About Us

Sketching for Science seeks to completely transform how science is taught to elementary and secondary school students. We believe that science education should be an inherently creative discipline that sparks curiosity and ignites joy as we directly observe and explore the secrets of life and the universe.

Combining the best of what classical education has to offer with our current understanding of neuroscience, Sketching for Science seeks to help students:

  • Appreciate nature and observable phenomena

  • Develop focus

  • Improve scientific thinking and understanding

  • Rediscover how to approach science with a sense of joy and anticipation

Notebook with sketches of animals next to microscope

We seek to bring the joy back to learning science through our student-centered approach. 

The joy of creating something that is self-directed will improve students’ memory, interest, and ability to succeed long-term. 

When we first encounter new information, we it in our short-term memory.  Through sketching and journaling students transfer the short-term information more easily into long-term memory.  This enables us to retain the information longer and make more meaningful connections between ideas that they cover throughout their school career.  

Close up photo of tiny plant growing in urban environment

Why Sketch?

The research is clear that sketching significantly boosts memory retention, improving recall and long-term understanding.

When children sketch and write their observations, they engage multiple neural pathways:

  • Looking at the image (occipital lobe)

  • Drawing (parietal lobe/hand-brain connection)

  • Writing (parietal lobe/hand-brain connection)

This level of engagement creates a "triple reinforcement" of ideas leading to better information retention and comprehension.

Furthermore, sketching:

  • Encourages mental dexterity crucial for brain development

  • Cultivates focus and allows students to practice being truly present in the moment

Photo of Selim on an urban nature walk sketching a plant

  • “My daughter used to hate science. Now she takes me out to study nature!“

    Ruth K., Parent

  • "We seek to transform students' education experience from a passive and short term regurgitation to a long term, self-directed, and joyous process." 

    Selim Tlili, founder of Sketching for Science

  • "Teaching students to make observations using their senses is a key concept in science classes."

    Will O., Retired Science Teacher

About Selim Tlili, Sketching for Science founder

My name is Selim Tlili. I am a veteran science teacher.

I discovered the joy of sketching in my 40s and it transformed my teaching. Students retain more of what they learn and, more important, pay more attention to the world around them.

I’m fluent in multiple languages and help students to express themselves in the language of science.

Photo of Selim in a lab wearing safety gear and excited about something he found

Start sketching today.

Explore programs