Tucker Clarke Primary hosts SCIMATECH Expo
By Teressa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - STUDENTS of the Tucker Clarke Primary School are displaying their creativity within the parameters of science, mathematics and technology during the school’s first ever SCIMATECH Expo which began earlier in the week.
SKNVibes had the pleasure of visiting the school yesterday where an elaborate display of projects on which the children had worked over the past weeks.
Among the exhibits were seed designs, apparatuses demonstrating parallel and series circuits and water electrolysis; devices used to assist in the understanding of mathematics including a “fraction pizza” and a “geoboard”; musical instruments and a solar cooker in which the energy from the sun could be used to cook food.
There were also gadgets that demonstrated and portrayed the solar system, phases of the moon, paper recycling, soil erosion by water and effects of animal intrusion to plant growth.
An igloo constructed from Styrofoam and other material and a terrarium [a small environment in which plants and sometimes animals live] were other features of the Expo.
Coordinator of the event and Grade Six teacher Leslie Richards spoke exclusively with SKNVibes and explained that all ideas for the projects came from the children, and although teachers played a vital part in the execution processs, their input was minimal. ~~Adz:Right~~
He further explained that the idea of hosting an expo was birthed by the principal of the school, Sylvester Charles, who thought it an excellent idea to have the children of the institution create class projects that were centered around science, mathematics and technology.
Owing to Charles’ foresight, Richardson explained, the children of the Tucker Clarke Primary School are better prepared to participate in the National SCIMATECH Expo scheduled for May this year.
“Because of the vision of the principal, the children are better prepared…and because of that, it eliminated the extra pressure which will come as the event draws near.”
Hailing the event a success, Richardson said that it “encourages the development of the children in the areas of mathematics, science, technology and the application of such in their everyday life”.
Parents of the students of the Tucker Clarke Primary School as well as education officials, including Chairman of the Committee responsible for the organisation of the National SCIMATECH Expo, Hilton Clarke, visited the Expo.
“As a science person, I am excited in what I saw and I think that students and teachers seem to be really into science. I see the creativity coming out in the exhibits. I could see the leadership of the school is challenging and encouraging teachers to be proactive and to bring out the creativity and talents of the children while they interact with science and technology,” Clarke said.
The Tucker Clarke Primary School Exposition will conclude tomorrow Thursday, April 2008.
