Experiments with a Hovercraft as a Method to Engage Children in Early Years Education

Abstract

This article addresses issues related to technical education in grades 1–3 of primary school, with a particular focus on methods that engage pupils in active learning. In the face of contempo-rary educational challenges, it is essential to develop technical and scientific competences from an early age; therefore, introducing children to the world of technology through practical activities, experience and experimentation. A key element of a teacher’s work is their competences, which are multidimensional in nature – encompassing theoretical knowledge, practical skills, as well as personality traits and levels of motivation (Walat, 2017, pp. 71–73). It is precisely this combina-tion that determines the effectiveness of planning and implementing the teaching (educational) process. The aim of this work is to present educational concept of technical lessons involving the construction of functional hovercraft models and experimentating with them to explain their de-sign and operation. Engaging teaching (educational) methods (Rogowska, 2004) are used here to support the understanding of selected physical phenomena such as friction, pressure and motion.