This week's spotlight shines on Mrs. Cheryl Sander and her second-grade class at Lansing Elementary School. Mrs. Sander was kind enough to invite me to watch her students learn and experiment during a science lesson about soil, with the overarching question, "How to determine which soil types would be best for building a house?" I loved how the question was not a "right there" question, where there is simply a quick answer for it, but instead asked students to discuss the portion that asked them "How they determined" which soil(s) were best. This type of critical thinking and collaboration is essential to succeed in learning, and to see 2nd graders engage at this level was quite impressive.
"This specific lesson was on how to determine what types of soil would be best for building a house. They were guided to analyze data from testing different materials in order to determine which materials have the properties that would be best suited for the intended process," said Mrs. Sander.
The activity was well planned and executed, starting with Mrs. Sander asking the overarching question and allowing students time to think and discuss their hypothetical answers. She then called on a few students to share their theories before starting a video provided by our science curriculum resource (Mystery Science) that helped and guided the students through the experiment. Mrs. Sander is a big fan of Mystery Science for its engaging, hands-on approach to scientific learning.
"My goal for implementing Mystery Science, beyond mastering the NGSS, is to foster an environment where students are involved in the learning process. Hands-on activities, such as the ones offered in Mystery Science, increase student engagement, improve social skills, build relationships, and boost motivation," said Mrs. Sander. "The extension activities promote deeper understanding and reinforcement of the concepts students have learned."
The students worked their way through the experiment, following directions and adding a specific amount of water to cups of soil to try and see which would form the best consistency to build a house. The video also engaged the students in the "why" for each substance transformation, which will help students retain the information. Students were having a blast during this portion:
"I liked playing with the mud," said Ty Collins
"I liked squishing the stuff," said Maya Bogard
"This is so satisfying!" said Deon Smith
Mrs. Sander also highlighted how Mystery Science really "levels the playing field" when it comes to engaging ALL learners in the classroom:
"I love that it creates equity within the classroom. Everyone can fully participate independently, regardless of academic ability. What I like most about Mystery Science is that the students love it and get excited about learning every time we participate in an activity."
Watching students interact with each other and their learning was a joy. In addition to 100% engagement, students were having so much fun and weren't afraid to share it:
"I liked everything about it. It was really good. I wish I could keep the clay." said Felicity Jamiso.
"I learned that people make houses out of mud. I did not know that," said Kieran Gray
While I could already tell that students enjoyed Mrs. Sander's classroom environment, I'd still like to share a quote from a student highlighting how much kids appreciate when learning is engaging and exciting:
"Mrs. Sander makes stuff fun," said Eliana Rivera
Thank you, Mrs. Sander, for making lasting memories for our students and making learning fun for all!