Family Science at Gregory-Portland Intermediate!

"Making our science activities culturally relevant was one of the requirements to be included (in this project), and I have to admit I had a hard time understanding this at first. I couldn't see how one's culture could help a student understand a science topic. Integrating students' personal experiences with Padre Island beach made the activity more meaningful for them and easier to understand. I realize now that this is what made our activity culturally relevant....by incorporating students' interests and allowing them to share their personal experiences makes the topic all the more meaningful and interesting to learn for everyone."

GP intermediate was PACKED - we have never had such a huge turn-out of families from a middle school! It was a FABULOUS night!!! Read some reflections from my students:

"I would like to focus on how science is directly relevant to the students' lives along with out it is relevant to culture. I say this because if we cannot integrate or associate science to any aspects of our lives then there will not be any connections....We need to create a purpose behind why we are teaching science and explain that to our students so they can make connections. This builds understanding of the knowledge that is presented to them."

"I learned and was able to teach others and that is a priceless gift."

"I have a better appreciation of science which has always scared me in the past. I have a much better understanding of why we teach science and how it is involved in everything in this world."

"It was remarkable to see how many young students became actively engaged and interested in learning. It reassured me that students do love to learn. It is through the learning experiences and activities that we can either turn them onto learning or turn them away. Witnessing this reassured me to have a hands-on, student centered classroom."

"Stressing cultural relevance is the advice I would give to future science teachers and organizers. This aspect is often overlooked and I learned from this event that not only is it important to teach, it's a real attention getter for your audience."

"The students seemed really eager to do the activity and were very attentive as they listened to facts about sand dunes....They had prior experience with the beach and with sand dunes. They could build on this previous information and put the concepts together."

"This experience made me realize that you can teach science in a culturally relevant way. The idea never occurred to be before. I always thought science was science. After seeing all of the Texas A&M student's projects, I realized it is possible to make almost anything culturally relevant."

"The one thing I will remember from participating in this event is that children love conducting experiments especially when you make the activities personally relevant to them."

"I honestly did not put much thought into the idea or importance of science in the lower grade levels. So much of the focus seemed to be on math and reading. Science is a subject that I am getting excited about teaching. Science is such a 'hands-on' subject and I truly feel that students will really be excited about learning science!"

"This event was eye opening and a reality check. The realization of all the time and effort that teachers put forth every day to be sure their students learn....Teachers are not given the credit they deserve. People do not see all the outside time and money they put into their lessons. Other professions do not involve such work."

"When I was in school we never learned the science behind the activities we were doing at the time. Now I realize how important it is for students to realize the science behind the activity they are learning about. We have the chance to change the way students perceive science by making a difference in how we teach/explain our activity to the students."

"One thing I will remember was when a mother and her daughter came to our station....Once they were done the daughter hugged her mom and thanked her for bringing her and told her she was having the most fun ever and that she loves her. Her mom's face lit up and you could tell that was a moment the mother will never forget. Neither will I."