presented physics in lower secondary schools in the theoretical part of my master's
dissertation. I mainly focused on experimental work and the importance of integrating
contemporary physics topics in a lesson. I examined the properties of liquid crystals, the
polarization of light, and the operating system of the LCD screen. The main target of my
master's thesis was planning and implementing a workshop on liquid crystals in a primary
school. In the second part, I presented teaching materials for experiments with liquid crystals.
The objective was to introduce the main properties of liquid crystals understandable to primary
school students. Experimental teaching provides better motivation, especially for modern
topics, not defined in the curriculum, although the students daily come across them. Moreover,
they can increase their learning motivation in physics lessons.
In a two-hour workshop, the 8 and 9-graders tested the learning material. By working
individually and in groups, by demonstrating and explaining, the students learned about the
properties of liquid crystals, the polarization of light, and the operating system of LCD screen
i.e. how the colour image appears on the screen. The fast pace of lessons defined in the
curriculum hardly allows any additional activities in class. Hence the teaching material offers
the students an option to perform only a few experiments, they don’t have to do all of them.
The empirical part evaluates the workshop. My goal was to determine the strengths and flaws
of the teaching material and to find opportunities for improvement. I collected data by using a
combined questionnaire, a survey questionnaire, and a test, and my own observation notes. The
findings lead me to believe that the teaching material with only minor adjustments is highly
appropriate and useful for primary school students. Additionally, the workshop definitely
increased students` interest and engagement in the subject.
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