Caitlyn Foster

Teaching Elementary Science

9/9/14
Science Autobiography

Science Autobiography/ Reflective Personal Narrative

Throughout school, I have always had a great interest in science. I do not have any memories
of science that stand out to me from elementary school. This may be because there wasnt as
much of an emphasis on science as there was on reading and math or maybe because I never had
a teacher that taught science in a memorable way. However, as a child I always loved being
outside in nature and learning about nature. I remember my grandparents teaching me how to
fish and teaching me all about the fish I caught and about the lakes ecosystem. My mother also
bought me many books about different animals that I always enjoyed reading. I was naturally
very curious and at a young age, I developed a great interest and passion for nature.
My earliest memories of science in school begin in sixth grade at Liberty Middle School. In
middle school, I participated in my very first science fair. My project tested the question; what
time of day will fish most likely bite? I remember being excited that I could create a science
project on something that I had a great interest in. I also went on a three day science field trip in
middle school called Natures Classroom. On this field trip, we studied the Hillsborough River
and the organisms in/ around the river. We also studied different plants that grow in Florida and
navigated our way through the woods using a compass.
In high school, I took biology, chemistry and physics. Out of these, I found biology to be my
favorite. I had an excellent biology teacher that planned experiments and hands-on activities for
us each week. At the end of the year, we dissected a pig. Chemistry and physics were a bit more
challenging for me. These classes were mostly taught out of the book and I remember struggling
on many of the assignments and tests. Neither of the two teachers really stood out to me.

Caitlyn Foster
Teaching Elementary Science
9/9/14
Science Autobiography

My most recent experiences with science have been in college. At Hillsborough Community
College, I took Earth Science and Marine Biology and at USF, I completed my alternative field
experience at MOSI Summer Science Camp. My two classes in community college were both
great experiences. In my Earth Science class, we did many hands-on activities and projects that
helped better my understanding of the concepts being taught and the professor had interesting
stories that made the concepts relatable. Marine Biology at H.C.C. was a bit more challenging
than I had expected, but in a good way. Throughout the semester we went on a few field trips.
One was to Apollo Beach to study oyster beds and another was to an aquaculture farm to study
exotic fish. We also participated in many lab activities, including dissecting various marine
animals. Completing my alternative field experience this past summer at MOSI Summer Science
Camp was also an incredible experience. This was the first time I really got to observe science
being taught as well as teaching science to students myself. I realized that teaching science
should be an interesting task for both the teacher and the students.
Thinking back to all of my past experiences of science, I really think my experiences have
been mostly positive. Science is a subject that I have grown to really like, despite my struggle
with chemistry and physics in high school. For me, the good experiences with science out-weigh
the bad ones.
There is a trend that I noticed while looking back at my memories of science. I noticed that
the most meaningful and the most enjoyable experiences with science were because I had
phenomenal teachers/ professors. These great science teachers all had a few things in common;

they were passionate about the subject they were teaching and knew the material well. For

Caitlyn Foster
Teaching Elementary Science
9/9/14
Science Autobiography

example, my marine biology professor at Hillsborough Community College was an expert in his
field and loved what he did. He worked and conducted research at the aquaculture farm where
we went as a class for a field trip. Another example is my high school biology teacher. She
actually lived in Kenya for two years and studied biology there. These teachers stood out among
the rest because they taught using hands on activities and took the class on a variety of field trips.
Their passion for the area of science they taught was almost contagious and they kept the class
interesting with stories from their own experiences in the field. These traits all played a roll in
furthering my understanding of science and making me excited to learn.
Looking back, I also noticed that my few unfavorable experiences had something in common;
the teachers taught by the book. In the two classes that I really struggled in (chemistry and
physics), the teachers taught chapter by chapter. Their lessons consisted of lecturing while the
class took notes, then answering student questions, then the class would work on questions from
the book or worksheets independently. The homework in those classes was always the same; read
and take notes on a chapter, then answer the questions in the book. To this day, I cannot tell you
one thing that I learned in my high school chemistry or physics class. I was often bored or I did
not understand the content. In my opinion these two teachers were not actually teaching
science. I often did not understand the content because they never gave the class the opportunity
to have any hands-on experiences to support learning. Anyone can open a book and read about
science or listen to a lecture and take a test but that does not mean they are learning science.
Learning science and gaining a deeper understanding of scientific topics requires involvement.
The best way to learn science is to actually do it. I truly feel that if these teachers had given
opportunities for hands-on learning with labs and experiments, I would have learned so much
more and the content would have stuck with me.

Caitlyn Foster
Teaching Elementary Science
9/9/14
Science Autobiography

Science is a word that can mean something a little different to each individual person, based
on experience. I know that my definition of science has been shaped as a result of the teachers I
have had and all of my experiences with science. Science, to me, is the study of the world and all
living and non-living organisms. Science is the study and development of theories that help us
better understand the world and the universe. Lastly, science is research and meaningful
experiences. It is so important that teachers give their students the opportunity to explore
different theories and discover science for themselves. Students should be given many hands-on
activities and time to discuss their findings. Science is not a topic that can be taught out of the
textbook and through multiple worksheets. It is all about exploring, discovering and research and
seeing science for yourself.