In Fountainhead School, a Community Service Program was held in 2023, with diverse clusters of arts, dance, science projects, sports, ICT and more which was aimed to enrich understanding of unprivileged children. This experience went on for 3 weekends, from 5th to 20th August 2023. We intended to provide opportunity of diverse activities to children who normally would not have the resources or opportunities for the same. This experience not only taught me to be considerate but also learn along the experience. I had specifically opted to be in science projects since those students do not have the resources to have experiment based learning, so teaching them through projects was quite interesting.
We wanted kids to understand different applications of a subject and have a more practical approach to teaching and addressing a new concept, rather than conventional science, to which they will already be exposed as they grow. Three weekends were set aside for the gathering of students from the third to sixth grades, giving us the chance to instruct and, more significantly, learn from them. Each workshop had a different experiment planned, which could help the students relate these experiments with their real life scenarios as well.
LO1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
Throughout this community service experience, I identified my strengths in teaching and communicating complex scientific concepts to children in simple, understandable terms. My prior experience in science gave me confidence in leading the activities. However, I also recognized areas for growth, such as improving my patience and adaptability when explaining concepts to children with diverse learning abilities. This experience helped me reflect on how I can be more empathetic and flexible in my teaching approach.
LO2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process
The biggest challenge I faced was teaching science through project-based learning to children who had limited prior exposure to experiments. This required me to think creatively and use everyday materials to conduct experiments, ensuring they were both engaging and educational. I developed new skills in improvisation, resourcefulness, and effective communication, which helped me adapt the teaching process to suit the children’s needs and resources.
LO3: Initiate and plan a CAS experience
While I participated in a pre-planned event, I took the initiative to organize specific science projects and activities for the children. I researched simple, safe, and engaging experiments, ensuring that the materials were readily available and that the activities were appropriate for the children’s age and understanding. This experience taught me how to effectively plan, execute, and manage a learning environment with limited resources.
LO4: Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences
The Community Service Program lasted for three weekends, and throughout this period, I remained fully committed to ensuring that the children were engaged and learning something new each time. Despite some challenges, such as the children’s varying attention spans and limited access to materials, I persisted in finding ways to make the science lessons interesting and meaningful for them. My dedication to making the most of this experience showed my perseverance.
LO5: Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
This experience required collaboration with other volunteers and teachers to ensure that the event ran smoothly. I worked closely with the other team members, exchanging ideas and coordinating the science activities with other clusters such as arts and sports. The collaborative environment was crucial in making the overall experience more enriching for the children, and it taught me the importance of teamwork in achieving shared goals.
Learning Outcome 6: Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance
I wanted to do this project to contribute towards UN SDG 4 “Quality Education” as we were teaching the kids science through a practical approach. The projects we taught fostered critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, skills essential for their future.
On the other hand, these children came from disadvantaged backgrounds and do not have resources to perform science projects or learn through any practical experiences. We tried to provide them with resources and explain how every experiment was related to scientific theories and the real world. Teaching science projects often encourages understanding of scientific principles tied to broader global issues, such as climate change, clean energy, or health. By engaging students in these topics, we helped them think about global problems and how they can contribute to solutions.
Learning Outcome 7: Recognizing and considering the ethics of choices and actions
When taking on this project, it was essential to take the ethical implications of our choices and actions into consideration. We needed to make sure that the program was inclusive and accessible to all children, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities. We acknowledged the ability and value of every participant, treating them with respect and kindness throughout the training sessions.
Moreover, in underprivileged communities, there might be misconceptions that women should not be involved in STEM or they are more inclined towards arts or dance. Although, we wanted to help break that stereotype and create an environment which did not doubt or question anyone’s abilities. We also planned simple and child friendly experiments so everyone present could perform and participate. Teaching science promotes curiosity and lifelong learning, which can have a lasting, positive effect on their futures.
In conclusion, teaching science helped me develop as a person and create compassion for them. This project was not just about teaching science, it was about empowering young minds, promoting inclusivity, and creating positive change in society. Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces and the newfound confidence in their eyes assured us that our efforts were making a real impact, one step at a time.
