TL;DR:
- To finish the year strong, do science.
- Get your students excited about science by sharing what you do outside of the classroom.
- Have fun doing science that makes you happy!
Two of my telescopes used for watching the May 15, 2022 lunar eclipse.
It is that time of year again…testing season is in full swing, students are ready for the year to end, and grades need to be finalized. With all of that craziness, it is easy to want to check out and just be done. However, it is important to remember that at this time of year, our students need us to be present and engaged more than ever. And my advice for how to do that? Do science!
My passion is science which is why I teach it.
But when I find myself starting to lose motivation, I allow myself to get lost in doing something “science-y.”
Last weekend, even though I was incredibly tired after a long week, I had so much fun using my telescopes and staying up late to watch the total lunar eclipse. At 10:30 pm I began setting up my telescopes to watch the astronomical show.
As I watched the moon move into the Earth’s shadow and turn red due to the refraction of light, the physical awe of the moment gave me energy to stay awake until midnight without feeling tired. (And this is saying something considering that I am normally fast asleep by 10:00!) That excitement continued to fuel me the next day in school as I shared my pictures with my students and they shared theirs with me.
The moon viewed through my telescope during totality of the May 15, 2022 lunar eclipse.
Another example of letting the excitement of science give me energy comes when I go on hikes and immerse myself in nature. I recently went on a hike with my daughter and while we were walking, we found so many interesting insects including a rare sighting of a luna moth!
Luna moth my daughter and I discovered during a hike.
These types of experiences give me a variety of topics to discuss with my students to help them see science outside of the classroom. Hopefully this also gives them ideas of what they can do over the summer to continue their science explorations independently.
The books I brought home from the library while on my history of microscopy kick!
Some of the science that I do to keep me motivated does not directly involve my classroom or curriculum.
I recently got one of my microscopes out and started looking back through slides that I had prepared over the years. I then started thinking about the history of microscopes, lenses, and the life of Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek which resulted in a trip to the library and five more books added to my Goodreads “Want to Read” list.
While the activities described in this post are science specific, this advice can apply to any content area. Remember, there was a reason you chose to specialize in the content you are teaching, so give yourself time to enjoy it! The more fun I have doing science, the more excited I get about being able to share what I have learned with others. So what are your strategies for staying strong through the end of the year? Be sure to tag me and share your ideas and passion projects so that we can all Science Better!
About Holly Stuart
Holly Stuart is an 8th grade science and design teacher in South Carolina. Her educational passions include finding new and innovative ways to get more students interested in STEAM, student-inspired discovery through inquiry, and learning science by doing science.
In addition to her out-of-the-box thinking in the classroom, she has successfully implemented The Grid Method into her teaching practice which led to her becoming a Teach Better Team Ambassador. Holly is married to her high school sweetheart and is a mother to three children.
When not teaching, she enjoys traveling and being outside with her family. Some of their favorite outdoor activities include hiking, running, and biking. (Holly often brings her telescope, binoculars, and microscopes with her on hikes!) Her indoor hobbies include reading, coloring, and learning more about sketchnoting and drawing.
