Science Should Not be Just a Theory of Others. It is Our Life.

What comes to your mind first when you hear or think of the word Science? Would it be one of those boring school subjects? Would it be no more than a closed book of information or facts?

One of the characteristic features of Science classes from K through 12 in the US  is that students are provided with a variety of hands-on activities, which would boost the students’ interest in “doing” Science rather than simple “reading and memorizing” the contents in their books. Through participating in various firsthand experiences by means of conducting experiments in the science class, students can be more self-empowered learners and develop more intrinsic motivation to become a real scientist.

For instance, I have seen quite arresting Science projects in junior high schools and high schools around my local area. Those Science classes were not providing students with boring platitudes from lectures, but rather exciting and challenging tasks to complete. What I have seen includes as follows:

Sixth graders are introduced to the Earth Science by creating an erupting volcano, through which they discover chemical reactions in a fun-filled way.  In seventh grade, they are involved in an interesting Biology project called “leaf project”. The students and their Science teacher go on a hiking to select different kinds of fallen leaves, with which they would analyze the blades and veins of each. What an intriguing project it is! The final year in Science class of the junior high school introduces students to the basic mechanism of machine’s operation. The nationwide famous project called Rube Goldberg enables students to become a fabulous machine designer. In high schools, Physics class has two huge projects to teach students about buoyancy and how different shapes of objects affect on speed in air and water. For the boat project, only cardboard and duct tape given by the teacher are used. The point is that their paper boat should float and do the round-trip in the swimming pool with one of the group members on borad to get a full credit. Yikes! The row-boat should be accurately designed with a VERY scientific mindset. LOL

Who knows if there’ll be a brilliant child at a Science Fair will jump for joy with his own discovery, shouting “Mom, Dad, I found a cure for cancer!!!” Oh, it is not just our wild imagination. Check out the following link about a prodigy boy who found a cancer test. Amazing.

http://www.mindxplore.org/2016/01/15-year-old-puts-cancer-industry-to.html

Expressions

K through 12: kindergarten through 12^th grade, that is primary and secondary education (The grade division differs from each school district, but normally, in this order in the US: (preschool) è kindergarten è elementary school (1^st grade through 5^th grade) è middle school (6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades) è high school (9^th, 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grades)

hands-on activities: the activities in which you do something rather than just talk about it

self-empowered: being self-empowered makes it possible for you to sense of self worth, your right to have and determine choices, your right to have access to opportunities, and your right to have the power to control your own life

intrinsic motivation: the motivation caused/kindled by the joy and real nature of somebody or something (ó extrinsic motivation: the motivation that makes you do something for the purpose of obtaining an external reward or outcome)

arresting: eye-catching, interesting, striking

platitudes: a flat, dull, insipid, or trite remarks

blades and veins of a leaf: the blade is the broad, flat part of the leaf; the vein is any of the very thin tubes that form the frame of a leaf

(The Blade, or lamina, is the broad, flat part of the leafwww.robinsonlibrary.com/science/botany/anatomy/leafparts.htm)

intriguing: interesting because of being unusual or not having an obvious answer

Rube Goldberg: (in a humorous way, of machines or devices) having a very complicated/ intricately designed device or contraption especially when used to perform a very simple task; not practical. (e.g. chain reaction ) The name “Rube Goldberg” is named after American cartoonist and inventor Rube Goldberg (1883–1970)