SCIENCE

Experiential education is alive and well at PWI! Even before a student enters the Science Lab, he senses that he is about to enter a unique setting. He is greeted by hummingbird feeding stations, Canadian goslings swimming in a student made pond, and a pair of tangerine silk and ruffled winged, ring-necked turtle doves.

In the classroom, students are treated to wall to wall samples of nature’s creatures, each in their own indigenous environment. A female hamster manages to juggle 14 babies, while the male sleeps soundly in his own habitat. An exotic blend of fancy, fan-tailed guppies swim to the top of a 30 gallon tank while a few female guppies remain on the bottom ready to give birth. The classroom displays mounted wildlife like a deer head, wild boar, black bear, and the record size bream caught in SC waters.

Students are allowed hands-on experience with non-venomous snakes, turtles, lizards, beetles, crawfish, and generally anything that crawls. An ant farm is fortunate to house a queen. She is “lit up” with LED lights in a “palace” with tunnels that are visible to provide first-hand the amazing act of ants tending to the queen’s every need.

A special 80 gallon tank houses a beautiful, colorful collection of fresh water fish found only in Lake Malawi, Africa. Color of this intensity is normally reserved for salt water fish but the African Cichlids are the exception. Not only does this collection help compliment a role in the experiential educational process, it also serves the well documented purpose of having a calming effect on students. If someone has had a bad morning, I make certain I place that student near the ever tranquil setting of the natural caves, rocks, and flowing currents found in the African Cichlid’s tank.

Students become quite attached to the animals they routinely collect. They take responsibility in feeding and cleaning their unique habitats. Our class strives to reproduce each animal’s unique habitat. Students learn to respect nature, both great and small. The PWI Science Lab reaffirms a quote from Albert Einstein that “It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education”.

To be involved in the science education of our students through contributions or assistance, please contact Mr. James Lee, head of the Wildlife Sciences Department, at Science Lab or by phone at (864) 833-4505.

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