Christopher Fiscus
UMBC Graduate-MCPS

Methods and Strategies: Sculpt-a-Scientist

Sun, Oct 05, 2014 10:20 AM
Who is a scientist?

A teacher makes an announcement, “A major discovery has been found when looking at the mirror before the lesson.” This attention grabber pulls students into the lesson in order to determine what has been discovered. I found this article to be very informative in regards to showing students they are capable of conducting, experimenting, and being a scientist themselves. Students were asked to build and write about what they considered a scientist to be. Through these observations students were presented with numerous stereotypes that are presented about scientists. Upon evaluation the teacher used the “two stars and a wish method” to have their students critique other students work. Students left two positive comments and a question about the sculpture on an index card. Allowing children to observe and evaluate each other’s work is a technique I plan on using within my own classroom. I cannot wait to try this lesson with my own students and show them they are capable of more than they realize.

Three, Two, One ... Blast Off!

Sun, Oct 05, 2014 10:01 AM
Rockets

A rocket sails through the classroom as students observe what is happening. The teacher announces you are going to be making your own rocket. Through many observations I have had in the classroom this is the best way to grab student’s attention, while getting them engaged within the lesson. I found this article to be very informative in regards to numerous science concepts. As a teacher this is a great, because it allows you to see what supplies you will need to conduct the lesson; but is also a way to show students that the first way you do something might not always be the best way. The lesson centers around designing, building, conducting, and reevaluating (often more than once, while pushing students to reach beyond their goal) ones rocket design. This is a great lesson to show students one way might not always be the best way, while pushing students to think beyond what they already know and to consider different perspectives. I cannot wait to try this lesson out someday with my own students.