Summer Work
Eleven teachers from grades 1-5 worked together in our MST classroom for three days this week to develop science lessons around the common theme of CHANGE. Since the MST classroom is in its initial stages of development, I appreciated the groups flexibility, feedback, and willingness to work together to help shape the direction and vision of the MST program. Creativity, dedication, and enthusiasm were evident as teachers explored using the Backward Design process for unit planning, developed new formative and summative assessments, and learned new technology tools (Microsoft Photostory, Smartboards, CPS, and PowerMediaPlus) to help engage students in the learning process.
I’m looking forward to this new venture of shared, collaborative and reflective practice with our staff. Participants shared some great ideas for projects this year including:
Grade 1: Focus on the science process skills; develop inquiry investigation with unit on plants; seek experiences to help students understand the Earth’s position around the Sun
Grade 2: Develop inquiry-based lessons to support units on the water cycle, butterfly life cycle, magnets, and extreme weather events.
Grade 3: Implement a year-long data collection for weather (sunrise/sunset, temperature, wind speed, sky conditions, and shadow lengths); create and analyze graphs from the data
Grade 4: Create new Webster Weather Watchers videos throughout the year using data from 3rd grade as well as informational segments created by the 4th graders related to New York State; explore inquiry activities for Energy; assist with the NYS Science test prep in the spring
Grade 5: Incorporate the use of GPS and geocaching to reinforce understandings of latitude/longitude as well as science process skills; develop inquiry-based investigations for Ecology in the spring
New ideas for collaboration are always welcomed.
on September 5th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Today my class went into the MST lab to work with Wendy. It was FANTASTIC! For second graders to begin thinking like scientists on the first day was a great start to the year. We used the smart board to sign in, then wrote about what we knew about our problem, what we needed to know about our problem, and how we were going to go about solving our problem. Tomorrow we will be going back to research on the internet, and use books to look for more information. I am so impressed!!!! I have said this a million times, but the MST lab is going to change the way we teach science!
on September 5th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
I am quite sure that I was as excited about the workings of Wendy and her lesson, as the children were! I kept hoping she would call on me to touch the board with my answer.
Thank you, Wendy
on October 3rd, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Wendy designed two awesome 2nd grade lessons on monarch butterfly migration. Using a Smartboard, Wendy showed the students the migration pattern of the monarch using Google Earth for the first lesson. For the next lesson, she had students imagine they were butterflies and “migrate” using the GPS to guide them. It was an experience to remember! Thanks for all your hard work, Wendy!