On 9 November, over one hundred students and five High School science teachers had a great trip to the Shanghai Glass Museum.
Exploring the world of glass
Glass is one of the most common material in our daily lives. Students are familiar with the uses of many glass products but they may know very little about the process of making glass and the scientific principles behind it. Glass is an interesting interplay of inorganic chemistry and physical chemistry; it also shows how science can change lives.
Students first visited displays showing the history of glassmaking. They learned about the history of glass refining technology and its different techniques. Vivid and splendid glass items were presented.
There was also a display of many works of art, allowing students to appreciate the beauty of science in addition to expanding their knowledge of glass products.
Learning science is also a practical process. Having absorbed some knowledge of glass in the morning, the students continued to explore the craftsmanship of glassmaking. They used glass bottles as raw materials and took small glass beads to decorate everyday objects. Phone cases, glass bottles, and jewellery boxes were infused with a new vitality.
What students learned from this trip
After visiting the Shanghai Glass Museum, I gained a deeper understanding of glassmaking techniques as well as modern and contemporary art.
Textbook knowledge came alive in the form of hands-on creations, making science livelier and more dynamic.
I learned about glass culture, the glass manufacturing process and its crafts, as well as the history of glass.
——周郅焜 Kevin Zhou
This trip not only covered knowledge from disciplines such as physics, chemistry, and material science, but also fostered the students’ aesthetic sense and hands-on skills. It served as an excellent extension of our school’s extracurricular STEAM courses.
