We challenge our Year 7 and 8 science students to do an investigative study in science and technology. The year 7 boys have to find something to do with the topic “light”, chosen because this year is the International Year of Light.
Members of the library staff have been working with the classes to assist with developing their information literacy skills. It has been going very well and the boys love the idea that the have some choice with their topic.
When we were preparing tips for the boys I came across the Science Buddies site.
This is a great website for teachers and students. Science Buddies is a very useful resource that offers many ideas about science projects. The people behind it are a non-profit making group who are concerned with developing science enrichment tool for young people.
It ranges from helping with the choice a project and a framework for investigations and experiments to an ask an expert forum and a Science Fair Project Guide..
Last week a student had to change his topic and he used the topic selection wizard to help him come up with a new idea. This little tool asks the student a lot of questions about their interests and understandings and capabilities.
Once you give some basic information you start the selection survey
The answers are either yes, sometimes or no. After completing the questions you are offered an annotated list of suggested topics that fit with the answers given.
The recommendations are clearly described with the most relevant coming up first.
There are more then 1,100 project ideas, organised into categories and levels of difficulty.
It is a great way for students to develop their understanding of science through well-designed, scientific experimentation.
Filed under: Education, Research, tools Tagged: "science buddies", experiments, projects, science
