curriculum comparison continues….
Here’s my results from the second six weeks curriculum comparison:
TEK objectives 9 BC
obtaining, transforming, and distributing energy
IS: ???mentions energy transformations in a telecast and discuss using solar panels to power cars in another
C-Scope: Explore your World Share-A-Thon and Tonight in the News
PH: Cooking with Sunshine lab
C-Scope had the students research a renewable energy source and create a poster discussing that topic. The second portion was to have the kids share their findings in a news show format. I have never been a big fan of posters, it is painful (for me) to try and get everyone to bring one in and then I have to decide what kind of grade to give based on the kid’s portion of the work. I think the tonight in the news sounds like it could be interesting with the proper class. I don’t see it faring well with my classes.
The Prentice Hall book had a lab in which students built a solar oven and then used the oven to toast marshmallows. This doesn’t sound bad, but is limited only to solar energy. The text of the book did have a pretty good section discussing each of the renewable energy sources.
I used neither of the activities mentioned above. I did show the few minutes of an inventor with his solar powered call video. I did discuss the forms of energy the way they were described in the textbook. I had the kids complete a webquest that I have modified to suit me over the years. The kids were given a renewable resource topic and then did internet research according to the guidelines that I had given them.
TEK objectives 8B,C
Energy
IS: Owl Pellets, ??
C-Scope: Owl Pellets compost column
PH: pictures of and discussion of food web and compost bin
IS: had a four minute video clip of the barn owl with instructions on how to dissect the pellet. There was nothing that I could find about compost bins/piles
C-Scope: called for owl pellet dissection and creation of a compost column from two liter bottles.
PH: had pictures of and a discussion of food webs and compost bins
The owl pellets are an excellent lab and help to show how energy moves through different organisms. This is one of my (and I think the kid’s) favorite labs. We also constructed a food web to show flow of energy.
We discussed compost bins/piles. Last year I watched a demonstration of the compost column and it didn’t work properly. I used temperature probes and laptops to demonstrate it with my classes and it didn’t work well. The construction involves cutting of the bottles with a razor blade, I don’t think this is a good idea for 6th graders to use. Implementation on a “per group” basis would require a great number of thermometers and storage space over a period of days. I’m not totally discarding the idea, just trying to figure out how to make it work.
November 29th, 2007 at 8:18 am
Thanks for continually posting. You maintain the spirit and intent of the class. It is beginning to sound like no one “method” or “means” fits all? It looks to me like a grab bag approach works best for you based upon experience, purpose, and student interest. Am I close? If so, does this mean anything? What about teacher ed programs, etc. Is experience the best teacher of teachers? Getting in there and getting your hands dirty? Never bank on just one kool-aid? Drink them all if appropriate? Sorry for the mixed metaphors. Heck, I guess you need to be here . . .
November 30th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
I think you have it, at least for me to feel like I am doing what I need to do. One of the coaches I used to work with was talking one day about having to switch schools fairly often. He told me that he just kept lessons about American history topics in folders. He had given up keeping folders about “chapter 9″ as each school had adopted different books. He would put in the folder whatever he felt best covered his topic.
For the past few years I have been doing the same thing. I have lessons from I don’t know how many sources. I haven’t seen anything that I would call excellent on all topics.
Metaphorically speaking, I like the sample platter. Take and drink a sip of it all and then keep drinking what you like, not necessarily just one flavor. What is the saying? Variety is the spice of life.
I don’t know what it means. This is what works for me, I’m sure the way I operate would scare some silly. How would/could you apply this to others, especially those still in school? I don’t even know that you would want to try and warp them into my mold.
I would say that current teacher ed programs are certainly lacking. I was ill prepared for life in the classroom. I think that my wife was too, and she was from the “new and improved” teacher ed program. Fresh out of college, I needed, and still like to have, a text to work with.
Yes, I’ll say experience is the best teacher. One just has to be able to survive and learn from the experience.