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Science  American Football
American Football (AF) is a teaching unit from a science project developed for primary school pupils from the 6th-10th grades. The project is set within a cross-institutional collaborative framework of local primary school science teachers and two science teachers from Faaborg Gymnasium. The main purpose of the project is to engage pupils in science within a story-telling context where 'body-on' participation becomes a motivating factor in acquiring and analysing data. The educational theory behind AF goes far beyond traditional classroom activities with teachers at the blackboard and pupils behind their desks. It proves science to be fun and physical. The fact that the results of the activities are unknown to the pupils (and their teachers) also strengthens their engagement in the project. In AF the idea is to set the best team with the pupils at hand occupying three important categories of the game: running backs, wide receivers and line backers. These categories involve physical abilities that allow all children a fair result within at least one area.
The activities in AF require electronic data-processing and the 'Logger-Pro' program used is easy for them to apply. The use of computers and sensors greatly appeals to primary school pupils, who generally have excellent computer skills. Together, story-telling and the application of electronic equipment may prove to enhance the teaching of science significantly, and through a natural and convincing connection to their own world, disprove that science is boring and difficult. Pupil evaluations strongly support this view. Contact details
Last update: 17 July 2007
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