Last week, students at YCIS Shanghai’s Regency Park Campus were excited to have a visit from Hong Kong-based scientists, Dr Choi Siu Wai and Mr Cyrus Ho. Dr Choi and Mr Ho work with the Yew Chung Foundation as Scientists-in-Residence, and are sharing their love of Science with schools throughout the YCIS network as part of the 85th Anniversary of Yew Chung this year. Dr Choi and Mr Ho came to work with some of the older Primary children, in Years 5 and 6, and some of the school’s youngest children, in K4.

Students were guided in conducting experiments with water, with different learning opportunities for the three year levels:

• K4 learned about chromatography. The young children quickly absorbed scientific language and then used it in conversation with their teachers, with one student explaining how “the ink went to the bottom because it is heavier”.
• Year 5 carried out an experiment on water tension, which focused on changing one variable while keeping all the others the same. The activity offered invaluable practice in carrying out the Scientific Method.
• Finally, Dr Choi and Mr Ho worked with Year 6 to conduct an experiment on water density. This provided preparation for the upcoming Year 6 Science Fair. The Year 6 students were very excited to see the rainbow effect caused by mixing water of different densities, dyed different colours. 

The visit led up to the next big science event at YCIS: the ‘Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Week’ at our Century Park campus, which was held from January 29 to February 2, and offered a range of Science-themed activities for our Year 6 and Secondary Students. This, along with the regular curriculum and events such as these visits from the Scientists-in-Residence, develops students’ appreciation and love of Science. 

Written by Mr John McEnhill, Primary Curriculum Coordinator, YCIS Shanghai’s Regency Park Campus.