It was Monday morning and a sharp corner on a large immovable object (left by another group sharing the space used by the preschool…sound familiar?) unexpectedly turned into a chance to assess the understanding of symbols by one three-year-old.
“Ricky” had stepped past the orange cones which surrounded the sharp-cornered plywood platform. I explained that the platform was not ours, the corners were sharp—something to stay away from—and that the orange cones were a symbol for “stop”, that they meant we were not to go past them. “Oh, there should be a sign,” he said, and in a minute he was back with the plastic STOP sign from the bike area.
He recognized that the cone represented another symbol he was familiar with, a STOP sign, and the command to stop. I wonder at what age he will be able to understand that a globe represents the a planet, Earth, and that the Moon is a sphere?

It’s interesting in this issue to see how teachers can incorporate inquiry learning into topics such as Bernoulli’s Principle, bridge design, photosynthesis, a beach clean-up program, rocks, paper airplanes, maple seeds, and ponds. The authors show how you don’t need elaborate materials to create learning experiences for students that go beyond cookbook demonstrations and focus on real inquiry and problem solving. The articles describe these investigations and also have advice for teachers who want to include more inquiry in their classes. The articles have lots of real-life classroom examples, and the author share their resources, rubrics, and diagrams.
I followed up on some of the suggested websites:

• Recognizing Inquiry compares three hands-on teaching techniques: guided activity, challenge activity, and an open exploration activity. The the comparison has activities that are on the same topic and use the same materials, but the student outcomes are different, based on which technique is used. This is a chapter from the book Inquiry: 
Thoughts, Views, and Strategies for the K-5 Classroom, published by the National Science Foundation.
• The Institute for Inquiry from the Exploratorium has ideas for professional development in inquiry and formative assessments. But you can click on Our Philosophy for a description of inquiry, a downloadable book Pathways to Learning, and Inquiry Structure, a graphic organizer that shows a process of inquiry.
• Doing Science: The Process of Scientific Inquiry is a set of lessons from the National Institute of Health. These lessons guide students (and teachers) through an inquiry process.
• A continuum from the National Research Council shows essential features of inquiry and how to vary activities to guide students through the process. Where do your classroom activities “fit”?

Efforts to promote inquiry in science have been around for a long time (I remember the discussion in my methods courses eons ago, and it’s always at hot topic at NSTA conferences). So why are we still talking about it? What is keeping us from using more inquiry in K-12 science classes? The Science Scope article Engendering Inquiry discusses some of the perceived barriers to implementing inquiry instruction. Are there others? What do you think?

As a preschool teacher I try to be aware of how my work might introduce or reinforce misconceptions in my students’ understanding of concepts. In the Perspectives column in the September issue of Science and Children, Michele H. Lee and Deborah L. Hanuscin write about common misconceptions about astronomy, A (Mis)Understanding of Astronomical Proportions? (pg 60-61).
They report on studies that have found that elementary school age children

• often have difficulty interpreting two-dimensional diagrams which represent three-dimensional space
• may become confused by ambiguous terms, such as “round earth” which they may think means disk shaped rather than spherical
• when explaining astronomical phenomena—students who were allowed to manipulate concrete objects produced markedly different student responses from children relying on words alone.

So I will use the word “round” to refer to wheels and plates, and “spherical” to refer to balls and oranges, make 3-D models with playdough instead of drawing diagrams, and provide materials for manipulation when children are asked to tell what they know. It sounds like fun!
Blowing bubbles is an activity where using the word “spherical” comes naturally. The bubble wand opening is a circle and the bubble is a sphere. Children can point to a ball or a flat round disk to show what shape they see when they blow a bubble.
Peggy

