Remember Anything

Confronted with dense, dull textbooks that present formulaic information in a disconnected, abstract way, many children immediately shut down. Without even thinking about it, they label science as something apart from them, at best a school subject they should excel in and at worst a boring hour they spend staring at the wall. Science does not have to be this way. By introducing more hands-on learning methods into our classrooms, we can bring science alive for children from kindergarten to eighth grade and ensure that it plays a continuing role in their futures.

This takes place, first, in the classroom. Though the information presented in textbooks is essential, it can be conveyed by other methods that encompass the more diverse learning styles we know students have. Experiments can be cheaply set up and conducted for all grade levels; kindergartners can watch magnets attract each other and then learn why, and seventh graders can observe the sun’s light baking a brownie prior to approaching waves and lines. By offering a factual example before cold, inaccessible words, teachers can open a gateway to real learning and not just memorization.

Beyond the classroom, teachers can lead excursions into the natural world that comprises so much of science. Playgrounds are fertile areas for exploration, and with a few minor tools, students can observe insects, plants, and processes that will enthuse them. More sustained projects can include life-cycle observations, environmental cleanups, and even an organic garden. Students, teachers, and the community can come together to promote excitement over, yes, science. Additional trips can include local sites where science is at work in subtle ways: farms, factories, or ponds are nice choices. Museums are also amazing, and a site like the Science Museum in Louisville, Kentucky can offer amazing opportunities to prove that science is interesting. Often they include IMAX theaters where children can connect to science via a familiar media form. Check this directory of Hands-On Science Centers for a museum near you.

Even with facilities like these museums, there are, of course, obstacles, ranging from students who are already disengaged to budget concerns. However, with careful planning, attention to detail, and individualization of lesson plans, each problem can be addressed and overcome. Be aware of the grade level, attention span, and abilities of the children you wish to include. Make experiments interesting as well as informative, and always take breaks to reiterate the important points. Finally, have fun! Don’t sigh when you pick up the science book; comment on its positives instead. Participate in experiments and trips, and remember to smile. If children see adults enjoying science rather than slugging through it, they are more likely to make an attempt to enjoy it themselves. And with joy come effort, commitment, and learning.

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