7 Ways To Make Learning About Science More Exciting
If you were to go back in history and ask people if they thought teaching was difficult, many people would think it’s pretty easy. Fortunately for teachers these days, many more people understand the difficulty of controlling a room full of students and getting them interested in learning. However, even though public support of teachers is higher than ever, that doesn’t make teaching certain subjects any easier.
One troublesome area for many students is learning about science. Due to the difficulty of the subject, especially later in school, many kids lose interest. This is one reason why scientific fields struggle to find more talent. Luckily, there are some techniques teachers can use to make learning about science more fun and exciting, which we’ll cover with you here.
Teach in a Different Environment
For our first few suggestions, we’re going to talk about some general unique teaching methods, but we’ll still talk about how they can be extra useful in the sciences. For the first one, we’d recommend teaching outdoors or in an environment that’s different from your classroom. When kids are stuck in the same type of room all day, it can negatively impact their interest levels. Changing the scenery can help regain their attention.
One of the more popular options is having class outside. Many college professors do this, but there’s usually nothing stopping teachers from doing this so often. You just might need to get permission from the principal beforehand. If the outdoors won’t be an option, areas such as the cafeteria, gym, and performing arts centers can work as well.
While these scenery changes will be useful, you can further take advantage of them by utilizing them to teach certain science subjects. Cafeterias are great places to talk about food with real-world examples. You can use performing arts centers to teach students about the science of sound and dynamics. Of course, being outside opens you up to many other possibilities. Don’t be afraid to get creative.
Make Learning a Game
Another common teaching technique you can use for science is turning learning into a game. Many kids thrive with competition, so they will want to participate even if they didn’t previously have an interest in the subject. Egg-drop competitions, five senses scavenger hunts, and reaction time challenges are among some of the more popular options teachers have used in the past.
However, you are free to do anything you want to get students more involved. One way to cover simple terms and other important test information is to turn your study sessions into a game of Jeopardy. Your kids will surely love it.
Use Tech When Possible
It’s no secret that children love using technology. Fortunately, science and tech go hand in hand, so it’ll be easy to combine these two concepts. Some recent pieces of tech that teachers have implemented are electronic building kits, 3D printers, and even VR goggles.
Obviously, some of these options can be quite expensive and outside of your school’s budget. But if you can convince them to buy even just one of these items, we’re positive your kids will fall in love with science in a completely new way.
Utilize Experiments Often
Of course, what good is science without experiments? This is the one part of science class that we all remember fondly. However, it always seemed like they weren’t utilized enough. Granted, some of that came down to budgetary reasons, but there are plenty of cheap experiments you could try out with your students.
The bottom line is that you need to find a way to get your students involved with the action more. Reading about cool experiments or having them taught to you in a lecture doesn’t have the same impact as actually doing them. That’s why you should find ways to implement real-world examples with your students whenever possible.
Bring in Special Guests
One problem with some experiments is they’re simply too dangerous or complicated to do in the classroom. That’s when you should look toward an outside source to come in to show children the joy of science in a fun and creative way. A professional can do things you could never dream of in a classroom. Plus, like a change in scenery, a change of “teacher” could open your students’ eyes to new possibilities.
If this sounds like a good idea to try out, you should look into science assemblies for schools, like the ones we perform. On the big stage, we can do high-quality experiments and displays that aren’t possible in the classroom. On top of that, we know how to perform in a way that’s fun and engaging. You never know what to expect out of one of our shows.
Go on Informative Field Trips
Field trips are another way to break the mold of standard teaching. While the concept of taking students on an informative field trip is nothing new, there are ways to make them even more beneficial, especially when it comes to science. Some of the more common choices that teachers go for are science museums and aquariums.
While these are quite effective, a trip to a nearby university is an option that not as many teachers tend to consider. There’s no better way to experience real-world science experiments than a place specializing in them. Seeing what the future could hold if they choose to go down this path is an excellent experience for students.
Make the Material Relevant
That brings us to the most important technique for making the process of learning about science more exciting for your students, and that’s making the material more relevant to them. One of the most common things teachers hear from students is, “When am I going to use this in the real world?”
If your students are asking this constantly, you need to find ways to make it more relevant to them. Do this by applying examples to their favorite out-of-school activities. Whether it’s video games, sports, or something you’ve never even heard of, taking the time to learn what your students love can make all the difference in how you teach.
Once they are a bit older, don’t hesitate to go into greater detail on what a degree in science can do for them. Tell them about potential achievements, cool experiments they can perform, and the potential pay. Even younger students might be more interested in science if they know it could make them rich someday. Think about all the business students who become accountants due to the higher pay. While it’s not the best reason for getting into science, there’s nothing wrong with it being one of the reasons why students decide to pursue it.
