Our class is like a classic "Stone Soup" because each person adds such an important, different ingredient to our school family! Our school is a kindergarten through fifth-grade school in a suburb of Detroit. It is the largest elementary school in our public school district.
We speak over 100 languages in our district and celebrate diversity every single day!
Our neighborhood is comprised of students living in nearby houses and many apartments. We are in the process of consolidating high schools and other school buildings, so we are in a state of transition.
My Project
Students love learning when it is hands-on and authentic. Who doesn't?! Our curriculum once included studying habitats, structures, and adaptations of CRAYFISH! We have updated our curriculum and still study habitats and animal adaptations, but primarily through viewing short videos and reading passages about animals.
Scientists learn so much by interacting with REAL, LIVE organisms!!
It is my goal to bring back the joy of learning about science by embedding the crayfish into the updated science learning. Think of it... The students can hold the crayfish, identify the structures, note the territorial behaviors, see molting, regeneration of pincers, and carry a scientific log of daily behaviors. This is a mini science experiment every single day. We will answer questions like: Does it prefer light or dark? Does it prefer to be alone or with others? Is it sensitive to noise? The possibilities for science discovery are countless!!
It is easy to search and watch videos about crayfish and other organisms on the computer. You can probably find anything you want and more. However, it seems like students have experienced enough "screen time" the last couple of years with school closures resulting in online/virtual learning. It would be so exciting and worthwhile to roll our sleeves up, grab a magnifying lens, and BE REAL scientists! Besides, the computer needs some time to charge.
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