From Outrunning Lava to Building Catapults, Success Academy Scholars Engineer Their Futures
Success Academy – December 21, 2017
How can I invent a package that never ends up in a landfill?
What does it take to build a filter that makes water safe enough for humans to drink?
Why do roller coasters work?
These are the questions scholars pose to themselves as they prepare for their middle school’s Exploratorium. Durante el periodo de cuatro semanas entre el Día de Acción de Gracias y las vacaciones de invierno, las aulas de ciencias en todas las escuelas intermedias de Success Academy se transforman en laboratorios, los alumnos de escuela intermedia en científicos y los maestros en directores de investigación. El Exploratorio de Ciencias, una exhibición de proyectos autoimpulsados y con base en investigación, empodera a los alumnos a convertir las ciencias y la ingeniería en acción.
Scholars spend many hours planning, building, and experimenting, using every science class during this period until they find the answers. The projects cover a wide range of subjects: earth science (fifth grade), life science (sixth grade), chemistry (seventh grade), and physics (eighth grade). The Exploratorium gives scholars the chance to take academic and intellectual risks, make mistakes, and learn about science and themselves.
The Exploratorium gives scholars the chance to take academic and intellectual risks, make mistakes, and learn about science and themselves.
Their work culminates in a university-style symposium attended by school staff, community members, and families. Scholars present their work, take questions and feedback, and peer review their classmates.
“The Exploratorium helps scholars grow as scientists in fundamental ways by helping them understand the scientific method and experimental design, but it also goes deeper than that,” said SA Harlem West science teacher Christina Carfora. “A lot of scholars come out of the Exploratorium feeling empowered to pursue a career in STEM. They start to see themselves as scientists, as a part of science — not just as participants in science class.”
For more photos and videos of the Science Exploratorium in action, check out photos and videos on the Success Academy Instagram page.
