Help me give my students the opportunity to learn through hands-on experiments. Dip nets with fine mesh to capture interesting creatures in the creek, solar panels with enough power output to drive a little racecar, etc.
I have the pleasure of teaching science to every grade level at our rural high school. I am one of 3 science teachers serving a 9th-12th student population of less than 500. I get to start with freshmen in my Earth Science classes, continue with sophomores in Biology, and see many of them again as juniors and seniors in my Applied Physical Science and Physics classes. It is really a joy to see how they grow and mature from barely-under-control "kids" as freshmen to much more responsible almost adults as seniors. The metamorphosis in some of them is truly astounding!
I was as excited as the students to be able to return to in-person school full time, not only so I can communicate face-to-face, but also to be able to once again let them experiment, design, build, test, sample, graph and LEARN by actually doing science (not just reading and watching videos).
I believe that when done properly, science is "messy," but engaging! There is no good substitute for using the 5 senses to discover the natural world/universe.
My Project
Dip nets and psychrometers get my freshmen and sophomores outside to look, listen and feel what is happening in our natural world. Aprons help everyone keep from ruining their clothes while working with specimens and chemicals in the lab. Actually DOING the engineering design process with juniors and seniors while applying the laws of physics with airplanes, racecars and solar energy helps teach patience, teamwork and perseverance.
I want to teach my students to be curious, to not be afraid to fail once or twice, to actually DO science; not just read about it.
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