During my third week of my pre-service placement, I was ecstatic to be teaching another science lesson. The success I had with the teaching of my first science lesson was definitely motivating me to remain equally as excited to lead another successful lesson. With October 24th being Nation Take Me Outside Day, I knew that I must get my students outside for our lesson somehow. My co-op teacher asked that I facilitate a lesson around the idea of whether items will sink or float and why they will behave this way. I found my appropriate outcome for the target information of the lesson and then decided that their was no better way to find manipulatives to test than the natural materials which can be found outside!
The grade two class was so excited to be going outside, especially because we kept it a secret until the students saw myself and my teaching partner outside stopping our class from going inside for recess. We embarked on a nice five minute walk to the “river” area behind the Sandra Schmirler Center and began our lesson by sitting in a circle. I engaged the class in some guiding questions about what materials sink or float and we also discussed the relationship to the land we have in respect to our treaty promise with the FNMI people. After being partnered off by my own selection, the students were asked to find four items that were different to that of their partners, resulting in eight items total. I was so relieved to see the grade twos listen and engage so respectfully within the different learning environment. The process of finding item was fun and effortless as my students listened so adamantly to the instructions! We were blessed with such a beautiful October day and were very lucky to have been able to spend extra time outside. My first experience of taking a class of young learners outside was very positive and ha me excited to continue engaging in lessons that take myself and the students outside of our comfortable learning environments!
Once back inside I had containers of water prepared for each pair of partner (I learned from my oobleck lesson to be prepared ahead of time) and I handed out the inference worksheet to each student. I also learnt from my last lesson to be sure to explain the worksheet thoroughly and to use the document camera to be sure all students are following along clearly. Students were asked to write or draw their objects in the first column of the worksheet. Then they had to circle either “sink” or “float” depending on whether they thought the item would sink or float once placed in their container of water. Once their item was tested, they then wrote whether they were right or wrong in the third column! Throughout the experience process of the lesson, I realized that my instructions should have been outlined more clearly to state that each student was to test all eight object collected by both themselves and their partners. My co-op teacher brought to my attention that some students were focused on only testing and observing the four objects that they personally collected while outside. I will be sure to explain more clearly the task of my students in future lessons before expecting them to engage appropriately with the lesson!
Overall, my second science lesson was another positive experience! I am relieved to have approached a subject where my confidence was lacking and to know that I can succeed if I am engaging in the lesson with an excited and encouraged attitude!
Click here to see my Professional Development Plan for this week’s lesson!
Student work:
Till next time,
Miss Hansen