Learning Using Models And Research

 

 

Learning is more than remembering terms and concepts. It is the start of a lifelong adventure of inquiry. The Year 3’s have been challenged and assisted in their research by using technology, observations, and secondary sources to study the Earth, Moon and Sun. What they have discovered, they have demonstrated using models.

Last Monday, the early risers had the privilege of seeing a Blood Moon. Aside from watching and discussing a YouTube video to learn what causes a Blood Moon lunar eclipse, they took photos and created a couple of beautiful collages of the Cape Town May 2022: Blood Moon.

The iPads have also been used to research lengthy websites and discover the 7 ways the Earth is round. They did this by simply using the subtitles as a reference. We also explored how to use Kiddle – a search engine designed for kids to use to find information quickly. We then moved on to using YouTube as we mined for diamonds of information on a Dr Bionics video about the structure of the Earth.

Of course an interactive way to display our knowledge, is to use models.

This term we have used our hands to demonstrate how the primitive (reactive) brain and the prefrontal cortex helps us focus and solve problems.

We made interactive lungs with cards, balloons and straws to show how air comes in through our nose and mouth and inflates our lungs.

We are especially proud of our plate models, which show the phases of the Moon; the names of each stage as the Moon rotates on its axis and orbits the Earth. Some students were even able to show where the Sun would be during a lunar eclipse.

Information that students find for themselves, discuss, and demonstrate their understanding of becomes a lived experience instead of a book study.

Carey Schoots

Year 3 Teacher