• DIY

    The PopSci Junior Scientists

    By Posted on 4.16.2008 7 Comments

    We first became acquainted with Mrs. Daftari's fifth-grade class earlier this year when they rose to a challenge printed in PopSci by submitting their essays for how they'd change the world. Most recently, they sent us these video responses to our 5-Minutes Projects series. In the second, McKenna Mooney and Madison Wilson replicate Megan Miller's DIY non-Newtonian fluid (otherwise known as slime). And in the first, Kacie Moore and Olivia Johnson present a project of their own: the sound catcher.

    4.20.2008 at 04:25pm - Comment by m thornton

    Wow, how excited can one become watching students being thrilled over science! It is so heart warming. What I can't understand is where all the other projects from other schools are? Surely there are teachers who are working with their students on innovative ideas as I write. I just know there are. I am so proud of my profession and to see what students are doing with just a little encouragement from their teacher and inspiration from a great magazine. Since seeing these articles on these students, I am motivated to purchase a subscription for my grandchildren. Way to go Jay Students! Mary Thornton-retired educator

  • Science

    Extra Credit: Save the World

    By Posted on 8.22.2008 21 Comments

    Meet Jennifer Daftari’s fifth-grade class at Jay Elementary School in Jay, Oklahoma. They don’t know it yet, but they’re going to save the world. I got an e-mail not long ago from Ms. Daftari in which she made a compelling (and ego-satisfying) case that her students are PopSci’s greatest fans. Every month when she announces the arrival of a new issue, she wrote, “they wildly applaud, sitting on the edge of their seats to see what new ideas, technology and inventions their eyes will behold. You and your staff are ‘rock stars’ to my students.”

    3.22.2008 at 11:32am - Comment by m thornton

    As a 30 year retired teacher of many brilliant children, I am so thankful that there is still a teacher out there who will go the extra mile for her kids. It seems that in the last ten years, mandated testing has taken over the curriculum, which does not leave much time for such innovative time for the students. There are many excellent teachers, but test preparation seems to be the major focus. It has turned into no learning by discovery, only low level regurgitation of information. After reading about Mrs. Daftari’s class, I am excited for myself, because it brings back all the fond memories when teaching was fun and I am excited for these 5th graders who have been spurred on to greater thoughts for our world. They are learning to think! You constantly hear about the future generation being our wealth, but there is no wealth without investing the time and energy to intrigue the minds of our children. Great going Mrs. Daftari and I have great respect for your fifth grade students for opening their minds to learn. The sun will shine in our future with the gold of their productive thoughts. Do you suppose that is why an ounce of gold is worth so much now? Mary Thornton-retired educator



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