Hands-on Inquiry in Fifth Grade Science :
“ How can we make our work easier ?”
By Sam Woolford and Bradford Hardie
“
Aboy is Truth with dirt on its face , Beauty with a cut on its finger , Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair , and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket .” A great deal has changed since 1954 when Reader ’ s Digest published Alan Beck ’ s essay , “ What Is A Boy ?”— a mere three years after the founding of Saint David ’ s School . What has not changed in the last seven decades is the exploratory nature of our boys . The idea that learning can be messy is a common thread in the hands-on learning experiences throughout the Fifth Grade science curriculum at Saint David ’ s , and it all begins with a question .
In Fifth Grade science class in the fall , boys find themselves asking one question , over and over : “ How can we make our work easier ?” While the transition from Fourth Grade to Fifth can be a big challenge for some , this question is not about schoolwork . Fifth graders learn about the principle of work in physics by measuring how much force is required to move an object a specific distance . Their exploration begins when they are challenged to create a lever out of binder clips and a meter stick to lift a load . Upon success , they are immediately given their next challenge : Can you lift the same load with half the force ? The only way to find out : try , and try again . In fact , it is in their best interest to fail .
The more they fail , the more opportunities the boys have to learn something . This experiential approach to learning is a cornerstone of inquiry in the science classroom . We , as
Our partnership with The Cold Spring Harbor DNA Learning Center affords the boys a look into best practices associated with DNA research .
Summer 2022 • 25