NUNAVUT
The buzz of bees remains in principal Kim Hagarty's ears as she laughingly recalls a Let's Talk Science visit during the first week of March.
Let's Talk Science Education Specialist, Scott Taylor completes a plate tectonics activity with Grade 4 students from Kullik Ilihakvik School in Cambridge Bay, NU - photo: Let's Talk Science |
"With the Grade 1s, I had a bunch of little bumble bees buzzing around," she said about one of the many consequences of the science blitz that took place at Arnaqjuaq School.
Science activities in Hall Beach, as well as in Iglulik, Cambridge Bay and Iqaluit came courtesy of Let's Talk Science in partnership Raytheon Canada, a company which provides support services for high-technology systems.
"We're an award-winning Canadian charitable organization," said program support co-ordinator Susie Taylor about Let's Talk Science. "We're over 20 years old and we help children across Canada fulfill their potential and prepare for their future careers. We have a variety of programs, on-line and in-person, and with our Northern Communities project we've been bringing our programs to Northern communities in Canada."
Hagarty says when she was contacted by the organization, she was immediately interested in hosting the program.
"I'm interested in bringing anything into the school that is hands on, that will engage the students and will help them to look at things differently. I think it's really important, because we are in such isolated communities, to expose the students to as much as we possibly can to enlarge their world view," Hagarty said.
"They loved it. They just had an awesome time. The group worked with every grade and did different things. They did stuff with one of the grades on paper airplanes and while it may not sound that academic, in fact what it was about was teaching them the way you build the airplane determines how far it flies.
"They had a tape measure down the hall so the kids were throwing their planes down the hall to see whose plane could go the furthest."
Taylor says the volunteers, who are science graduates, explained the different forces that affect flight, such as gravity, thrust and drag.
By far the most intriguing activity was the chemistry magic show.
Sheila White, the science teacher at Ataguttaaluk High School in Iglulik, said the students really enjoyed the "wow" aspect.
"A 20-dollar bill was coated in a substance and they tried to light it on fire, but it wouldn't light. What looked like water that could be dumped on someone turned into something else by putting a chemical in it," she said.
In this fashion, students learned about chemical reactions.
"It was very engaging. The kids loved it," said Hagarty.
"They did stuff on rock formations and dinosaurs. They were very, very good. I can't speak highly enough of them."
The Let's Talk Science team collaborates with the community prior to a visit, planning together to make the trip as beneficial as possible.
"The children are going into the classrooms and doing activities, such as the science of flight or learning about plate tectonics. We do very hands-on activities." said Taylor.
"We challenge them to become the engineers, so they need to design and build and test. Make redesigns and updates to create the best design they can, using the material that we bring."
Taylor says the over-arching goal is to build students' confidence and get them interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
"They've already sent me a little note about next year," said Hagarty.
"It was wonderful for the students. I'd bring them up again in a heartbeat."
