Ask your class;

  • “What is a scientist?”
  • What is science?

Get them to write their answers.

Important Factors

  • Motivation for students
  • Teacher-friendly
  • Low cost
  • Minimum Preparation and “Fuses”

 

Road Blocks

  • Teacher Background knowledge – Fear of Explanation and Correctness
  • Teacher’s Prior Experiences with Science
  • Budget and Prep time

 

Science philosophy – “Hands-on, Minds-on”

  • Science is based on language!
  • Provide lots of time to talk
  • Play-Debrief-Re-play
  • Debrief model

 

 

How did you get that idea?

 

Bill Nye videos!

 

Have a looking table – table with magnifying glass and black pen to make observations

 

Red Wrigglers

 

Try to keep something natural to your natural environment in your classroom. Eg tree flogs – teranium. Then release again in a week.

 

Having guest speakers in – ie night nature scientist

 

Have kids make models – out of toilet paper rolls, pvc pipe, string

 

Aunt farms, worm farms – they must cooperate

 

Get outside and do scavenger hunts and nature walks

Local field trips – farm tours, insect studies.

 

Go outside and make a habitat for fairies

LET THE KIDS GET AS MUCH HANDS ON TIME AS POSSIBLE

 

Great movie to inspire students when you first start teaching, especially Grade 8s.  Gratitude by Moving Art https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2iVv0G9DSw