Reflection On Activities from 9/6

The experiments from class were fantastic and fun.  They were a useful exercise for us in class for many reasons.  First, they are great for us to see as future teachers.  All of the experiments we used in class can definitely be used in our future classrooms to teach science and inquiry to our students.  Our group did the dancing raisins and the iron in total cereal experiments.  These are both great because they involve items that kids are familiar with and have interacted with.  Most all kids have eaten raisins and cereal, so they can connect with the activity and are more inclined to be engaged.  Also they are exciting and interesting because they take normal daily foods and have them do irregular things, like make raisins dance.  All of the experiments also included elements of literacy as students had to read directions to be able to complete the experiment. Since we worked on these activities in groups it was also a great opportunity to share ideas with classmates and interact socially with our peers and this will be a crucial aspect of all of our future classrooms and for all of our future students.

Picture-Perfect Science (p. 1-32)

1. Goes with my philosophy of education:
"They are appealing and memorable because children readily connect with the imaginative illustrations, vivid photographs, and engaging storylines, as well as the experiences and adventures of characters, fascinating information that supports them in their quest for knowledge, and warms emotions that surround the reading experience." (p. 1)

2. Goes with my philosophy of education:
"Making meaningful connections during reading can improve comprehension and engagement by helping learners better relate to what they read." (p.12)

3. Goes with my philosophy of education:
"Fruitful inquiries evolve from questions that are meaningful and relevant to students, but they also must be able to be answered by students' observations and scientific knowledge they obtain from reliable sources." (p.19)