Glass beakers came crashing down and the chloride solution sprayed everywhere. My Elementary Science Field Day (ESFD) students immediately began blaming each other for misreading the experiment procedure or simply not paying attention.
At every ESFD practice, similar battles erupted from minor accidents. Everyone, including myself, lost interest in the science competition. As the coach, I gradually put less effort into the team. I began teaching the curriculum half-heartedly. I depended on students to self-learn the material and failed to voice my expectations. Test scores never impressed me and winning became an impossible concept.
Without a second thought, all my students quit ESFD. This sudden change made me reconsider my role as their coach. To be frank, memorizing chemical reactions or math equations served no purpose if it was solely to win. For the whole team to succeed, I had to build a collaborative and efficient learning environment that fosters intrinsic motivation: to enjoy the fight, not just the victory.
In the following years, I worked with each student, understanding which learning techniques best suited them. WIth one student, I played scavenger hunts to learn photosynthesis. With another student, I created picture collages to model constellations. Practices turned into celebrations where learning became a pleasure, not a burden. I was not regurgitating words from the textbook anymore. Rather, I was creating value in science.
One time, each student became molecules in the intricate game of the Krebs Cycle. I, the intermediate enzymatic reaction, ensured everyone carried out their “molecular role” and worked together to generate ATP (cellular energy). Interactive lessons like these made me grasp the importance of engaging each team member.
Becoming more accountable for my actions refined my teaching methods and drove students to learn for knowledge rather than the prize. From breaking beakers to breaking winning records, my students blossomed into genuine learners. Earning first place in every event for the last five years at ESFD San Diego County was just the beginning.