tekki tots project group number 394 - Hatfield montessori: contact: ELaine ringdahl- 15182879- "science teacher" number 1 Kanushka Moodley-15161944- "science teacher" number 2
what did this project entail? and project outcomes the project consisted of two engineering students teaching 8 children basic experiments. the experiments that we did involved a variety of different skills. we created A paper chain out of colourful paper and we explained real life uses of a chain made out of steel. another of the lessons was called "shapes' in this lesson the children were given a handout of various shapes and the science teachers explained how everything in life consists of shapes. one of the lessons was termed "structures" in this lesson the 8 children learned that the triangle was the strongest shape! they were all very amazed by this statement. they then proceeded to create their own triangles and squares out of playdough and sticks and they attatched all their triangles together to make one very large structure.
where did the project take place?
the project took place in the montessori school in hatfield.
duration and dates of project? the project took place over the course of the 2nd semester. the teaching sessions happened on thursdays and were communicated with the principle of the montessori school in hatfield. the dates were as follows : 21/07/2016 28/07/2016 04/08/2016 18/08/2016 01/09/2016 22/09/2016 20/10/2016
the irony of this project is that the two science teachers- Teacher Elaine and Teacher Kanushka, learnt just as much from the children as they did from the varsity students. Kanushka : "It was extremley rewarding partaking in this project as i realised what a difference i can make in the community. i also realised how intelligent and fresh young minds can be, it can make you emotional at times. walking into pre-school on a thursday morning was a picture for a thousand words. the children remembering who you are and being so excited to learn. their hunger for education was simply indescribable. Another factor that i learnt was that the few teachers at the school deserve many thanks. the educators take care of the children, they are so patient with them and they are able to handle them when they have eaten a bit to much sugar." Elain : "My mother is a highschool science teacher, she warned me that teaching young children could be a challenge, and of course she was right. I dont think she would be able to handle the amount of energy this children have. At times it was a struggle to get them to keep quiet and listen to us. but when they did eventually calm down it was a wonderful experience teaching them. i myself also learned new things when teaching the lessons, for example children caant endure long lectures like we (sometimes) can!"