Harnessing Scientific Curiosity

What do we touch that has the most germs? Hmm, not a toilet handle. No, not a car door, not a trash can. Hmmm, what could it be? Ok, what am I holding? (a dollar bill) Where did it come from? Yes, maybe the grocery store! And where did they get it from? Ok, maybe the bank. Where did they get it from? Another person! And where did they get it from? Another person! And where did they get it from? Do you see? What do the most people touch? Dollar bills. Think about it!

Yesterday afternoon, the Little Scientists program facilitated a lesson about germs and sanitation. The teacher takes a group of Troup students from second to fourth grade, and he gets them excited about science. In fact, the one object we touch that is touched by the greatest number of people beforehand is the dollar bill. He has also covered colors, plants, and lungs, among other topics. Last week, the Little Scientists program taught students about respiration. They brought in real lungs: one healthy and one from a smoker that was quite hard and black. The Troup students could see tangible examples of the topics, and they all created a “lung” using a balloon and a soda bottle. By squeezing the bottle, the balloon filled with air, just as our diaphragms push up on our lungs, which fills them with air. These Little Scientist projects teach them how things work and show them that education can be exciting.

One topic that I particularly enjoyed, given my background in environmental studies, was all about trees. The discussions are structured in a way for every student to make connections and think creatively. The students were asked: what makes a season a season? Daylight! So, if leaves fall off trees in November, and daylight is what is getting shorter and shorter, then…  Leaves fall off when the days get darker! This program took the complicated chemical processes that I learned in college and translated it into language and lessons that elementary students can comprehend well. It continually reminds me how science can be taught in a way that is exciting for young students.

This is one program at the Troup School thanks to the connection with United Way: Boost! These efforts are providing children with opportunities for safe, interesting, exciting afternoons that help them grow in their knowledge. Any ideas on how we can further work to harness the curiosity of the youth we teach?