Young botanists in Mrs. Raiford’s science classes tackled science objective, SCI.5.7.4 Explain how plants adapt in response to environmental stimuli: light, moisture, and harsh conditions on Wednesday. Students checked out their beet sprouts and discovered that many of the plants were learning towards the windows despite the gray day. Then they watched a short video showing other plants doing the same. Afterwards we introduced them to the term, phototropism. Students were asked to analyze the word for Greek and Latin stems they have learned in Ms. Klee and Mrs. Raiford’s classes and knew that photo means light.
Using the Focused Reading strategy, students actively engaged with the text as they marked their reactions as they read - ! interesting, ? I have a question, and þ I got it, as they read a short article on Charles Darwin’s interest in phototropism as he grew seed grasses for his birds. The article briefly explained his research results and that tropism means turning. Students now have another stem they can use to help decode many other unfamiliar science terms such as gravitropism, hydrotropism, and thermotropism. The lesson ended with them brainstorming possible testable questions. We are looking forward see what each child chooses.
Shock, outrage! Students were stunned to see some of the titles that have been challenged, and sometimes banned. Titles included Black Beauty, Captain Underpants, The Lorax, Green Eggs and Ham, all the Harry Potter books, and many Shel Silverstein poems. We talked about the differences between an issue and a topic and then began to analyze the issue of censorship. Next week students will re-read the First Amendment, and one article supporting censorship and one against. Next week, our librarian, Ms. Nye will explain the process in our school system when a book is challenged. Students have so many questions for her! They will also begin to develop their own points of view based on the evidence they find as they analyze the issue from multiple points of view.
Using the Focused Reading strategy, students actively engaged with the text as they marked their reactions as they read - ! interesting, ? I have a question, and þ I got it, as they read a short article on Charles Darwin’s interest in phototropism as he grew seed grasses for his birds. The article briefly explained his research results and that tropism means turning. Students now have another stem they can use to help decode many other unfamiliar science terms such as gravitropism, hydrotropism, and thermotropism. The lesson ended with them brainstorming possible testable questions. We are looking forward see what each child chooses.
Shock, outrage! Students were stunned to see some of the titles that have been challenged, and sometimes banned. Titles included Black Beauty, Captain Underpants, The Lorax, Green Eggs and Ham, all the Harry Potter books, and many Shel Silverstein poems. We talked about the differences between an issue and a topic and then began to analyze the issue of censorship. Next week students will re-read the First Amendment, and one article supporting censorship and one against. Next week, our librarian, Ms. Nye will explain the process in our school system when a book is challenged. Students have so many questions for her! They will also begin to develop their own points of view based on the evidence they find as they analyze the issue from multiple points of view.