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Summer School in Random Lake
I did a summer school cooking class. We made a lot of different foods like jello, homemade pretzels, and pudding pops; in this class I developed a love for cooking. Cooking is science (chemical reactions, states of matter, etc.). -
Failed my First Test
I was in third grade when I failed my first test- it was science test. I was a perfectionist as a child so this failure really shook me. I remember the test was on the food chain (predator, prey, consumers, producers, etc.) and that I had to retake it. -
Planted a Garden
My family planted a garden in our backyard. We had to rip up a section of grass and then plant the seeds. I loved watering the plants for my mom and eating fresh sun-warmed tomatoes right off the vine. Planting a garden is science; it taught me about the importance of the sun, the life cycle of a plant, where food comes from, etc. -
4th Grade Science
In 4th grade, I remember learning about rocks (metamorphic, igneous, sedimentary). After learning about it in school, I tried to teach my family what I had learned. Although I was probably never right, I would pick up rocks and tell them what kind of rock it was. This is my first memory of enjoying science in school. -
7th Grade Science
I loved my 7th grade science teacher, Mr. Kimball. He was funny, engaging, and taught a lot of hands-on lessons. I loved science during this school year, even though we did a lot of dissections. I find that I learn science best when I'm given opportunities to do hands-on experiments. -
8th Grade Science
I did not enjoy my science teacher during 8th grade; she was unfriendly and strict. However, I do remember making a model rocket and being so proud of the result. I also really enjoyed an assignment where I had to track/draw the phases of the moon every night for month. A third project that I enjoyed was making a marble run that had to pop a balloon. Although I did not enjoy my teacher, she did a lot of really great hands-on activities. -
Microwave Disaster
During a Young Women's activity at my church, I forgot that styrofoam shouldn't be microwaved. It set off the fire alarm. I had quite a mess to clean up, but I learned my lesson. This experience taught me science (heating, what should and should not go in the microwave, etc.). -
10th Grade Biology
I have mixed feelings about 10th grade biology- sometimes I liked it, sometimes I didn't. Learning was mostly lecture based and I had a lot of homework. In my textbook, I remember seeing a diagram of embryo development in chicken eggs; I stopped eating eggs for a few months. In this class, I remember enjoying an experiment where our class went down to a river and collected water samples to study. -
11th Grade Chemistry
This chemistry class was a huge turning point for me. In the past, I had enjoyed some elements of science. This class made me hate everything about it. My teacher was extremely difficult and intimidating. I failed almost all the tests and barely scraped a passing grade. I remember going to school at 5 AM almost every morning to get extra help. This class made me cry a lot. -
Ice Cream Maker
My dad got an ice cream maker for his birthday. We made a lot of homemade ice cream, almost every week for Family Home Evening. My dad would try to get creative so the ice cream was usually a very interesting flavor. Making ice cream taught me about the properties of salt, freezing point, solutes, solvents, etc. -
Laptop Graduation Present
My parents gave me a laptop for my high school graduation. A laptop is a scientific invention that requires science to function. I am very dependent upon my laptop, especially now in college. -
Science Classes @ BYU
During my freshman year of college, I took both Physical Science and Biology. I did not enjoy either of these classes. I learn best when doing hands-on experiments and these classes were primarily lecture-based. They also took place in a large lecture hall with 100+ students, which I also struggled with. -
Car Crash
I got in a bad car accident and sliced open my arm. The car held up really well- the airbag went off, the seat belt protected me, and the windshield didn't break. Science was used to design and make my car. Medicine, also created using science, was a huge blessing in the weeks after. -
"Our Friendship Plant"
My roommate and I planted a small basil seed. We took great care of it and were so proud of our little plant as it grew. Sometimes we forgot to water it and it wilted. However, we always managed to bring it back to life. This experience taught me about the life cycle of a plant and about what plants need to grow. -
Present Day Science Views
While I have had mixed views about science throughout my life, I am excited to teach science to my future students. From my own experiences, I know that science becomes more enjoyable when the teacher incorporates hands-on experiments into the lessons. I found that I stopped enjoying science when it became more lecture-based- I lost interest and the subject became a bore. I will strive to teach science in my future classroom in a way that will be fascinating and enjoyable for all.
