Melting Icebergs Experiment

I just finished teaching my students about global warming. I like the study of climate change because it feels so relevant and right now. My students really get into learning about the causes, effects and different solution to the problem. I now think I will take a different approach to teaching this subject. I enjoyed this Science Inquiry Experience. I thought this lesson was a great way to guide students to make discoveries of their own. The most helpful part for me was the part where I considered other explanations. I learned how to have my students engage and explore before researching what other investigations are reporting. Having to construct a Venn diagram that compared the various viewpoints was such an enduring lesson for me. It helped me focus my research on a specific goal, look at several different viewpoints and draw my own conclusions.

Polar ice caps melting leads, initially, to an increase in runoff but could eventually lead to drought conditions and a water and food crisis. The melting ice provides the water needed to sustain many crops, people and animals. These shrinking glaciers mean harsh consequences for the whole Earth. A decreased water supply in some areas of our world could mean an increase in food prices all over the globe. Rivers drying up also have social consequences. This would make a great interdisciplinary lesson because it helps children think about cultures different from our own. It also helps them see that what we do makes a difference and that technology can have both benefits and burdens.

The lesson of climate change can be differentiated, because students can explore so many different effects of this change. They can study how plant and animal species are affected by the changes in climate or how rising sea levels will cause changes in the maps of the world. Students can also study new technologies created to help limit our greenhouse gas emissions. I also saw a study that said methane trapped more heat than CO2 and thought that would be an interesting study for students.

I enjoyed planning this lesson. It definitely took me a while to get going and find exactly what I wanted students to do at each step; but it was an enjoyable learning experience for me. I took a different approach to planning this lesson to be sure to engage my students and lead them to investigate on their own. I do not usually incorporate historical perspectives into my lessons, but have recognized through our resources in this course that it adds a richness and relevance to science lessons. I tried to engage my students by showing them how their knowledge could be beneficial to them or their community members. I tried to plan experiences that would make all of my students excited about learning and help them see that science knowledge is to be used and shared.

I enjoyed using the 5 E’s strategy, although it was my first experience with this strategy. It was a great organizer that kept me focused on the 5 important elements my lesson needed. This is a practical strategy that I can use to plan all my lessons. It helped me consider how my diverse students could be both motivated and successful while learning a practical lesson of science and weather. "Teachers have a legal as well as an ethical obligation to do their best to break down the barriers and assist these students to learn" (Buxton & Provenzo, 2007,p.90).

When implementing this lesson in my classroom, I will have to provide students with specific guidelines for searching the internet. They are not very good at internet research yet, but I have been working to help them learn how to pick relevant information from supplemental information. We also have limited access to computers, so I will have to make special arrangements to ensure our access. I am excited for my students to conduct interviews to gain information about the lesson. They will definitely benefit from these conversations with adults in their lives. "A fundamental shift in science education reform has been the emphasis on scientific literacy for all students, as opposed to scientific mastery for a small, elite number of students" (Buxton & Provenzo, 2007, p. 99). I am hoping to highlight that all people can benefit from an understanding of basic scientific principles. I have done interview assignments in the past and many students forget to do them. I am hoping that students are so engaged in the lesson that they are excited to perform their interviews and I do not have many that forget to do it.

References:
Buxton, C.A. & Provenzo, E.F., Jr. (2007). Teaching Science in Elementary & Middle School: A Cognitive and Cultural Approach. Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage Publications