February
23rd,
2024
Kide Science: Discovering Scientific Phenomena in English
This year at Jesuïtes Sarrià – Sant Ignasi, we've introduced a new initiative in I5 and in 1st and 2nd grades of Primary. It's a science program in English called Kide Science, originating from Finland and built upon rigorous research conducted at the University of Helsinki. Kide Science has earned recognition through several awards.
This program revolves around captivating narratives that, through play, encourage a playful exploration of science while maintaining rigour in conducting experiments.
Meet Hoseli, the primary robot guiding students through challenges they'll solve via experiments. Hoseli resides in Supraland, an imaginative realm inhabited by his companions Kelvin (fascinated by weather), Esther (a nature enthusiast), Pi (a maths aficionado), and Mrs. Noblegas (an esteemed elderly lady fond of hosting parties).
After familiarizing themselves with Supraland and its characters, the children engage in experiments that lead them to experientially explore various scientific concepts. For instance,
- in the Early Years group, they've uncovered the chemical reaction resulting from mixing vinegar and bicarbonate, yielding carbon dioxide (gas) and water (through the experiment 'Wake Up The Ghost!'). Additionally, they've learned to locate the centre of gravity of objects through attempts to balance them (in 'Balancing Problems'), and to understand the composition of the color black using all colors (in 'The Many Sides Of Black'). They've also delved into the concept of capillarity, awakening some 'sleeping' stars.
- In Primary classes, they've explored the concept of vibration and its role in producing sound by crafting instruments using boxes and rubber bands (in 'Make Some Music'). They've fashioned microscopes from water droplets, light, and magnifying glasses, gaining insight into how light affects images (in 'How do Shadows Work?'); Engaging in creative engineering, they've constructed structures from fruit (in 'Fruity Surprise'). Through hands-on experimentation, they've observed the chemical reaction between vinegar and bicarbonate, generating carbon dioxide (gas) and water (in 'Hoseli's Balloon Problem'). They've also investigated buoyancy, discerning which elements float in water and why (in 'Does it Sink or Float?'); Utilizing their sense of touch and smell, they've identified objects without sight (in 'Egg Mystery'). Lastly, they've built sturdy structures capable of bearing weight using playdough and sticks (in 'Planning an Escape').
To ensure Hoseli the robot can present its proposals in an engaging, hands-on manner, a 4th-year lower secondary student has designed the robot using Tinkercad, allowing for 3D printing.
In Kide Science, children enjoy themselves while utilising English to explore scientific concepts.
The goal of this approach isn't merely to provide scientific labels for their discoveriesbut to ignite their curiosity, fostering a sense of wonder and encouraging them to explore and be amazed by the phenomena around them, with English as the medium of instruction.
