Notes from NAMTA journal V.36 #1

From Annabeth Jenson "How Science and History Lead to Community Service"

We are out to save humanity!
2 Themes: Order and laws, and responsibility and service

I.  We teach science:
      A.  to inspire a sense of wonder
      B.  To demonstrate to the children the interconnectedness of all things
      C.  to sow the seeds of culture and show them what is possible for them as they take their place in it
                  1.  It is important that we make it clear to the children that there is so much left to discover-to
                    show them all that we don't know-and that all e know could easily be proven incorrect or
                    outdated tomorrow!
                  2."Through the lessons and stories our students become connected to the past and present to      
                      all living beings and to that which is larger than themselves"
      D.  to inspire the children with the idea that they have a part to play in the health and well-beling of            
            the planet and its occupants.
      E. to help develop a human being
           1.  Our fondest wish is taht they will grow up to appreciate, revere and deeply understand the life
                that is around us, and our responsibility for preserving that life.

II.  How do we teach science?
      A.  Use stories and imagery to set the stage for concrete experience and critical thinking
             1.  Tell at least one story per day
             2.  We tell stories to inspire the tendency toward hero worship
             3.  We tell stories to awaken the natural empathy between humans and all living beings.

III.  How to write a story
       ---Build on what they already have learned
      ---Give them something new
      ---Think about what the key ideas are you are presenting
      ---Consider how to get those ideas across more clearly
      ---Limit how much you include
      ---End the story with an indication that there are other ideas to discover and explore
      ---Writing stories in note form removes the scripted feel.
      ---Find a hook
             ~weird, far-out adaptation something has made to survive
            ~amazing number or statistic
             ~humorous
             ~Gross
            ~heart-warming

Relate the story to the materials.
Use hands on experience when possible
Use demonstrations
Try dissections
Garden or bring the outdoors in

Think of the key concepts of science
1. Observation
2.  Hypothesis
     -if....then....because
     -real science begins with a questions
3.  Classification

Go Out!
Grow food
Do service
---Stewardship find a spot that needs cleaning up and take care of it
---no new paper fridays
---green school movement
---grow food organically
---compost
--pull invasive plant species
---plant trees
---volunteer