Fun and Games in Science Classrooms

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Fun and Games in Science Classrooms

• Leah Licayan Salvaleon
• Former Science Education Specialist
• UP National Institute for Science and Mathematics
  Education Development

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Games as a Context for Learning Science

• Nature of game
• Indoor vs. Outdoor
• problem-solving type Science Olympics Events
• Motivational games

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Problem Solving???

• A teaching strategy that
•  
• requires students to find technological or
  scientific solutions to problems
• encourage students to become active participants
  in the learning process

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Problem Solving

• Demonstrates application of scientific concepts
  reinforces those concepts
• Challenges more able students to find different
  solutions
• Helps students connect scientific ideas,
  technology and everyday life
• Develops group skills, e.g. communication,
  cooperation, tolerance, etc.
• Actively involves students in the learning process

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Kinds of Problem-Solving Activities

• Construction
• Emphasis is on using scientific ideas in
  designing and constructing an effective object.
• Students have to design and make objects (a
  working model, a measuring instrument, a useful
  piece of technology.

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Some Eggciting Problem Solving Activities

• Dropping Eggsactly
• PS Type Construction
•  
• Task Design a container that will protect a raw
  egg when dropped from a height of at least 10 m
  given the following materials 1 raw egg
• 1 piece newspaper
• 1 m string
• 1 sticky tape

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Problem Solving Activities

• Naked Egg Drop
• Design and construct a freestanding egg catching
  device that can prevent an egg from breaking when
  dropped from increasing heights.
• 50 pcs tongue depressor
• 5 sheets of newspaper
• 1 glue

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Kinds of Problem-Solving Activities

• Discovery
• Emphasis is on thinking creatively and laterally
  towards a solution rather than constructing
  objects.
• Students have to discover a scientific
  principle in everyday context in order to solve a
  particular problem.
• Students may invent a method or measurement
  protocol.

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Problem Solving Activities Liquid Rainbow

• Your team will be given 5 different colorless
  liquids. You are to find out how these liquids
  can be arranged in a test tube to form a liquid
  rainbow.
• Your task is to determine which food color will
  be added to which liquid sample. You will need
  to make certain measurements and/or experiments
  before adding colors because you will only be
  given one set of the colorless liquids.

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Kinds of Problem-Solving Activities

• Testing
• Emphasis is on using a technique correctly and
  carrying out a controlled investigation.
• Students have to use techniques they have learned
  in science to answer questions met in everyday
  life.

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Problem Solving ActivityMission Footwear and
Friction

• To choose from among the footwear (shoes
  sandals) of your team mates, the best pair of
  shoes to recommend to the local government.
• Your recommendation must be supported by a
  scientific test (an experiment). In that
  experiment, your team should test
• at least three pairs of shoes
• three different school surfaces
• How you conduct the experiment is totally up to
  your team. Consult your teacher or Parent
  adviser. Remember, your team will earn a maximum
  of 30 points for the scientific test you will
  plan and carry out.

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The Amoeba Race

• Nucleus commands movement (1)
• Protoplasm facilitates movement by flowing
  wherever the pseudopods take it. (2-3 blindfolded
  members)
• Cell membrane prevents material from spilling
  out screens materials coming in (group members
  with interlocking arms)

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Problem Solving Activity

• Tallest Tower Boom
• Design and construct a tower boom from
  cardboard and sticky tape.
• The boom shall be mounted at the edge of a table
  and must extend both a horizontal and a vertical
  distance from the table. It must be able to
  support the weight of 10 P5 coins for at least 5
  minutes.
• Sticky tape may be used to fix the tower
  boom to the table

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Problem Solving Activity

• Egg Catcher
• Design and construct a freestanding egg catching
  device that can prevent an egg from breaking when
  dropped from increasing heights using the
  following materials.
• 10 barbecue sticks
• 1 roll yarn
• 5 sheets of newspaper
• 1 roll sticky tape

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Egg Armor

• Design and construct a device (egg armor) that
  keeps an egg from breaking when a 5-N load drops
  on the armor from a height of 5 m.

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