January 16, 2020
Students complete their “Gingerbread Genetics” lab.
One of the things I can always count on middle schoolers to get excited about is science labs! The middle school students have frequent opportunities for hands-on learning in science. Just in the past two weeks, students have done a “gingerbread genetics” lab tracing traits of colored puffballs through grandparents to grandkids, demonstrated the permeability and porosity of different particle sizes in soils, tested for acids and bases, and explored the properties of water with a penny lab.
Students testing for permeability.
When asked about their science labs, students tend to grin and tell me excitedly about how they spent class. I love hearing the kids getting ready for science, yelling not to be late so they won’t miss anything! These experiences help students develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, in addition to inspiring students to pursue their interests and curiosity in the scientific fields.
Next month, all of the middle schoolers will travel to the Museum of Life and Science for more experiential learning. Each grade level will have a program run by museum staff that is tailored to their current unit in science, in addition to having time to explore the museum itself.
Emily McAllister
Middle School Director
