Module 8 Articles and Post

Choose two articles and, in your blog, write a brief summary and response to the two articles.  Be sure to reflect on the value (or lack thereof) of science education at the Pre-Kindergarten level. (This is intended to be a brief response and not part of the article summary and reflection presentation.)

Inquiry at Play

http://search.proquest.com.proxy.kennesaw.edu/docview/746805793/13F4F213DAD39E114A7/29?accountid=11824

This article showcased how play and science inquiry are important parts in the education of younger students. When students use imaginative play, they "develop self-regulation, symbolic thinking, memory language, and social skills" (Ashbrook, 2010, 26). Science inquiry allows students to make sense of their world in a way that is understandable to them. Many young children believe a scientist is just someone in a lab coat who works in a lab. Bringing in an actual scientist to talk with the class or using various props to dress up as different scientists can help dissolve this stereotype. The article also included a lesson plan on what to do if you have a visit from a scientist.

Young children learn the most through structured and un-structured play. Bringing in a scientist (or even dressing up as one) is a great way to excite and engage students. Students could come up with a list of questions they'd like to ask or certain things they'd like to know more about. If the scientist isn't able to answer all of the questions, students could research those on their own time. Setting up a science center could allow students to look at various items at their own leisure.


Water Leaves "Footprints"

http://search.proquest.com.proxy.kennesaw.edu/docview/1349385316/13F4F3363C0B97E2BC/10?accountid=11824

This article talked about using a "teachable moment" to show students that water can leave "footprints" just like humans and animals do. Rain had left holes in a preschool sandbox. The students weren't sure how they got there, so the teacher allowed the students to construct a hands-on experiment. They used sand and pouring water to observe how the water can make different shapes in the sand. A lesson plan exploring how water can move sand was also included.

Using hands-on experiments is a great way for students to develop their own understanding of the concept. Reading text about a story provides information, but the students really wouldn't fully comprehend what was happening. Allowing them to play and experiment with the sand and water really lets them learn at their own pace. I would use this experiment with students and allow them to explore and then keep it in a science center to continue using in their free time.


Science at the pre-school level is quite valuable. Students' minds are very absorbent at this age and are very inquisitive. They want to know how things work and why. Introducing inquiry-based learning and imaginative play is a great way for students to continue this throughout their educational careers. If we instill a love of science early on, hopefully it will continue and those young children will be our next engineers and scientists.

Module 7

While trying to think back to my science lessons in elementary/middle school, nothing really stands out. All I remember are the week-long field trips we took in 7th and 8th grade to a camp near the school. We would learn archery, go on nature hikes, and dissect owl pellets. I don't remember any other science lessons. When I think about my classes in high school, I think some of my teachers used some form of backwards design approach. My Chemistry teacher would tell us what we were expected to know at the beginning of each unit, and we would work with partners to complete experiments mixing chemicals. Our assessments weren't just quizzes or tests, but rather we were assessed based on our activities. My Physics and Biology teachers did not use the backwards design approach. I remember taking notes on lectures and reading the textbook. We took quizzes and tests based on the information given in the lectures and over what we read. We were asked to memorize facts and formulas. I remember not paying much attention during class because I didn't understand the concept and I wasn't learning anything.

Module 6

EIP Math Girl

• tactile learner- experiments with manipulations
• spatial- create dioramas

Gifted Girl

• auditory learner- listen to science trade books, discuss experiment results
• linguistic- research various scientists or science discoveries

ESOL Boy

• visual learner- provide charts, graphs, diagrams, etc
• bodily-kinesthetic- create a new invention

Speech Student

• visual learner- use vivid experiments
• spatial- create drawings

ADD Boy

• Kinesthetic learner- play interactive, mobile games
• interpersonal- role-playing

Gifted Student 1

• kinesthetic learner- movement activities, process dramas
• logical and mathematical- collect data

EIP Reading Student

• tactile learner- learn about soil by going outside and playing in it
• bodily-kinesthetic- field trips to science centers

ESOL Girl

• visual learner- use graphic organizers for information
• spatial- create presentations on computer

SPED Student

• kinesthetic learner- learn about push/pull by moving around outside
• musical - decide what objects in nature make which sounds

Hearing Impaired Student

• visual learner- graphs, charts, diagrams, pictures to go with text
• naturalistic- create a rock/bug collection

Gifted Student 2

• auditory learner- use debates for both sides of a decision
• linguistic- write story about organisms

Throughout my teaching career I have noticed that every child is different and they don't all learn the same. Lessons must be diverse to appeal to all learners. It's not only important to see where your students are at academically, but also find out what their interests and likes/dislikes are. Just because a student does well in science doesn't mean that he or she enjoys learning about science. Allowing students to have a choice in what they learn is important to keep them engaged and interested. Allowing options in learning during centers is one way to provide diverseness. It is important to provide different options for all students because this allows them to explore activities they may not have thought to try otherwise.

Article 5

Infants at risk for autism: a European perspective on current status, challenges and opportunities

 

Sven Bolte, Peter Marschik, Terje Falck-Ytter, Tony Charman, Herbert, Roeyers, Mayada Elsabbagh

 

 

This article is about current research that is being done to be able to reliably diagnose autism in children younger than two years of age. Early diagnosis is difficult as there are many different factors to consider.  Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) involve developmental delays which are difficult to diagnose early as parents won't notice them until later years. Early diagnosis is critical to implement early intervention for children. Various screening instruments are being used to help ASD. To help early detection, studies have been done involving the infant siblings of children with ASD. Development is monitored to see if there are similarities with children with ASD. Inadequate funding, samples, and sample sizes have provided a barrier to conducting the research needed.

 

This article was difficult to follow due to the technical jargon involved. I think it is a great study because anything that can help diagnose ASD as early as possible will be very beneficial to not only the educational but to the everyday world. If we can diagnose disorders early on, then we have a better chance of helping that child succeed as normally as possible in the real world. Autistic children can be a challenge in the classroom because they are not always able to communicate what they need/want. The more research that is done, the more help we can offer these children.