Science Day in the Classroom
Simple experiments, a lot of questions, and several very surprised faces as our classrooms marked National Science Day.
For National Science Day, each classroom set up a table of small experiments. Nothing complicated — coloured water, paper towels, a magnifying glass, a tray of things that float and a tray of things that don't.
What we were really looking for was the question that comes just before the answer. Why did it do that? is the beginning of science, and we heard it a great many times.
What the children explored
- Which everyday objects sink, and which float
- How colour travels up a folded paper towel
- Looking at leaves and fabric under a magnifying glass
- Building the tallest tower that still stands on its own
Teachers stayed close but said very little. When a tower fell, the children rebuilt it differently the second time without being told to — which was the point of the morning.
The tables stayed up for the rest of the week. They were busy every day.