Lesson Outcomes
In my first elementary science course as a preservice teacher I had the opportunity to engage in many classroom activities, reflections, experiments and develop my own lesson protocol. These lessons demonstrated the beauty of education, at times, true learning takes place beyond ones comfort zone.
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Mistakes, errors, misconceptions are the key coordinates in learning!
HEAD
Science education is a process! Students should inquire information and connect content to larger ideas, such as sustainability. However if students are pressured to memorize information for exams it takes away their ability to dig deep and connect scientific information to larger ideas!
WAIT! how can teachers allow students to make connections in science despite the pressure of standardized tests?
Here's an example!
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Explore the role of gravity in nature by observing leaves falling off trees in a nature walk. What happens to leaves when they fall of trees?
Why should students make connections to larger ideas rather than simply memorize information?
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Giving students the opportunity to understand ideas rather than facts allows them to connect to course material and fosters an intrinsic love for learning.
HANDS
Students should explore information experimentally! It is crucial to provide hands-on activities for students to explore information, this allows students to work through misconceptions.
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At times, these activities may exceed ones comfort zone, but that is when you learn most!
Worms! worms! worms! This hands-on activity allowed preservice teachers to explore the role of worms in our environment. As we held the worms, our teammates used vinegar, syrup, lights, and music to understand a worms sensory experience. This hands-on activity connected to larger ideas of how our environmental habits impact other forms of life in nature. During this experiment I realized the continuity of education, although I've studied worms as an elementary student there was still so much do learn! Did you know works have a sense of taste?
HEART
As an educator it is important to foster a space where multiple perspectives are integrated as holistic approaches to classroom content. Indigenous science addresses learning beyond the mind; rather this approach aims to target students' mind, body, soul, and heart. By incorporating diverse perspectives into the classroom teachers and students can work through common misconceptions in science without simply repressing them through information overload (Williams & Snively, 2016).
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Teachers, when talking about scientists go beyond the discussion of Albert Einstein, in addition to his discoveries discuss the power of black, female, indigenous scientists in curriculum. Classroom literature is an excellent way at having students see themselves represented in curricu