Lit Auto I: iMOVIE

Lit Auto II: Paper

Instructional Strategy Lesson

Power Point: Culminating Project

~Culminating Project (Ryan Becker and Ryan Nicoll)

• At times, guiding the learning process for early elementary children can be extremely tricky. While participating in the formation of this lesson, I became more aware of how difficult it is to make reality out of abstract facts. To a second grader, air pressure is not a fish, a plant, or a star. Initially, the characteristics of air pressure are often alien and mysterious. By making real-life connections through visual and physical experiences, the objective, to make air pressure concrete, can be fulfilled. The lesson is centered on an inquiry/brainstorming strategy. I believe that there is great power in having students make hypotheses. Not only does this create a feeling of suspense, but it allows students to be an intricate part of the learning experience and to have ownership of the lesson. Furthermore, having high expectations for students is vital. When teachers doubt the students' ability to understand something, an apathetic nature can overcome the learning environment. Thus, constantly seeking information can help students establish facts and feel comfortable sharing their thoughts.

• The main technology tool in our lesson, an interactive PowerPoint, meets the needs of many types of learners. Through symbolic pictures and video, we aid visual learners who rely on the sense of sight. That way, they are able to visualize an object and create internal, mental images. These students also benefit from experiments done during the activity because they can see science with their eyes. Furthermore, experiments allow kinesthetic learners to physically interact in the lesson. Since air pressure is a more abstract fact, being able to touch and see its manifestations is vital. For learners who utilize music to comprehend new information, the Harry Potter theme is played throughout the entire video. This music was chosen with the specific purpose to make a connection with students' social experiences. Perhaps, those with musical intellgience can intrepret the mood of the song to how we, as teachers, want to represent sceince.

• NCSCOS
  • Science
  • Grade 2
  • Competency Goal 2: The learner will conduct investigations and use appropriate tools to build an understanding of the changes in weather.
  • Objective 2.02: Observe the force of air pressure pushing on objects.

• While studying air pressure, we (Nicoll and Becker) found that visual observation was a beneficial way of learning this specific subject matter. If we were to make this an interactive learning experience however; we would first outline the experiments we had planned for the students to perform. After explaining the basis of the projects, we would then have the students formulate predictions and arguments based upon their previously known knowledge and the concepts we presented to them. Once the students formulated their ideas, we would put them in small groups and have them attempt to perform such experiments like “The weight of air” or “Egg in the Bottle.” After completing the experiments, there would be a class discussion so the students could share their thoughts. During this time, they would explain why the experiments worked the way they did, and what caused them to happen that way. Along with the students sharing their thoughts, we would interject and give further explanation so the students would learn from each other and from us as teachers.

Ci-3850 Upcoming assignments and due dates: