Experiences

Giving pupils opportunities to practice

Mihaela Timofte

Romania

Science

Teaching in class

Direct

I think all science teachers have experienced the same frustration as I have: you do a lot of preparation with your lesson at home, try to find the best methods and techniques in order to make your pupils follow your explanations but in class you have the feeling that they are miles way as they do not seem to get what you are telling them. It often happens especially when, for one reason or another, you can’t do an experiment which would clarify your point and make everything accessible. Pupils, particularly the little ones, want to experiment everything through all their senses. Therefore, it is not enough for them to listen to you no matter how good a storyteller you are. They want to see it, to feel it, to hear it and if it is possible even to taste it in order to have a though and credible understanding of the phenomenon. Everything suddenly becomes clear and saves time if the teacher facilitates pupils’ sensorial experience of the phenomenon. It is memorable. Giving pupils opportunities to practice their senses is important as they help them improve their perceptions. They particularly like taste trials. I blindfold the children and have them try different types of juice or food. They have to tell me what it is they have eaten by the taste.