My Student Teaching Journey: Exploring Hydrogen in St. Mary's HSS Pattom

As a student teacher at St. Mary's Higher Secondary School in Pattom, every day brings new experiences and lessons. On the sixth day of my teaching practice, I had the privilege of conducting the fourth period in a class of ninth-grade chemistry students. The focus of the day was to explore the fascinating world of hydrogen, a non-metal element. In this blog post, I want to share my experience, the activities I conducted, and the supporting tasks I accomplished on this memorable day.

Classroom Preparation:

Before entering the classroom, I had spent considerable time planning the lesson. My objective was to make the topic of hydrogen engaging and interactive for the students. I decided to incorporate multimedia elements such as videos and images to spark their curiosity and make the learning experience more enjoyable.

Engaging with Multimedia:

I began the class by showing a series of interesting videos and images related to hydrogen. These visual aids helped the students visualize the concepts and sparked discussions on the importance of hydrogen as a non-metal element. The students were captivated, and their curiosity led to an active exchange of ideas and questions.

Demonstrating Hydrogen Preparation:

To deepen the students' understanding, I conducted a live demonstration of hydrogen preparation. This practical experiment allowed the students to witness the formation of hydrogen gas firsthand. It was an exciting moment, and the students were eager to participate and ask questions.

Review Questions:

After the demonstration, I posed some review questions to the class to assess their understanding:

What is hydrogen, and where is it found in nature?

Explain the process of hydrogen preparation.

Can you name some common uses of hydrogen?

Why is hydrogen considered a non-metal element?

These questions encouraged critical thinking and allowed me to gauge the students' grasp of the topic.

Follow-Up Activities:

To reinforce their learning, I assigned the following follow-up activities:

Hydrogen Poster: Students were tasked with creating informative posters about hydrogen, showcasing its properties, preparation methods, and practical applications.

Hydrogen in the News: Each student was asked to find a recent news article or scientific discovery related to hydrogen and present it to the class.

Group Discussions: Students were divided into groups to discuss the environmental and economic benefits of hydrogen as a clean energy source.

Supporting Tasks: Peer Observation

As part of my professional development, I had the opportunity to support peer observation in Sr. Jomcy's English class. Observing her teaching techniques and classroom management strategies was a valuable experience that enriched my own teaching practice.

In conclusion, the sixth day of my teaching practice at St. Mary's HSS Pattom was both challenging and rewarding. The exploration of hydrogen in the chemistry class was a highlight, and I was thrilled to see the students' enthusiasm for the subject. Through engaging multimedia, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive activities, I aimed to make learning about hydrogen a memorable experience for them. As I continue my journey as a student teacher, I look forward to more opportunities to inspire and educate young minds.