Hands-On Science

Program Values # 1: Pedagogical Sensitivity
BC Standards # 5: Implement effective practices in areas of classroom management, planning, instruction, assessment, evaluating and reporting

The days we got our hands dirty:

            Program Value # 1 reinforces pedagogical sensitivity, especially around a student-centered classroom and hands-on activities and BC Standard # 5 states the needs of implementing effective practices in areas of classroom management, planning, instruction, assessment, evaluating and reporting.

            For my science unit, I purposefully planned hands-on activities based on observations and age appropriate inquiries. During my short practicum, my students explored the relationship between solids and liquids by making “Goop” and analysed animal adaptation by becoming birds themselves. During my long practicum, we grew bean and pea seeds and explore the needs of plant to grown healthy. We planted tomatoes that have travelled in outer space and we observed the transformation of celery stalks in coloured water. We also dyed eggs using Kool-Aid and compared the different result for various flavoured.

            My students recorded data in their science journal, draw observation, labelled, predicted and asked many questions. I assessed using interviews, observations and my students wrote a booklet that they read to their little buddies about plant needs. My students are among the most vulnerable children in the district because of poverty, trauma, learning disabilities, abuses, etc… and it was really rewarding to celebrate our successes in science and to see true interest in the topic.

            All the science activities we did were student-centered and students work at their own pace in pairs or alone to explore the scientific method. All my students, including the ones with special needs were successful. My students’ journal and comments truly showed that they were engaged and loved the lessons and it was a pleasure to listen to their observations and inquiries.

            I know that students learn by doing and that Hands-on activities are key elements for successful scientific investigation. While we got our hands dirty and some activities were messy and loud, the engagement and energy in the classroom were amazing and inspiring. I believe that I shared my passion for science to my students and that it reinforced the pupil-teacher relationship and fostered a love of learning.

            For my future practice, I will investigate more project-based science experiments and I will implement more Smart Science lessons in order to generate critical thinking in my students and to nurture the process of inquiries that is the foundation of the scientific method.