Lunch and Learn
10/27/2019
Science concepts can seem easy to teach and to learn, especially with the many videos, simulations, and resources at our fingertips these days. But all of us can voice facts but not truly understand them. Students can read and discuss scientific phenomenon but not truly understand and apply a concept. That’s why hands-on activities are so crucial. Sometimes the activities might feel “easy,” and yet those activities cement understanding in very unique and critical way. After spending a full week talking about space, reading about space, and watching movies about space, we spent a bit of time during our Parent Lunch actually conducting a little model-building exercise to extend and deepen understanding of some critical science concepts. The Next Generation Science Standards call for important core “content” to be taught, but also focus on more “processes and practices” and “cross-cutting concepts” to be understood. For example, in Earth science, a disciplinary core idea for students to learn is: ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System: The orbits of Earth around the sun and of the moon around Earth, together with the rotation of Earth about an axis between its North and South poles, cause observable patterns. These include day and night; daily changes in the length and direction of shadows; and different positions of the sun, moon, and stars at different times of the day, month, and year. The standards also call, however, for students to engage in critical thinking and practices that are also expected in other content areas, such as:
Many students in grade 5 can talk about the core ideas of the orbits, day length, and shadows, since they have been told about them from the time they were very young. They’ve read about them, seen pictures of sun dials, experienced the effects daily. But creating a sun dial; monitoring weekly changes in the length of our days and nights and graphing that data; watching shadow phenomena and making conjectures about them: these are the activities that make learning real, and these activities can reveal misconceptions and partial understandings. From there, we can build more activities and experiences to correct those misconceptions. Parents: thank you for joining us at lunch on Wednesday and helping to build and test our sun clocks! We had a lovely time together, and your contributions to our science lesson were much appreciated! We will continue to explore natural phenomena to deepen understanding of our world, because it is more critical than ever. Thank you for all you do help along the way! A Question of Curiosity...
10/19/2019
Curiosity. Some may say “it killed the cat,” but curiosity drives innovation, problem solving, discovery, and success. Though we certainly want to teach students important skills and knowledge, curiosity is what keeps them learning and growing long after they leave the classroom. Curiosity drives the development of questions, and questions lead the learner on the quest. Our school was a treasure trove of curiosity this week. Questions ruled the day, and it was exciting to see our students develop questions, seek answers, try out solutions, and then ask new questions. We put our regular schedules on hold and spent every day this week engaged in dozens of Space Week activities with an astronaut, a NASA engineer, passionate space enthusiasts, parents, and each other. We conducted science experiments on bone density and water surface tension and rocketry; we explored the solar system and our sun at the UAA Planetarium; we tried on NASA space helmets and gloves and held moon rocks; we built our own versions of International Space Stations; and we finalized our Saturn V and Apollo Missions museum project for its debut at the “Night at the Space Museum.” Students worked double time on this fantastic display that showed off their Lego collaboration, their art skills, and their research skills. It was a busy, busy week of curiosity. The questions our students asked throughout these experiences showed again and again that they are curious, thoughtful, and creative. There’s no limit to where they can go! Announcing...Our Latest Project!
10/6/2019
As we eased into autumn and October, our 5th grade routines and structures continued. Students spent time each day keyboarding to build typing speed and accuracy, and they practiced their cursive handwriting too. Reading workshop brought opportunities to examine character traits, and word study focused on building understanding of how we know how to spell verbs in the past tense. Do we double that ending consonant? Do we drop that silent e? But even as routines continued, our PBL project work also revved into gear. Our use of project based learning allows student the chance to experience hands-on, collaborative, real life activities that require them to build teamwork skills, meet deadlines, identify their own learning needs, and use their learning in new and unique ways. Authentic audiences and continuous reflection ensure that projects are authentic and effective. The 5th grade has decided to pursue the following driving question: “How can we, the 5th grade production team, create interesting, informative, and innovative Morning Announcements for our school?” Students were excited to pursue this project: they immediately identified the things they needed to know and the tasks they needed to complete. Project work time was focused and productive, and by the end of the week, scripts were prepared, a calendar for the coming months was developed, and everyone was ready for Monday’s first performance. Several practice runs and testing of the intercom system assured the team that they are ready! In addition to the Morning Announcements Project, the class also began working on a showcase project for the upcoming Space Week at PNA. This project will be in full work mode this coming week as the deadline for the “Night at the Space Museum” approaches. It’s all hands on deck in our classroom!! |
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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