.
AB Resource Center to families of need
03.
Local mosques, churches, and synagogues
04.
Sponsorship organizations, Danny's Place and the Silver Unicorn
05.
Acton Memorial and Sargent Memorial Library
What does it include?
Four hands-on creative activities for kids
01
The Circulation Game
In this game, you will help the blood pick up oxygen from the lungs, and food from the intestines, and deliver them to the individual cells of the body. Construct and color a game board, play with friends, learn about the circulatory system along the way!
03
Modeling the Heart
Use playdough to build your own heart, learn about the parts of the heart, and share with family and friends!
02
Blood Compatability Experiment
Illustrate blood type compatibility. If the color of the “blood” changes, it is incompatible. If the color of the “blood” stays the same, it is compatible. The student will use a research journal to record their observations and hypotheses.
04
Build a stethoscope
Allows student to listen to their heartbeats, and breathing, and learn what’s going on inside their bodies through a simple stethoscope device made of a funnel, plastic tubing, and balloons.
“If you want to change the world, you change the world of a child”
— Patricia Shroeder