I have observed students having fun in my science practicum today.  My blog postings are based on how to make science fun for my students.  Today was a perfect example of kids having fun.  In my science practicum, 6th graders, the teacher had set up a utensil lab.    The teacher gave instructions to the student but no step by step directions.  There was no worksheet that told the students what to do, they were on their own to experiment and discover.  The lab consisted of several different trays with cups of stuff, one cup had cooked noodles, another cup had a bit of play dough, there was also cups of rice and popcorn kernels.  Also included on their trays were different sized marbles.   Each tray had a utensill that the students had to use to pick up the contents in the different cups.  The utensils were all different, one was a rubber glove, chopsticks, salad tongs, tweeers, and a paper plate cut into half and folded in half as a scooper.  The students were organized in groups of four.  The students had to use their science writing journals and record their observations. 
     What I saw was students working together to figure out how the utensil worked, trying to pick up as many popcorn kernels as possible, figuring out how to put the chopsticks together to pick up the marble.  Once the student's recorded their information, the students moved to the next tray with a new utensil.  I heard the student's saying, "This is so easy or I can not use these sticks to pick up a marble."  But the students figured things out on their own.  The teacher was there but she was mainly observing.   I went to the different groups and worked on my questioning skills.  I also used wait time one and two which is a lot harder to do because I had never really thought about wait time.
     Before class period had ended the teacher brought the students together and the whole class discussed what they observed.  The teacher asked, "What do you think the purpose was of this lab?"  And many students were right on the mark with knowing that in science there are many utensils a scientists needs to use to do an experiment.  
     What I took away from this experience is that being organized and prepared is a must for a successful class. I also learned to let the student's go with the activity without having to give them st ep by step instruction.  I learned that students are bright and funny and creative.  I saw the teacher having fun with her students.  I was having fun with the students.  So today the teacher was the motivation to have fun and learn something about science along the way.