Thank you so much for coming in last week for our Student Led Conferences. I was so pleased with how well the kids spoke about themselves as learners, readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, and social scientists. The first few questions regarding knowledge, college, and future careers came as a result of a research article I read a few weeks ago. This study found that kids in schools that are in low income areas receive a vastly different education than kids who attend school in affluent areas. The kids in poor neighborhoods are not only treated differently but also held to very low standards. Their schooling is more geared toward a vocational education than one that challenges or inspires them to think, critique, and explore new possibilities. Seeing how kids across all sorts of different schools responded to similar questions, I was curious to see what our kids would say. While all said they expect to go to college and that they believe they can be anything they want when they grow up (these are expectations both at home and at school) their responses about knowledge were quite diverse. Some saw themselves as powerfully creating new knowledge through their thinking and others saw knowledge as something someone gives to you if you just sit quietly enough and listen.
Here is a sample of their responses to the questions "Where does knowledge come from? Can it be made?":
Knowledge comes from your brain because like I said knowledge is thinking...It can be made because you can study and thing better and thinking is knowledge...Knowledge is a book, math, science, and writing...It comes from trying your best...It's made by trying something your way...I think knowledge comes from getting taught by a teacher...I think knowledge cannot be made...I think it comes from your heart to do good and to care for others...It comes from your brain because that's where you know things...Knowledge comes from learning, listening, and smart people. No it cannot be made...Knowledge comes from people. If you think it comes from websites you look at the people who made the website...It comes from listening, learning, paying attention, and thinking...Knowledge comes from nature...I do not know where knowledge comes from...Knowledge can come from studying, thinking, wondering, and asking questions.
This week we have been finishing up our book club reading, sharing out our published memoirs, and exploring probability. We have also been launching an inquiry into States of Matter. Mr. Chris and I are having fun thinking alongside the kids to make predictions, form hypotheses, and conduct experiments. Here are a few photos from our work...
 |
| These are our evaporation cups. We are measuring, graphing, and comparing the evaporation rates of vanilla, water, alcohol, syrup, and cooking oil. Can you guess which will evaporate the quickest? The slowest? |
 |
| This is a graph from the syrup group. We are measuring these in grams. This has provided us an opportunity to think a bit about decimal points and fractional parts. |
 |
| We also filled a jar with syrup, water, and oil. We were amazed by the fact that instead of mixing the liquids created layers. In the photo you can see the many objects we've been dropping in to see if they float and, if so, on what layer they will float. |
 |
| Mr. Chris demonstrates the effects of heat on a solid. Yep, he's melting stuff! |
 |
| A crayon |
 |
| A nail. This one has a higher melting point than we could produce. |
Next week we'll be exploring the difference between an insulator and a conductor as well as thinking through a number of different science demonstrations. It should be fun.
Please remember our Gathering is coming up quickly. We will share our learning on Friday, March 8th at 2:20. We hope to see you there.
Chris
No comments:
Post a Comment