Spring Has Sprung; Learning Adventures Ahead

Our mornings have again been opening with outside play. The fresh air gets us all ready for the day ahead. So does the mud, the monkey bars and rings, crazy fun on the slide, and games of playground tag. Cabin fever was at fever pitch. Everyone now seems to have much more energy. And good thing...there is so much going on and oh-so-much ahead!

Our intense focus on water, oil spills and alternative energy have kept the children active in science class for the past few months. After the group completed their letters to public officials that advocate for better protections around oil spills, Kate Perry moved the group into exploring water wheels and hydro power. Right now the children are working in pairs to design an operating water wheel.

The teams had to create a schematic of their water wheel, pick and choose supplies they would use to bring the project to reality, and structure a budget for building it. Each team has a $100 budget and they use a pricing list for each part they buy. The list includes items like plastic plates and spoons, popsicle sticks, wooden skewers for axles, and the all important strips of UGlu (priced at $2.00 an inch) to hold everything in place.

Designs began getting tweaked as the teams moved from their schematics to actual construction of the wheels. This trial and error and embrace of revision are the best kind of learning. Powerful lessons about perseverance and patience are at play. And, often, no one wants to stop work, even though science class runs into recess time!

As the teams begin finishing their first versions of their water wheels, they test them out. Together with Kate, they first spin the wheel on a holder to be sure they are satisfied with the placement of the parts.

If they are, they put the wheel through a test. A stream of water runs over the wheel and the teams watch for the wheel to spin smoothly. Their observations tell them whether adjustments are needed to make it function better.

Next, they have to be sure their wheel will turn with enough power to lift a metal nut that weighs 30 grams. Further adjustments may follow.

The National Science Education Standards state that "inquiry is central to science learning." In the following article (http://www.justsciencenow.com/inquiry), the case is made for inquiry in science classes. 

Inquiry implies that students are in control of an important part of their own learning where they can manipulate ideas to increase understanding. As students learn to think through the designs and developments of their own inquiry, they also develop a sense of self-responsibility that transcends all subject areas. 

Yes, this is exactly how we do science at Parker. 

Of course, life with seven, eight, and nine year olds also means that there must be time for coming together in creative play. Give this group a 15 minute "brain break" with some paper and tape around, and all of a sudden, some mysterious people in masks will appear. 

It all just makes you smile!