At our inservice last month, we learned several strategies for writing in science classes.  But when I tried one in my classroom, it went over like a lead balloon. What was I doing wrong?
—Rosalind, Denver, Colorado
How many times have we heard “Well, I tried <fill-in-the-blank>, but it didn’t work”? And then the classroom instruction reverts to the tried and (not necessarily) true methods. This certainly happened to me when I tried a different instructional strategy, an alternative form of assessment, or a new classroom management routine. Students would roll their eyes or complain before we even started.
I’ve come to the conclusion that any type of change is difficult for some people (not an original thought on my part). We are such creatures of habit! By the time students are in the upper elementary grades, they have a definite idea of what school is “supposed to be.” Whenever teachers or administrators deviate from this comfort zone, the defenses go up.
Students are not the only ones who have comfort zones. Just try a different format for a faculty meeting, a new schedule for inservice days, or a strategy to get teachers out of their seats at a workshop. I had a graduate student in one of my classes who was incredulous that I expected them to work cooperatively and to participate in class discussions. “I didn’t know we were going to have to, like, DO anything!” she remarked with an angry look. I had obviously encroached on her comfort zone.
I’m not sure who invented the three-time rule, but it seems true: once is an event, twice is a coincidence, but after the third time a trend or pattern is established. If we try a new strategy once and it doesn’t fit the modus operandi, the students may assume that if they fuss or refuse, we’ll say “Well, that didn’t work” and classroom life will return to the-way-things-are-supposed-to-be.
But if we know that something is the right thing to do, that a research base is behind it, or that it will ultimately pay off in better learning or a better classroom environment, we should stick with it and explain why we are doing something new or different. We may need to model the activity or strategy, too.
This actually turned into several action research projects for me. As I was implementing something new, I noted what the responses were and by whom. I reflected on whether I was implementing the new strategy appropriately and how I had introduced it. After all, my students weren’t any different from others. Why would something work in many other classrooms across the country, but not in mine?
Being aware of the three-time rule (event, coincidence, pattern) and understanding that it often takes several attempts before a new practice is accepted – whether by students or teachers – worked for me. Just give yourself some time and keep at it. If it’s the right thing to do, the students will internalize it, and soon what was once a new idea becomes part of the-way-things-are-supposed-to-be.

The big fish died.  The constant silent presence of the plecostomus—now hiding in the cave, now sucking algae off the aquarium wall—is gone. Donated by a parent who has moved on to high school PTSA duties, the odd fish taught 10 years of preschoolers about its needs: warm water to live in, particular kinds of food, and a place that was quiet and still. Only then would it come out, quickly returning to the cave as children noticed it and the shout went up, “The Big Fish is out, the Big Fish is out!”
Not many children commented on the fish’s death, perhaps because school has just started and over the summer they had forgotten about the Big Fish. The tank needs an algae eater. It’s time to buy a new little “Big Fish.”
Do you have a fish tank in your classroom? How have you used it in teaching? Read more about these cool fish on The Ultimate Pleco Community page.
Peggy

Who hasn’t looked into the night sky and wondered about the stars and the universe? But upper elementary and middle school may be the last chance for many students to study or be exposed to concepts in astronomy. Earth and space science is not offered in many high schools or it not chosen by college-bound students. And yet, astronomy is a science that can be pursued and enjoyed even beyond one’s school days.
The articles in this month’s Science and Children provides teachers with many ideas for getting student started on a lifelong learning adventure. Secondary teachers can get ideas for working with students who do not have much background in astronomy.
Several of the articles have SciLinks codes: SC090801 for Exploring Mars; SC090802 for Moon Phases; SC090803 for the Other Planets; and SC090804 for What Causes Day and Night. Members can explore other topics by typing “astronomy” or “universe” as a SciLinks keyword.
It’s hard to study astronomy during the school day, but fortunately there are lots of websites that can be used to get students (and teachers) interested in the topic. Here are some ones worth checking out:

• Astronomy – Our Place in Space is an “ology” site from the American Museum of Natural History. This is well organized with lots of information, but I found the cartoonish illustrations of the planets (with human faces and appendages) to be unnecessary. These objects have a beauty of their own!
• Go beyond the planets with Capture the Cosmos that has lots of information, graphics, and simulations on black holes, comets, galaxies, and other phenomena.
• NASA calls Starchild “a learning center for young astronauts.”
• Don’t be put off by the title of Fundamental Physics in Space. Upper elementary and middle level students (and teachers) can learn about the big bang and other topics (and no higher math knowledge is necessary to read and learn from this site).
• Astronomy and Space is an overview of space research for advanced students or teacher’s background knowledge.
• For some content refreshers for teachers, check out NSTA’s Science Objects related to earth and space science. Each object takes 1-2 hours to complete. They’re very good as a refresher (or introduction). Topics in include the Universe, the Solar System, and Earth, Sun and Moon
• Astronomy with a Stick is a classic!
• A recent issue of Edutopia describes how a teacher uses a free desktop program called “Celestia” to study space from the desktop. The article also has links to other desktop astronomy programs, including the popular Google Sky. Playing with Celestia is next on my list of things to do!
• I just learned about Galaxy Zoo from a Scientific American podcast. This is another example of citizen science, in that volunteers log in and classify images of galaxies.

