Learning science is fun, but doing science is even better! Science has always been my students' favorite subject. I teach the science curriculum daily, but each Thursday we do a full blown experiment. After teaching the Scientific Method at the beginning of the year, we do simple whole class experiments each Thursday that support our curriculum unit. Hands-on is the best way to teach science and absolutely the only way to learn science. As the kids use science tools and record their data they become - scientists! They begin making connections across the science strands. Science becomes a way for them to express what they see - hear - smell - taste - and touch. This is the best way to approach science - through our senses.
The first week of school I always start with sensory experiences. We do one sensory experience each day. I start by providing each student with a picture of a large clown face. We discuss our senses and then label the clown with the sense that is associated with the body part. Then they each trace their own hands at the bottom of the page and write - touch. We discuss words that scientists might use to describe each of the senses and I record these words on a huge clown face on the board. Students record several of the descriptors for each sense on their clown face and these sheets are then glued to the inside of their Science Composition book for future reference.
The next day we have a sensory experiment. I usually start by using a blindfold as several volunteers come up to taste, smell, hear, and touch unknown substances. I use onions, apples, grapes, olives... It is important to cut each item up so they are the same size and shape. The student volunteer uses each of their senses independently to describe the unknown substance. The rest of the class records their comments. This is great fun as the volunteer happily munches away on onions or boiled egg. At the end of the experience the student removes the blindfold after guessing what their substance is. We always have some surprises.
The next day I use different chocolates. Baking chocolate can be very deceiving and will help the students understand how important each of our senses are in helping us describe our world.
The first week of school I always start with sensory experiences. We do one sensory experience each day. I start by providing each student with a picture of a large clown face. We discuss our senses and then label the clown with the sense that is associated with the body part. Then they each trace their own hands at the bottom of the page and write - touch. We discuss words that scientists might use to describe each of the senses and I record these words on a huge clown face on the board. Students record several of the descriptors for each sense on their clown face and these sheets are then glued to the inside of their Science Composition book for future reference.
The next day we have a sensory experiment. I usually start by using a blindfold as several volunteers come up to taste, smell, hear, and touch unknown substances. I use onions, apples, grapes, olives... It is important to cut each item up so they are the same size and shape. The student volunteer uses each of their senses independently to describe the unknown substance. The rest of the class records their comments. This is great fun as the volunteer happily munches away on onions or boiled egg. At the end of the experience the student removes the blindfold after guessing what their substance is. We always have some surprises.
The next day I use different chocolates. Baking chocolate can be very deceiving and will help the students understand how important each of our senses are in helping us describe our world.
