Hello SCIE 6664 classmates!

I want to thank you for visiting my blog.  I look forward to working with my new classmates in SCIE 6664. 

Implementing an instructional plan using a model



Water runoff through vegetation



Stream (photo taken by student)

 



This week, I implemented an instructional plan using a model of erosion.  I took the students to a local stream to look for signs that the water was changing the ground around it.  I was thrilled to see the kids even making some observations about the edge of the parking lot surface starting to give way near the stream.  We then followed this up with an inquiry activity using an erosion model.  The students mixed soil, gravel, and sand in a rectangular foil pan.  They raised one end of the pan, and then used a watering can to simulate precipitation.  The repeated this process to see the effects of the varying degrees of the slope.  They then tried to use the model to answer questions that they had journaled at the stream.  I was very pleased to see that the questions were appropriate and showed an understanding of the erosion process.  I loved using the model and so did the children.  I look forward to discovering more models for the concepts that I teach.

Erosion model in action