Third Graders learn about insects and
other creepy crawlies pn the school property and how they vary in
frequency with the seasons and plant type. This project builds on prior
knowledge of seasons and the interaction of plants and insects from prior
years. The students work in teams and make insect collections from ten
areas of the garden. Supporting lessons cover insect types, metamorphosis
and how to identify insects. Students learn to collect insects, identify
them and make counts of each type. They graph their results and make
scientific observations in their project journals.
HINTS ON TEACHING THIRD GRADE
GENERAL ADVICE
1. Introduce yourselves, usually children like
to have either Dr, Mr, Miss, Mrs, Ms before your name If you
have a difficult last name you may want to just use your first name.
Tell them how excited you are to be with them, but state the rules, clear
and distinct.
a. Student should raise their hand to be heard.
b. Students should wait for instructions before you start.
c. Use a phrase like 1,2,3 eyes on me or count to ten, as a signal
to be quiet and listen.
2. You may want to talk to your
teacher about his/her techniques for classroom management and how they
control their class. One teacher ay put his/her finger in a Shhh!
fashion and raise a hand and have the rest of the children follow suit to
regain control of the classroom after a noisy activity.
3. Though it may be challenging at
times for groups of children to share materials, the experience encourages
cooperation and cooperative learning. Children who habitually refuse
to cooperate or break materials should be controlled by teacher. As
a docent, you are there for a fun hands-on activity. Tell them "In
your class you are getting to be scientists taking data. we will be
giving you 6 special lessons during the year". Remember the
background information is to help you learn more, and not to read it
students. Stimulate thinking by asking open-ended questions.
Ask questions that allows students to ask questions and try to figure the
answer logic. Science teachers critical thinking skills
4. Speak slow and distinct, especially if
English is not your native language. Try to be expressive with your
speech.
5. Don't
talk for very long. Students are there to have a hands-on
experience.
6. .
Ask guided questions as much as possible rather than telling kids things,
keeps them engaged (be sure to enforce the one at a time and raise your
hand rule).
7. When
you read books be sure to be animated.
8.. Repeat key vocabulary words. You can even
ask questions like you forgot and you need them to remind you.
Aside from the vocabulary, try to use simple words that are at their grade
level.
9. Make eye contact, when talking to them and
especially when giving instructions.
10. Young children can
only take in one or two instructions at a time. The younger the
child the more you need to repeat. Having the students tell you what
the procedure is also helps.
11. When students are working on lesson, let
them try to figure things out on their own. Try to find the source
of their problem. First give them hints if they cant make something work.
Be sure to demonstrate what you want them to do.
12. Don't hand out things ahead of time.
wait until you have explained what to do and shown the model. Tell
them not to start until you tell them to.
13. Prepare things so there are materials
for 1 to 2 students. Older students can share as long as they have
something in their hand. Young children (Kindergarten to First) cannot
wait or share well.
14.
Don't tell them they are wrong if they are expressing themselves.
You can tell them they are close and ask if someone else has an answer.
Pull them back on track if a child starts going off on a tangent.
Children love to tell stories that have nothing to do with the subject.
15. Do not always call on the same
students. Encourage participation of all students.
Special
to Third
Grade:
Students can comprehend more scientific
information. Try to make sure that they learn the process of getting to
the answer and not just memorizing. They should be able to describe what
they see easily. Comparing different objects is also easier.
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