If anyone has used either of these last two resources, please let us know what you think!

The S&C astronomy issue article Sky Observations by the Book (NSTA membership required) presents lessons specifically for teaching young children astronomy concepts with picture books. Authors Kathy Cabe Trundle and Mesut Sackes describe ways to prompt children to notice differences in day and night in pictures to foster understanding about objects in the sky. An important reminder is to evaluate the books first to make sure they do not introduce misconceptions, but keep in mind that flawed books provide the opportunity to help students analyze content.

A walking fieldtrip can bring much needed outdoor time and opportunity for scientific observation to a class schedule. The objective can be to view the sky, look for birds, find seeds, or to inventory the surrounding environment.
Whether just a walk around the school building or to a natural area several blocks away, a walking fieldtrip is most successful when materials for dealing with unexpected discoveries are brought along.
Here’s a short list of what might be useful:

• Emergency supplies including emergency phone numbers, cell phone, information on student allergies, non-latex disposable gloves, anti-biotic wipes, band-aids, and a trash bag.
• Each student should have drawing “pad” of several sheets of paper folded together, and a pencil, for drawing what they see.
• Students should dress appropriately—wear sunscreen and hat in the middle of the day, and boots and gloves on cold days, for example.
• Identification books or handouts that may be needed, for birds, trees, insects, clouds, or others.
• For looking closer bring magnifiers, and for holding small animals (such as insects) bring small clear containers with lids such as carry-out cups or baby-food containers.
• Young children enjoy using pretend binoculars, made by taping two cardboard tubes together and attaching a wrist loop of yarn with a staple. (See photo below.) Looking through these tubes at objects at any distance will help children focus on details.
• To make your walk more enjoyable, pack a simple snack such as graham crackers and apple slices.
• A camera can be used to document the exploration and discoveries.
• Bring a change of clothes that will fit most children, just in case.

Planting spring-flowering bulbs connects the seasons of Fall and Spring in the minds of young children as they wait all winter for the bulbs to sprout and to see the flowers blooming in the spring. Following the growth of daffodils or tulips reinforces learning about cycles in nature and noting the sequence of the seasons. Read about planting bulbs on the Clemson University Extension Service webpage.
Reading a book, handling a bulb, and seeing what is inside (no tasting!) prepare children to plant a living thing, a flower bulb. Planting a Rainbow by Lois Elhert (Harcourt, 2003), shows bulbs in the ground before sprouting and when blooming. I also like cycle-of-the-season’s books, such as, When This Box is Full by Patricia Lillie (Greenwillow Books, c1993), What Comes in Spring by Barbara Horton (Random House, c1992), Spring: An Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur (Clarion Books, c1999), and Be Blest, a celebration of the seasons by Mary Beth Owens (Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, 1999).
Here’s a song the class can act out while waiting for a turn to plant, (based on, and to the tune of a traditional song,“Jack in the Box” or make up your own):

Spring flowering bulb, (children curl face down on floor/ground, hiding face)
So safe in the ground,
Way down inside, your little dirt mound, (hands curve over head)
Spring flowering bulb so quiet and still,
Won’t you sprout up? (heads up, stretch arms up high)
Of course I will! (jump up!)

I usually explain the word “mound”, and sometimes the word “sprout” before repeating the song.
There are seasonal bulbs that grow and bloom in regions that never experience freezing temperatures, such as the “Spider” lily (Hymenocallis sp.) Tropical Giant. Learn about other tropical bulbs in the
Amaryllidaceae or the Amaryllis family from the Pacific Bulb Society.
Planting the bulbs is a good investment because many species return, year after year, and can be appreciated in many ways. The sweet-sharp-green smell of daffodils takes me back to my childhood.
Peggy