Christine Rains

Christine Rains, co-owner and instructor of Quest in Science, is an experienced teacher who brings
science to life for her students and creates a fun classroom atmosphere by promoting questions and
discussion. Christine earned a bachelor’s degree in Physics from Scripps College in Claremont, CA (where
she became life-long friends with fellow Physics student and Huckleberry teacher Debbie Walker!) and a
master’s degree in Geophysics from California State University, Northridge. She also has a bachelor’s
degree in Music Performance from CSUN. She has been teaching elementary through college for many
years, and currently teaches physics and astronomy at several local community colleges. She also spent
several years working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, on the REASON instrument
on the Europa Clipper spacecraft that is heading to Jupiter’s moon, Europa. She has been working with
Quest in Science since the early 2000’s teaching hands-on science to elementary school children
throughout Los Angeles and became co-owner in 2011. In 2018, she welcomed her good friend and
colleague Debbie Walker onto the Quest team as co-owner. At Quest in Science, we are passionate
about providing quality science education to young learners. Quest in Science lessons encourage
students to observe, measure, collect and analyze data, make hypotheses, and draw conclusions. Hands-
on science to us means teaching based on activities that engage a student’s mind and hands to make
science fun, interesting, exciting, and challenging. Christine Rains is excited to bring Quest in Science to
the students and families of Huckleberry Center for Creative Studies and looks forward to a great year!

Science Explorers

Age: 6-9

Homework: Occasional

Type of Class: Students that attend this class and do the homework do not need to do additional learning outside of the class to learn this subject.

PreReqs: Should be able to read and write to be successful in this class. If your child is just learning these skills, please let us know so that we can provide accommodations.

Science Explorers will study 9 different science topics over 3 years, so your student can remain in this hands-on science experience for 3 years, and then graduate into our Science Investigators class for another 9 science topics taught over 3 years!

Each term will focus on a different aspect of science: Fall term – physical science, Winter term – earth science, and Spring term – biological science.

Fall 2025: Measure that Matter

Ice cream, liquid layer cakes, and bubbles are just the beginning of this exciting science class! We will engage in fun activities to explore matter in the solid, liquid and gas phases. We will make observations, ask questions, and conduct experiments to gain a better understanding of matter and the process of phase changes. We will combine different substances to create mixtures and new types of matter. We will also learn how to use science tools so that we can successfully measure our observations. This hands-on class will be both enjoyable and educational!

Winter 2026: Rockhounds

Where do rocks come from? Where do they go? What are rocks made of? How do we describe and classify rocks? Where can we find rocks on Earth? In this course, students become rockhounds to tackle these questions and more! We investigate the layers of the earth and learn how to read maps using scales and legends. Students observe and manipulate a large variety of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. They describe and then classify them according to their properties. Students observe a sediment cylinder and find the layers and the sediments in the cylinder. Using sand, shells, and rocks, students make their own sediment. Students dissolve and create crystals and observe different crystal shapes in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. They learn the different ways that fossils can form and create their own simulated fossil. Students will learn about soil and test the properties of soil, sand, and rocks. They study how water, wind and ice affect rocks and create different landforms. Each day, our busy rockhounds work together in small lab groups to perform experiments and make observations. They maintain a record of our adventures together so they will never forget how to be a rockhound!

Spring 2026: Biomes and Insects:

This spring quarter, Quest in Science offers the exciting hands-on learning science course, Biomes and Insects. This is a two-part course that first emphasizes a broad look at biomes and explores the relationship between the physical environment and animal survival. The second half offers a more specific study of adaptations as we investigate the world through the eyes and mouths of insects. We learn how to correctly identify an insect by examining various characteristics and investigate the many benefits insects provide. With this course, we hope to provide not only a greater understanding of our living world but a greater appreciation for it as well. Some of the fun, hands-on activities that the students will enjoy this quarter are beaver dress-up day, blubber hands, kaleidoscope bug- goggles, mealworm adoption and much, much more!

Previous Classes!

Fall 2024 : Light and Energy

In our class, Light and Energy, students will become energy experts by understanding that energy is responsible for all movement and change in our world. We will explore the many forms of energy: heat, mechanical, electrical, chemical, sound, solar, and light. We will concentrate the second half of the trimester on Light energy. We will study how it travels, reflects, and bends. Also, students will learn how the eye sees light by learning the various parts of the eye and their purpose. Some of the many projects the class will include are: creating roller coaster tracts to show change in potential and kinetic energy, racing solar cars to convert sun’s energy to mechanical energy, making pinhole cameras to demonstrate how light travels, building kaleidoscopes to show how light reflects and many more fun scientific experiments.

Winter 2025: Weather Systems

This winter session, our student scientists will study the world’s weather in the Quest in Science course, Weather Watch! They will investigate winds, the four seasons, the water cycle, clouds, air pressure, greenhouse effects, and all the wild weather we experience around the world. Students will keep their own weather calendar. Our student scientists will learn about various weather situations with hands-on lessons including tornado tubes, season wheels, hydration evaporation plates, and many more. Throughout the quarter, students work together in small lab groups to perform experiments, test hypotheses, and gather and record data. They will keep a science folder for all their work related to our science studies that will go home with them each week and can be used for their evidence of science for your records!

Spring 2025: Animal Habitats & Classification

This spring session, our Science Explorers will study the animal kingdom in the Quest in Science course, Animal Habitats and Classification! They will investigate the many types of animal habitats on Earth, such as forests, deserts, the arctic, and the ocean, each with its own special environment. Each habitat provides shelter and food for animals that live there. The students will learn how scientists classify animals into mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and spiders. They will identify the physical and behavioral adaptations of animals to understand how each has adapted to their environments, even extreme environments. Some activities will include modeling bird beaks through similar shaped tools, designing their own fish by combining various physical characteristics, participating in a role play activity to demonstrate the musk oxen defense circle, and conducting an experiment to learn the importance of blubber for keeping some animals warm! Students will also learn how animals can work in groups to survive and how they compete for resources. Throughout the quarter, students work together in small lab groups to perform experiments, test hypotheses, and gather and record data. They will keep a science folder for all their work related to our science studies that will go home with them each week and can be used for their evidence of science for your records!

Our Science Explorers Series has 3 cycles, with each series occurring every 3 years.

That means that kids can continue to take Science Explorers

for 3 years before they repeat a subject!

Each year we offer a Physical, Earth and Life Science!

Series 1 (2024-2025):

Fall: Light & Energy

Winter: Weather Systems

Spring: Animal Habitats & Classification

Series 2 (2025-2026):

Fall: Measure That Matter!,

Winter: Rock Hounds

Spring: Biomes, Ecosystems & Insects

Series 3 (202): 6-2027

Fall: Forces & Simple Machines

Winter: Astronomy

Spring: Our Green World

Contact

Christine Rains

questinscience@gmail.com