See the original post: Lower School Embarked STEM Week Integrating Culture and Science
Recently, pupils enthusiastically participated in various challenge games at the Lower School STEM Week Science Fair. Activities such as “Identify Herbs by Smell,” the “Black Box Challenge,” and the “Taste Bud Adventure” offered a series of ‘edutainment’ experiences, marking a perfect conclusion to this term’s STEM Week.
Recently, WASHZ Lower School embarked on a unique “Traditional Chinese Medicine” themed STEM Week.At first glance, this theme might be counterintuitive to the conventional perception of “science”, but the STEM Week Coordinator, Ms Mandy Fang, believes that science encompasses more than just the physical sciences.
“Life sciences and medical sciences are also important branches of science, and these subjects have become very popular university majors in recent years.”
Mr Edward Philpott, Executive Head of the WASHZ Lower School fully endorsed the STEM Week, noting that the pupils enjoyed themselves while enhancing their scientific literacy through immersive cultural experiences.Mr Philpott further mentioned that the STEAM education concept was originally introduced from the West, emphasising cross-disciplinary learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
Chinese educators creatively combined Chinese culture with Western STEAM education, proposing the “C-STEAM” concept. This term’s STEM Week drew its inspiration from this innovative idea.
STEM Week is an academic practice project the WASHZ Lower School consistently holds. It aims to provide pupils with diverse and multi-level learning experiences. At WASHZ, we understand that academic excellence cannot be confined to classrooms and textbooks. Critical thinking, innovative thinking, and problem-solving skills are more often developed through practice and exploration. Integrating knowledge and action, along with holistic development, is the original intention of STEM Week and the educational philosophy upheld by WASHZ.
Teachers put in their utmost effort into designing engaging classroom experiments, ingeniously embedding scientific principles within experimental steps.
This allows pupils to efficiently grasp academic knowledge while marvelling at the wonders of science. According to Ms Fang, the lower grade pupils learned how to make a traditional Chinese steelyard, known as “deng zi.” This tool for measuring traditional Chinese herbs is part of China’s cultural heritage.
Through this experiment, pupils grasped the fundamental principles of levers and became familiar with traditional Chinese measurement units, such as “Jin” and “Liang”.Additionally, pupils applied engineering knowledge to design a drip irrigation system for watering Chinese herbs planted by the senior lower school pupils on the campus farm.
Senior pupils used chemical techniques in the laboratory to produce Banlangen (Isatis root) capsules. They started by brewing the herb powder, then went through a series of steps, including filtration, compression, and drying, eventually creating well-formed traditional Chinese medicine capsules.
The week-long practical classes showcased the perfect blend of traditional culture and modern science in every corner. These academic yet fun experimental activities deepened the pupils’ understanding of traditional Chinese medicine and related culture and enhanced their spirit of inquiry and hands-on skills.
On Friday, STEM Week concluded with an entertaining and educational Science Fair.
The fair featured multiple challenge activities, where pupils had to complete each challenge to earn bronze coins. These coins could then be used to purchase various traditional Chinese medicinal foods available at the event.
As Ms Fang mentioned, traditional culture emphasises the concept of “food and medicine sharing the same source.” Throughout history, Chinese people have believed that food, under certain conditions, can also have therapeutic effects. The diverse array of traditional Chinese snacks at the event aimed to help pupils learn about the medicinal value of these ingredients while enjoying delicious treats and experiencing the intricacies of traditional Chinese medicine culture.
The engaging challenge activities successfully stimulated the pupils’ enthusiasm, and the exhibition turned into a carnival blending traditional culture with modern science, with long queues forming in front of many activities.
Throughout the week, Lower School pupils explored the broad theme of “Chinese herbal medicine,” identifying problems, solving them, and reflecting on their experiences. This helps broaden their knowledge and deepen their understanding of both traditional culture and science.STEM Week at WASHZ is far from being just an academic event. When serious and rigorous scientific theories meet engaging interactive practice, participating pupils gain immediate benefits and nurture seeds of curiosity, innovation, and exploration in them. These seeds will grow with them, preparing them to face the ever-changing world.
