My absolute passion is nature and the phenomena that occur in it. My other passion is teaching. So, teaching sciences is a great combination of the two. I think it is essential that students decipher the secrets contained in a body, an ecosystem, an observable phenomenon and for that we must try things out, experiment.
I love the astonished and surprised face of students when they make a discovery: the variety and quantity of questions they pose so as to learn more and unravel their doubts, the desire they have to handle and touch objects, to develop the ability to observe and make deductions when studying a phenomenon, the generation of projects to invent or create a new innovative product that solves a problem.
Science is fascinating and working with students is even more so. It is discovering the secrets that God has placed in everything around us and being grateful for them. It is a work that involves collaboration, listening and communication.
When we observe, we feel nature, we marvel at its beauty, and it reminds us of God's wonderful creation. The richness of a sunrise or sunset, the brightness of the stars, the diversity and beauty of plants and animals, the amazing natural phenomena pertaining to science and present in everything around us is truly impressive.
Science is a process of knowledge production. To achieve this, it is necessary both to make careful observations of the different phenomena and to develop theories to make sense of these observations.
To encourage the development of scientific skills in students, a variety of experiments are needed that involve physical and mental activity, touching and handling objects, using language, aligning with previous experiences, reasoning, interacting with nature, observing and experimenting inside and outside the classroom. These experiences and learnings help students to understand the world, to gather and organize information, to apply and test ideas, to develop positive attitudes towards science that give them a solid foundation for the further development of scientific concepts that students will encounter throughout their academic life.
The youngest are naturally curious about everything around them. They instinctively like to observe, explore, discover and question. They can be fearless in their experiments since they are not afraid to make mistakes and realize that their ideas do not work as they hoped. They simply revise their thinking, ask new questions and try again. They are naturally motivated to explore.
The essence of intellectual development is nourished by these wonderful ideas that students generate.
At the Assumption Institute of "Las Águilas" (Mexico), students have the opportunity to learn how to learn, to develop a critical sense, acquire a broad vision and a lifestyle based on the union between science, faith and life. Contact with knowledge and analysis of reality in all its dimensions are encouraged.
They learn to be and to do, promoting different experiences that allow the development of the skills of scientific thinking that we have talked about: observe, question, seek resources, investigate, gather information from different sources, analyze and process the information, define and solve problems, raise hypotheses, make inferences, develop critical thinking and communicate what has been learned.
We learn to live together through leadership that translates into real service to the community, with clear goals and a tremendous commitment towards caring for our Common Home. Thus, we teach with passion, so that the students fall in love with sciences.
Laura Diaz, science coordinator at the Águilas school (Mexico)