Out of the Classroom: Unmasking Science in Indigenous Practices

The project was a chemistry festival organised by the authors who are lecturers of the Department of Integrated Science Education at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Ghana, in collaboration with the American Chemical Society (ACS). 

The festival was aimed at promoting science (chemistry) education among pupils and engaging their community in understanding the role of science (chemistry) in their daily lives. It also aimed at demystifying the perceived difficult and abstract concepts of science, stressing on their importance in our daily lives through hands-on practical activities. 

The festival was held for four selected Junior High Schools (JHS) in the Effutu Municipality of Ghana, where 188 JHS students learned various concepts in science. It focused on practical activities related to indigenous practices such as the production of akpeteshie (local gin), gari (local staple food), palm oil, and the use of wood ash and lemon as cleansing materials. It also involved hands-on and fun-filled practical activities that demonstrated the scientific principles involved in these indigenous activities and showcased its relevance in everyday activities. 

The project was motivated by the need to show students that science is not limited to the classroom but is part of their daily lives and the environment. Hence, incorporating indigenous practices and activities in science teaching and learning enabled the students to appreciate the relevance of science in their culture and community. Furthermore, the out-of-classroom experience inspired the students to learn science and appreciate it as part of life. The students also showed interest in pursuing science and related courses at higher levels of education and taking up future careers in science. It was recommended that students should be constantly engaged in more such activities to make the learning of science meaningful to them.