MCC Friday Reflections

For the past eleven years I have taught the Science Curriculum Component known as "Biomes in Balance".  It is a general introduction to the 8 biomes of the world, covering the idea of adaptations of plants and animals in these biomes along with the concept of energy transfer between organisms via the food chain and food web as well as man's impact on the biome and earth as a whole. As of this week we had just completed the food chain/web part of the unit.  For two weeks we discussed food chains/webs, explored and studied graphic representations of food chains/webs, and saw videos as well.  The culminating activity was for students to construct a 3-D model of a food web (which is many food chains that are connected).  This culminating project is accomplished as a guided activity.  Two groups of 8 students each are the organisms in the food web.  One student is "Mother Nature" and another is "Father Time" for each group.  There is one board re...

This week in Science we learned about food chains.  We discussed the scientific purpose of food chains (transfer of energy) and named the participants (Sun > Producers > Consumers > Decomposers).  From there we began a hands-on experiment to further explore the decomposers. In short, each student has three baggies.  One baggie has a quarter of an apple in it, the second baggie has a piece of bread, and the third baggie has a piece of bread with a bite taken out it (by the student).  These three baggies will be left in the classroom on paper plates for 8 days.  Every other day or so we record our observations (touch through the baggie, sight, and smell).  The purpose is to gain a better understanding of how decomposers work on different foods. What I found rather interesting is that when we were hypothesizing about what would happen to the food within an 8-day period the kids naturally knew that the food would begin to rot (or d...

Returning back to school from a two week Winter Break is always interesting.  We pick up right where we left off yet there is a slight difference in the atmosphere of a classroom.  There seems to be a  more independent feeling amongst the students.  Despite the two week hiatus they remember the routines, the expectations, and the rules.  They recall the way things are done and where their responsibilities lie.   During the first few months of school a great deal of attention is placed upon modeling behaviors, reiterating expectations, reminders of rules, and praising for conformity.  It's set up that way on purpose so that the rest of the months of a school year can be more dedicated to the process of learning without having to worry about the logistics of group behaviors.  When a two-week Winter Break shows up each year a teacher naturally thinks, "What will they be like when they return?".  "Will they remember all that...