The Science Laboratory supports the teaching of science lessons through simple experiments, with simple materials and equipment. It consists of a room in which laboratory activities are carried out and a preparation room. It has equipment for instruments and preparations, a slide projector, for biology and geography lessons and for a series of maps.
It also has multimedia equipment: a computer, a projector and a screen. Several experimental activities (not only the compulsory ones) are carried out using multimedia, especially when there is an objective difficulty in carrying out the experiments because of their nature or because of the high cost of the equipment required. The use of multimedia is complementary to modern teaching methods, without replacing experiential learning, in order to understand difficult concepts or phenomena and thus to assimilate the curriculum. Laboratory activities take the form of either ‘demonstration experiments’ or ‘frontal experiments’ (i.e. experiments carried out by the pupils themselves, divided into groups of 3-4) or a video projection of an experiment, and are planned at the beginning of the school year by the teachers.
The Head of the lab takes care of any organisational, technical or other problem, in order to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the laboratory for which he/she has assumed responsibility and offers all possible assistance to the other teachers of Physics, Chemistry and Biology who use the laboratory. It is of course essential to renew and enrich the equipment of the laboratory. An internet connection in the laboratory would help the science teachers and give a new impetus to the teaching of all subjects.
However, in the Science Laboratory, through the experiments that take place, children connect science with everyday situations and are able to find answers to their questions. The use of the laboratory, with the teachers’ care and enthusiasm, makes Science more accessible to our students.
