Rapid advances in computer technology, the infusion of complex mathematics in economics, and the influence of science on health and medicine are but a few examples from today's society. Once thought by some to be the realm of an intellectual elite, science and mathematics are part of everyone's life. Students' success as adults will be influenced by their ability to observe, interpret, and understand their surroundings. Education's challenge is to instill the underlying concepts of science and mathematics in all students so they can construct their own foundations and continue to learn throughout their lives. Make It Real To begin to build that lifelong foundation, students must view science and mathematics with interest and enthusiasm.
Teachers can nurture intellectual excitement by linking classroom activities with real life.
While some learners work well with abstract ideas, for most of us understanding is enhanced when it is linked to a familiar experience. While many textbooks and instructional activities provide interesting theoretical suggestions, taking those theories and applying them to student experiences can test a teacher's ingenuity. If your school is connected to the Internet, hook into a meteorological site that provides reports of weather patterns across the country or around the world. Many excellent instructional materials pose questions and suggest activities that can be tied to the local environment. Build your lessons around them with a thought of how familiar and immediate they will be to your students.