Science Games
10/26/2017
Everyone enjoys playing a good game. Games are not just a way to pass the time with friends, but they can also be a great teaching tool in the classroom. Games in the classroom can be a highly engaging strategy for encouraging critical thinking and deepening their understanding of content. In the pictures below, students are playing a game in science where they have to create food chains by connecting the organisms together after reading the detailed descriptions on each card. Unattached organism cards can be stolen by other players, and the longer the food chains students create, the more points they get. While students enjoyed the opportunity to play a game with their friends, they also learned details about the different organisms and how they connect with each other in nature. Enjoy the photos below!
The Power of Positivity
10/9/2017
How big of a deal is attitude? Your attitude is the filter through which you see reality. Your perception is your reality. I've been teaching students this year about the power of positivity. It is a reliable predictor of success. Someone with a positive attitude is academically engaged. This person also has healthy relationships with friends. This person is adaptable. And this person takes accountability for mistakes and learns from them.
Positivity is infectious (as is negativity). I've been teaching kids about how much power we each have over our experience in the classroom. The more positive we are, the more fun we will have, and the more successful we will be. Positivity is powerful. Below are a couple of pictures from one exercise in positivity we practice in 5th grade. For each student's birthday, we create a compliment card. In this card, each student is to write a nice compliment about the the student, so that by the end of the day, the student with the birthday has a card full of positive comments. Poetry Reading
10/9/2017
This past week, we had a parent lunch, which several of you attended. Students brought food related to their latest project. Students are currently researching a food-producing plant that has its origin in the the "New World." Students are researching such things as their plant's history, uses, varieties, and wild relatives. Through this project, students are learning how the Age of Exploration ushered in age of cultural blending and transition. Part of the parent lunch featured a poetry reading from students' most recent project. Critical Thinking is one of the 4 C's, which also includes collaboration, creativity, and communication. These are some of the most important skills we can teach children outside of content knowledge. How can critical thinking be taught? Exposing kids to controversy in a safe environment can stretch kids minds and cause them to consider multiple perspectives.
Class Debates are one of the most important components of social studies in 5th grade. Debates are a very effective way to engage students in a new topic. The debate proposition is connected to the connect that we are studying. Students first respond to the proposition silently in writing. This helps students to flesh out their perspective without influence from others. Next students move to different parts of the room depending on whether they agree, disagree, or are neutral. Each of these groups takes a minute to talk. Next, each group has one group member share a brief statement to explain their perspective. All students are encouraged to change groups whenever they feel swayed by what someone else has said. After each group has shared, the groups have another minute to huddle up and talk. The process then repeats itself several more times. I am careful to not sway debates with my own views; however, if one of the perspectives (agree, disagree, or neutral) has no students at any point in the debate, then I fill in and present an argument from that perspective. Sometimes, I'll also throw in a new piece of information in the middle of the debate to further challenge the students. It is not uncommon for most students to have been at all three perspectives at one point or another in the course of the debate. Through the debate process, students are encouraged to critically think about their own beliefs and morals, listen to others, consider other opinions, and be willing to be wrong. These are incredibly important skills not just for social studies, but for life. Check out the pictures below. Do you agree or disagree with the proposition in the photo??? |
Elizabeth FerryMs. Ferry's experiences include teaching with the Peace Corps in Tanzania, teaching high school English in Maine, and this is her second year at PNA. She loves moose, outdoor activities, and being with her students. Archives
April 2021
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