"EXPLORATION" MEANS JUST AN EXPLORATION?

In our second week, we emphasized some important terms which are beneficial for teaching science. Actually, I can say that I have heard some of these terms before. In addition we gave different and clear examples in order to explain some complicated terms.

In our theoretical lesson, we focused on exploration. I learned that exploration have more meanings than it has. At the end of this lesson, I have thought that exploration contributes different special features to children. In my opinion, once a child attempt to explore something he/she begins to think, begins to observe , wonder and looks for answers and solutions. This situation brings us to the previous week. As we discussed teaching science importance last week, we said that science teaching supports all developmental areas of children. That is, exploration provides to children thinking and thus cognitive skill; going to different areas to research and thus motor skill; communication and discussing with others and thus social and language skills. Moreover, for this week, I realized the difference between prediction, estimation and measurement by giving clear examples. That is why, I can say that that week I got invaluable information what the exploration means and then I made inferences about its significance and I wanted to share it within this blog.

In our laboratory session, we had an activity that I found not only amusing but also providing us critical thinking. It is about paper towel's quality and our instruction wanted from us which one is more durable or more absorbency?? Our group made a decision about to find which one is more durable and then we actualized our experiment. We put equal drops on all of the paper towels and then began to put coins. According to results, our prediction and hypothesis was true. That is, we made a true hypothesis before starting experiment and with this experiment we have supported our hypothesis. Number 5 of paper towel was more durable because it carried much more coins according to others.

This experiment guided us about critical thinking, making decisions, constructing hypothesis and making follow statements one by one. I think this situation shows us, science is systematic discipline and gives us certain results!

In this week, also, I learned new terms:

quest: pursuit of something
hunt: search, look for
enquiry: investigation
comprehensive: extensive, large in scope