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Magic or science? Bradford school experiments with S.T.E.M. programming

Forces in nature, magnetism two units in program at St. Angela Merici Catholic School in Bradford West Gwillimbury

S.T.E.M. — science, technology, engineering, math — has become a key focus for hands-on learning in Ontario schools.

Kids learn best when learning is fun, and remember best when they can see principles of science and engineering in action.

That’s the idea behind Scientists in School, an organization that sends presenters to bring science and technology, through hands-on experiments, challenges to creativity and critical thinking, to thousands of classrooms.

Earlier this week, St. Angela Merici Catholic School in Bradford West Gwillimbury welcomed the program over a two-day period. In one Grade 3 class, the theme was “Force, of course!” It focused on basic forces in nature, including friction, gravity, magnetism and electromagnetic force, through a simple series of experiments.

Assisted by supply teacher Mariam Awdishu and student volunteers, presenter Nicole Jacobs explained each experiment, then led the kids to an understanding of their findings.

The first module looked at friction, the force that resists motion.

“We’re testing different surfaces, to see which has the most amount of friction,” Jacobs said.

Rubber had the most resistance. “It has, like, grip,” said one student.

“Like a sweaty palm,” said another.

A highly polished piece of wood generated the least amount of friction, almost gliding off the classroom desks.

Beside a picture of Galileo Galilei, Jacobs talked about gravity — demonstrated by sending a marble through a rubber tube and loop-de-loop.

The section on magnetism invited the kids to discover that opposite poles attract, like poles repel, and to use magnets to remove metal chips from a glass.

Scientific principles, addition and subtraction, problem-solving, critical thinking — it was all designed to be appropriate for the grade.

“Each grade has at least six topics that the teachers can choose from, that cover the curriculum,” said Jacobs.

A former teacher, she had experienced Scientists in School in her own classroom, before becoming a presenter herself, about 1 ½ years ago. “It’s a fun job!”

“It’s so engaging — they love it!” said teacher Awdishu. “They’re so focused on their work.”

Founded in 1989 by Erica Bruce and Nancy Williams to bring S.T.E.M. to schools in Durham Region, Scientists in Schools has continued to grow, becoming a non-profit organization in 1999.

By 2017, the program was in 24,800 classrooms in 2,400 schools in 52 school boards, bringing science to more than 350 communities in both Ontario and Alberta.

In addition to the school program, Scientists in School also offers community workshops aimed at making science and technology fun.

“Magic or science?” Jacobs asked the class. “Science!” the students shouted back.


Miriam King

About the Author: Miriam King

Miriam King is a journalist and photographer with Bradford Today, covering news and events in Bradford West Gwillimbury and Innisfil.
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