At Oakridge International School, Mohali, our vision is to develop thoughtful learners by incorporating practical aspects of STEM education into the IB (International Baccalaureate) program.

Scientific Exploration through Inquiry-Based Learning

According to the International Baccalaureate philosophy that supports inquiry-based learning, our students in grade III recently embarked on a scientific exploration. In their unit of inquiry, they understood important and relevant aspects of science as they engaged in a series of exciting experiments that worked as mini-case studies in class.

Experiment 1: Sublimation of Iodine

In this experiment, our young scientists learned about sublimation—the process of turning a solid directly into a gaseous state. With iodine, they watched in amazement as the gray solid turned directly into bright purple fumes when heated slightly. Besides changing the state, this experiment also paved the way for the learners to ponder and analyze what matter is and what happens to it. These were then succeeded by short discussions about their observations with an utmost focus on the attributes of the IB learner profile of being thinkers and inquirers.

Experiment 2: Boiling of Water

In the next practical lesson, the students explored boiling by carrying out an experiment where they measured the initial and final temperature of water. They observed the increase in temperature and realized when water became inconvertible and evaporated. Simple but thought-provoking, this experiment was a good way to focus on the issue of heat transfer and physical alteration. Through this activity, the students portrayed the attribute of being knowledgeable while relating natural occurrences to scientific concepts.

Experiment 3: Elephant Toothpaste

The keyed-up pace of the activities came to fruition with the ‘Elephant Toothpaste,’ a sensational chemistry experiment. When hydrogen peroxide was rebroken down, the students observed foam’s fast production due to oxygen’s evolution. Not only did this make science fun, but it also linked back to the values of the International Baccalaureate, as the students were curious, they took risks and came up with their own hypotheses and then saw how right or wrong those hypotheses were.

Experiment 4: Fire in Water

The last point illustrated to the students was the chemical reaction between sodium and water. While observing the release of hydrogen gas, they fired in water, which engaged them in energy changes in chemical reactions.

Encouraging Inquiry and Global Citizenship

By using this experiment, students got the impression of the dynamic nature of chemistry to be able to think about the consequences of performed experiments as about the authority given to chemists. These solutions availed our Grade 3 learners both an understanding of eight key learning areas and facilitated the inception of twenty-first-century renewed competencies, including collaboration, critical thinking skills, and communication. As it is our duty and privilege to educate young minds at Oakridge Mohali, we encourage the spirit of inquiry in students.

Fostering 21st-Century Skills through STEM

Maintaining the tradition of active integration of STEM into the context of the classes given within the frames of the International Baccalaureate, Oakridge, Mohali encourages more and more of its students to become passionate learners and enlighten the idea of global citizens ready to make positive changes in the world.