Moving Beyond the Science Kit

Chapter 10 of our textbook and today's class session was strongly related.
As the chapter talks about science kits and projects, Block 23 got the opportunity to look through the science kits for Rio Vista's Family Science Night.

Mr. Eddie asked us to becoming mediators and facilitators for the students and their families instead of directly telling them what to do. It is similar to the classroom stories in the textbook, how the teachers try to prompt the students to think, question, explore, and learn.

A good question to ask is:
"How can I use this kit to create a meaningful learning experience for my students?"

It's important to understand the science and the standards behind the activity. Mr. Eddie told us that although the activities are great and fun, it's the lesson and the learning that really counts. While the students and their families are having a blast with the activities, it's easy for the learning to get lost. It's essential that the science is taught and understood.

Even as Block 23 was so intrigued by the chick-a-dee today, it would have been easy to simply play with the toy instead of trying to understand how and why the chick chirps. It is the same way with children.

Science kits are used to prompt the students' thinking and to engage them in their learning, but instead of using the materials in kits as the primary lesson, we must learn to "move beyond the science kit" and encourage active and critical thinking.