How can I teach Maths and Science in an effective way without boring the student with facts and information?

Question

Student currently below 12, and doesn't seem to be interested in numbers.

Answer 1

I'm not a teacher and don't play one on TV but...
I'm a middle aged woman who's second career is teaching. I've almost completed certification and have learned a lot.

First, as you've discovered facts and information are boring and students tune out. Is there a particular topic you're covering? Chances are good someone else has developed a great inquiry (interactive) lesson to cover it. And by interactive I don't mean computer based, but hands-on. Browse the internet and borrow from others. Ideas will come to you. Provide opportunities for experimentation with the explanation that first guesses (hypotheses) may be proven wrong. This doesn't mean they made a mistake but shows they've learned.

Instead of worksheets (hate them, myself) students can create inventions using science and/or math concepts such as levers, pulleys, etc. Motion? Friction? Push a ball along various surfaces.

Make it real. Why would they want to know about fractions? A demonstration I saw involved making a cherry limeade drink and required measuring (one concept) and fractions (another concept). Use a search engine to find ideas. Type in "math games for home" or "math games for class" for small group or whole class activities. There are a lot of great ideas using everyday or very inexpensive items.

Do silly stuff like comparing mouth size with amount of time spent talking. Height circumference with length of jumps (found these ideas online).

Develop a business plan. Lemonade stands are popular. What will be needed? How many lemons, how much sugar, etc will be needed to start with? How much change should be available initially? How much should customers pay per cup for a profit? What are the up front expeneses? Etc.

Catch attention using demonstrations.

There are many, many great ideas online. I've listed just a few.

Hope I didn't go on too long. Teaching math and science used to scare me until I learned great tips like these in my education courses. Use what others have done and your own ideas will start to flow.

Answer 2

By basics of math I am assuming you mean addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. I think the easiest way to do this is to show kids the many ways you yourself use these concepts in your daily life. Examples could be: 1) Comparative shopping Which is a better price? How much can I save if.... (maybe as an incentive , put the savings aside for a treat later) 2) How much farther is it go path "A" as opposed to path "B"? 3) How many miles per gallon did the car get on this tank of gas? Do I get better gas mileage in town or going long distances. 4) How many pieces of wood 17" long can I get out of this 2 x 4? How many 2 x 4's do I need if I want to complete this wall? 5) This pattern uses "x" yards of material. How many yards do I need to buy to make 3? These are just typical things that come up in life where you use math. Become aware the times you use it and share them with the kids. When shown how you use the basics the kids will be "less bored" than by using some hypothetical situations. But face it, they are kids and we are adults so they will act bored anyway. That's just the game we all play!

Answer 3

Teach math concepts with a variety of manipulatives. Just about anything can be a manipulative, but there are many commercially available. Here are some examples that I've used with 10-12 year olds:

Base ten blocks are useful for teaching anything about the decimal system. You can add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers and decimals using these handy manipulatives.

AngLegs are great for teaching geometry, especially 2-D shapes and angle/side measurement relationships.

Fraction strips and fraction circles are, of course, great for teaching fractions (you can get them from my website, http://www.math-drills.com).

Cuisenaire Rods and Fraction Factory Pieces are useful for teaching ratios and fractions.

Bits and Bites (Snack Mix) is ideal for teaching ratios. Other foods work well for many math concepts. How about a bag of jelly beans for a data management project?

Counters (e.g. bingo chips, colored bears, beans, Legos) can be used for any number of activities.

Get a whole bunch of graph paper as it can be used for data management, modeling fractions and decimals, creating sketches of 3-D views, drawing 2-D shapes, counting, finding area, and many other things.

I've yet to meet a student whose eyes did not light up at the sight of manipulatives at the beginning of a math lesson. Good luck!

Answer 4

Try to relate the concepts to what they do in their daily life, such as activities they are performing intuitively like running for a fly ball, the route of the ball being a parabola, vectors playing a roll in the player running to catch the ball.

Science, especially chemistry, that's what cooking is all about. A battery won't work unless electrolysis takes place so their car won't start.

I think if students can see a use for math and science, they will be more interested in it.

We certainly need more interested teachers like you. Thanks for posing the question.
.

Answer 5

I would suggest putting it into game form yes they will have to read and write to but every other day or so play a game relating to the subject
or put more interesting things in it like if u were teaching about Earth's interior maby let them make a clay modle of it
If u were teaching about other things in math use $ instead of a book or paper
good luck

Answer 6

Fun expiriements are a great way to teach children about science. How about teaching them which chimicals they would need to make homemade ice cream? You could set up a "crime scene" before class one day that they would need science to come up with the answer for or you could demonstrate how science affects our every day lives with expiriements.

As far as math is concerned....don't just sit there and "teach" them.....Help them to teach themselves. Part of their learning is getting them involved! Try doing a class project where they can design their own lives and have them budget themselves.

It's hard to help you when I have no idea what grade/subjects you're actually teaching....But other teachers in your school will be able to help you out, especially the more expireinced ones. My advice is to ask them for help. There are several resources on the web that will help you come up with age appropriate and fun activities to do with your class.

Answer 7

I remember my favorite math teacher EVER letting us play a computer game one day. It was a game where you had to estimate the number of bubbles on the screen and he had it on a huge screen so everybody could take a guess... it was fun and a break from the norm. Then the next day he taught us the lesson from the book and it all seemed to click because we had just applied that same stuff the day before.

So anyway, the point is try playing a game or something!

Answer 8

Teach the math and science with real world examples. Kids will enjoy math a whole lot more if they can see how algebra relates to physics, and they get to do things like send steel balls down ramps as part of their homework. Get some ideas form a high school physics book.

Kids do bad at math because it's taught as too abstract. Show them how it relates to their real life, and they'll eat it up.

Answer 9

Find something that is relative to the students, something they are interested in and then incorporate Math and Science. IE: Video games would not be here without Math and Science. Or how about an assignment to build something without using math....see how difficult it would be.

Answer 10

I have 20+ years experience in TESL & TEFL, most of it in Japan, ( I currently teach at a private high school to classes of 20 students) but it was only in the past 3 years that I've found (and am still exploring) a very, very useful and effective mode of teaching. It's called "Cooperative Learning" (Google it for more info) and it has turned all of my classes around.

It is applicable to any subject matter, any course; it is independent of content. It works as well with Math/Science as it does with Language Arts.

It would be impossible to explain it in enough detail here, but here are some key features:

*seat students in groups.
*groups of four provide each student with 3 partners.
*give students many opportunities for student-student interaction.
*create or adapt materials to allow for maximum interaction between students.
*alternate between teacher-centered and student-centered activities depending on the goals of each activity.
*make students accountable to each other (team-mates) and to you.
*all students should be engaged in tasks simultaneously, with no opportunity to opt out.

It is often necessary to "lecture" or at least provide some instruction to the class as a whole, but when doing so you should clearly state how long you plan to talk (we even use timers to prove we mean business), keep it to a bare minimum and do NOT go overtime. This will force you to plan your talk carefully for maximum clarity, and it will help to build trust between you and your students. If you must give lengthy instructions, or actually lecture for more than 10 minutes, you must punctuate your talk with a wide variety of demonstrations (audio-visuals, teacher-student Q&A or roleplays, real-world props, etc.) to maintain interest. Whenever possible try to involve students and/or interact directly with them as you "lecture". Try out your sense of humour on students who you can be fairly sure will respond well, and as you build self-confidence in your ability to relax and enjoy a laugh with students you may find that it quickly becomes the best tool in your kitbag.

Good luck!