Michelle Biddinger

Engineering Encounters: What’s The Buzz on Bees?

Tue, Nov 27, 2018 10:13 PM
Engineering Encounters: What's The Buzz on Bees?

This is an excellent article that shows the positive relationship that exists between plants and honeybees in a clear and concise manner. Each suggested activity has a thorough description of how to complete each activity as well as provide accompanying pictures. Overall, the article provides educators with many great ideas on how to teach children about various aspects of plants, such as their parts as well as how honeybees pollinate them. What I like about this article is the many hands-on activities that are included, which allow children to explore plants and the process of pollination in a fun and engaging way, such as dissecting a flower and building a hand pollinator. What is also beneficial about the activity ideas is that they allow children to foster other skills, such as reading comprehension. For instance, educators read the story Flight of the Honeybee where students discuss and have to identify the beginning, middle, and end of the story. This article also does a great job providing activities that require children to think critically about the information they read and learn, which can help with cognitive development.

Cycling Through Plants

Tue, Nov 27, 2018 10:09 PM
Cycling Through Plants Review

I feel that this is a great article to read because it provides a lot of valuable information and ideas that can easily be implemented in a classroom. One of the things that I really like is that the article provides many great examples of how students can be actively engaged when learning about the life cycle of plants, such as making a seed booklet, dissecting a seed, and planting a bean seed. These activity ideas are really beneficial for teachers who have kinesthetic learners in their classroom. I also like how the lessons use a more student-centered approach where students explore the different parts of a seed with a group or partner. This allows children to monitor their own learning as well as cooperatively work in groups. Also, the article does a great job explaining some challenges that can occur when having students complete the various activities, such as the students’ bean plants growing mold and/or not sprouting. It is very important that teachers are cognizant and plan for challenges and other mishaps to try to make sure that lessons go more smoothly and effectively. Furthermore, the lesson ideas in the article are well organized and connected. For example, in the beginning lesson, students create an observation booklet that they will be able to use for subsequent activities.