School Visit

Today we visited the Beijing Normal University which is a teacher preparation university. We met with several professors this morning and then visited the Beijing Normal University Experimental Primary School this afternoon. We observed a 5^th grade science lesson and then met with the teachers and principal. The class had 42 students, 26 boys and 16 girls. They attend school 40 weeks during a school year  which, of course, is 4 weeks more than we do in the United States. They go five days a week and are in school from 8-3.  The hours may vary a bit in the rural areas. The lesson was a typical hands-on lesson on sound generation.  The lesson was sequenced very well and students were very engaged and attentive. About half if this student population is children of university faculty and staff. The students were very friendly and excited to see us. Science is taught by 4 full time science teachers with the guidance of a master teahcer. They only teach science as all elementary teachers do teach only one subject.