Why teach science in elementary school?
Warning! Your students might scream with excitement! Science is messy. Science means taking a risk. Science means managing your materials quickly. Sometimes science even smells bad! It's worth it to see them really excited about learning. Only great books can involve children of all levels in literacy faster than a really tactile and motivating lesson plan. For some students, science can be the most interesting and exciting part of their day. Since science instruction blends so naturally with math and literacy it's a perfect match.
Consider Howard Gardner and Rita Dunn. Add Vgoktsky and Montessori. We know that quality literature works fantastically in the right environment but some students can show strengths in reasoning only when given enough chances. The world is so diverse that our classrooms must support a variety of learning styles.
This method also reaches a multilevel classroom. This becomes especially important when thinking of struggling students with difficulties in listening and reading. These are often the very students who are most interested in this kind of science lesson. These demonstrations are an excellent way of convincing children that school holds the possibility of sheer wonder. For some students science gives them a reason to love school. This makes it easier to inspire them to read and write at all other times of the day.
The gifted students begin to want to find more and they are allowed to follow their pursuits of inquiry. Also the students see repeated examples of independent and dependent variables in different situations.
I teach English and Spanish by using these science tricks and experiments for several reasons. The context for the language is being played out in front of them and the students can manipulate the materials in centers after the demonstration if not during. A good deal of both choice and responsibility are included in the curriculum. The students need time to manipulate the materials to prove the principles to themselves. This is why many of the lessons at this site have the following general formula:
1. Present the materials and the procedure to the class quickly.
2.Ask the students to predict what will happen. Find out.
3. Tell the students the rules about using the materials later in centers.
4. The students are released to centers later in the day and the most interested take turns proving it to themselves.
5. The students respond in writing (Spanish) or verbally (ESL) with accuracy in comprehension.
See the link Instructional Choices.
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