If you perused the previous section entitled Best Teaching
Practices, you noted many of the attributes of good science
teaching, e.g. hands-on activities, simulations, using simple
materials, combining science with children’s literature, and
others. One of the teacher participants in MAIS K-6 Science
Inquiry is Carla Menard-Beltramini, a school leader and 3rd
grade teacher at the International School of Trieste, Italy.
Recently, at a November 2004 MAIS Conference in Estoril,
Portugal, Carla gave me a CD with science activities that her
3rd graders had done. The activities were spin-offs of the
Inquiry Project. She didn’t intend that they be used here. In
fact, the CD was intended for use in a presentation Carla was
making at the Portugal Conference. What struck me when I saw the
photos of Carla’s 3rd graders in action was how many of the Best
Teaching Practices were evident in what she and her students
were doing. Her students were actively engaged in hands-on
science--using microscopes, planting seeds, observing rocks,
building egg catchers, and so on. They were involved in
simulations--as bats. They were using simple materials: seeds,
film canisters, rocks, and leaves. Many of their activities were
built around related children’s literature--Miss Rumphius,
Little Lumpty, and Stellaluna. In fact, the CD photos of Carla’s
kids in action exemplify most of the ideas included in Best
Teaching Practices. I am grateful to Carla for sharing these
photos with us and to her wonderful 3rd graders, we say "Thank
you for helping us to see science in action."
Here, then, are the photos of Carla’s 3rd graders engaged in
science at the International School of Trieste. |
This is one of 4 inexpensive, hand-held microscopes used in
Carla’s class. They are popular and must be shared. We’ll see
them again as children observe rocks, seeds, leaves, and other
objects of inquiry. |
Carla demonstrates to children how they can make their own
slides for objects they want to view under the microscope. |
"Look at what I see!" |
"Let me get a closer look!" |
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Carla’s Kids - Page 2 -> |
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