moonandme.com

This post is the middle portion of a long project, a project that began as a simple idea that took over three years to develop.

Three years ago, I helped arrange for a speaker by the name of Lisa Murphy.

Lisa presented a workshop entitled What to do say when the Wolves Come Knocking. In her workshop, Lisa used descriptors like Exploration, Classification etc as a means to prove that you are teaching when you are really playing. In an era when research on play is well documented, the realities of standards and tests over emphasized, play must not be lost.

In one moment I saw a vision, an awakening, Yes, I could “teach” science. I could “do” science with children, I needed a little springboard, but once I was off the ideas rolled in.

Admittedly, it took me two more years to develop my ideas into print but as of April 27, today, I have taken the ideas into the development stage.

Science Sentence Strips

1.Purchase sentence strips from a school supply store (www.discountschoolsupply.com)

2.Visit Lisa Murphy’s website ooeygooey.com, search for article in Resources

3.Use list to create science words and writ them on your sentence strips

4. Cut out a frame that will help the children to focus on a single word from the strip.

5.Consider how you will introduce the word throughout your play with the children.

6.Create a science or nature table. Encourage the children to collect and share their interest in the sciences and natural world.

7. Add scientific equipment to the table.

Magnifying Glass

Microscope

Reference Books

Journal, pencils

tweezers

Eye Dropper

Small paint brush (the kind used to paint a house)

Small collection containers

Bug houses

8.Ask the children questions, share your experiences, have fun!

9.Change the word as needed

Isabella and Gillian have been interested in dinosaurs and rocks. I encouraged the children to look for “dinosaur eggs”, which happen to be round to oval shaped and typically are found on our walks through the grape fields. Gillian has been “tracking” dinosaurs using the magnifying glass and Bella has collected rocks. Our word has been Explore. The rocks that have been collected are stored in a basket on our nature table. However, I need to add Track to our list. Isabella created a Dinosaur Book today and Gillian has painted numerous rocks.

In the coming month, I will add The Scientific Method.

(psst, you can request a free copy of the poster)

I will post pictures this week, Thursday or Friday.

You can find Lisa’s article here

Posted on April 27th, 2008 by karen
Filed under: Uncategorized