USAID Primary Education Project

Physics is "PHUN"

On the 19th of December, in the primary school ‘Hristijan Todorovski Karpos’, USAID PEP and IU consultant Jeff Nowak organized a workshop for the construction of an ‘Environmental Movement Machine’ with the students in 7th and 8th grade. The aim for the students was to construct a chain reaction machine, which will transfer mechanical energy.

Although this was the first time they had such an experience, the students were very enthusiastic about this venture giving all their effort and attention. They were so motivated that they produced a perfectly functional machine in less than a day. The workshop was led by a consultant from Indiana University USA, Dr. Jeff Nowak in cooperation with their physics and technical education teacher and three BDE physics advisors.

‘I am surprised to see how these students managed to make the machine functional in just a day, when the process often takes up to a month.’ –Jeff Nowak said.

Igor Donov, their physics teacher, was also pleased to see his students successfully construct this complex mechanism out of every-day materials. “It is amazing to see how motivated the students are. They are very eager to make the machine work. Through this kind of work, they apply their theoretical knowledge into practice and learn new things at the same time.”
The students were also satisfied and contented with their work saying that this method of improving their science skills is very helpful for them, and, as this is their first project like this, they hope it will not be the last.

PEP’s math and science component is promoting practical activities like the ‘Environmental Movement Machine’ as the best way to learn science. They make the students familiar with laws of physics in a way that is direct and interesting for their age. Based on experience from this workshop, in 2009, PEP will organize an ‘Environmental Movement Machine’ regional competition, so that more students in Macedonia can become excited about their science studies.

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