SEEING SCIENCE

Project to Help the Visually-handicapped Students Enjoy Learning Science More

Group members: Rebecca Chia Su Min (02) 401Kimberlyn Ong Bi Qin(18) 401Charlotte Yeo Yuan Hwee (5)404Eunice Chiam Yi Qin (13) 404Chia Shi Jin (04) 407Gladys Chua Aik Ting (06) 407Tan Hui Yi (23) 407Xue Shan (33) 409

Contents

1. Overview of Project2. The Underlying Problem3. Objectives of our project4. The Intended Plan of Action5. Our Progress so far6. Ongoing Plans7. Reflections

Overview of Project

Problems Identified Importance/relevance of science Loss of sense of sight Impedes learning of science Lower self-esteem, form psychological

barrier Require more time, attention Require specialized learning aids

Overview of Project

Preliminary research/survey Estimated 45 million blind people and

135 million visually impaired people worldwide

Global prevalence of childhood blindness is around 0.07%

Overview of Project

Preliminary research/survey Liaisons with Mr Koh(principal of SSVH) and

Ms Penny Chong (Resource teacher of A.I)

The Underlying Problem

Given that the visually-handicapped students face difficulty in the learning of science due to their lack of sight, how might we proceed to aid the visually-handicapped in their learning of science in the year 2008 and beyond, so that the visually handicapped students would be able to enjoy and learn science easily?

Objectives of our project

1. To enhance the learning experiences of science for the visually handicapped through engaging ways.

2. To help the visually handicapped grasp difficult science concepts.

3. In the course of doing so, we hope to be able to help the visually handicapped overcome their fear of learning science.

The Intended Plan of Action

1. Identifying the needs and concerns of the various schools that cater to the visually handicapped.

• Evaluating possible ideas and plans for the individual schools

2. Our products (e.g. our songs, games, models)

• Cost-effectiveness

• Practicality

Our progress so far

Collaboration with Singapore School for the Visually Handicapped (currently known as Lighthouse School)

2008 November Science Camp 2 –day Science Camp at SSVH Attended by 15 students from P3 to P6

LESSON PLANS Animal Board Game Water Cycle Song Matter Song Field Trip to Farmart

Pre-Science Camp

Liaised with SSVH Principal and Science Teacher through emails

Met up with SSVH to show them our proposed plans.

DAY 1

Time Activity0800-0900 Introduction/ Ice-breaker Games0900-1000 Games related to science

(Board Games)

1000-1020 Recess1020-1150 Song and related worksheets1150-1300 Station games (E.g. What is the time Mr Water

Cycle?)1300-1400 Lunch1400-1415 Debrief.

Brief pupils on fieldtrip on 14th

Animal Board Game To allow the students to learn about different

animals facts Mammals/birds/reptiles Outer coverings Reproduction

Animal Board Game

Typed labels for game using the Perkins Brailler.

Had to raise outlines of the board game for the visually handicapped students to be able to feel it.

STATION GAMES

Played innovative games that we created

Pass the Parcel Animal

Concentration What is the

process Mr. Water Cycle

Matter + Water Cycle Songs

Songs can help the students remember science concepts easily.

Teachers commented that many of the students are musically inclined.

Matter + Water Cycle Songs

Preliminary research to confirm facts

Composed and recorded songs into a CD

Transcribed lyrics and worksheets into Braille using the Braille Production Unit

To engage the students more actively, we created noise-makers.

Farmart Field Trip

PRE-TRIP Went down to Farmart Checked out suitable places to bring

students Got contacts of the different vendors

there.

Brought the students there on Day 2 of Science Camp!

Time Activity1 hour Animal Corner20 minutes Sugar Cane

20 minutes Break (Go to nearby toilet if necessary)

30 minutes Fish Spa

30 minutes Quail Egg

20 minutes Debrief

Ongoing plans

Ongoing Plans

1. Collaboration with Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School

2. Typing in of assessment books3. Organising an educational fieldtrip4. Selling of Bubble Tea to raise funds.

Assessment books

We typed in Science assessment books to facilitate translation into Braille text.

Volunteers from RGS (CIP hours)

Preparation for Ahmad Ibrahim Fieldtrip Field trip on the 27th of May To be attended by 16 students

PLACES WE’RE GOING TO:1. Aerogreen Farm (Aeroponics)

• Aeroponics farming, Herbs and spices, and their uses.

2. Jurong Frog Farm• Life cycle, adaptations and structure of

frogs.

Pre-trip planning

Fieldtrips Comm. went down to survey the farms on 5 April 2009.

Preliminary research and worksheet preparation for fieldtrips

Cost of fieldtrip:

$5.40 per student Preparation of

feedback forms

Bubble Tea Fund Raising

For subsidizing Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School Fieldtrip

To be held on 19th May Tuesday Will be collecting orders from the school

population soon Remainder of funds will be kept

Future Plans

Contacting the White Cane Club for June Holidays Activities.

To ensure sustainability and that the VH will continue to receive help in learning science

Contacting Sec 3 CmPS team Instruct and mentor them Leave them funds from Bubble Tea fund

raising Pass contacts of SSVH and Ahmad Ibrahim to

them

Our Reflections

Things we have done right

Well-prepared: Did a lot of research beforehand

Having perseverance and persistence Successfully crafted and carried out our

lesson plans and fieldtrip (Science camp) Interacted a lot with the visually

handicapped students

Difficulties

Liaisons with schools (many did not reply us)

Making of models (E.g. Cell Model)

How we can improve

Better Task Delegation and Communication

Time management and commitment

Reach out to more students from visually handicapped schools!

Thank You for your kind attention (:

Special thanks goes out to our teacher mentor Mrs Lee-Lim Chyn