We received our agenda for the day and I was extremely excited for the next couple of weeks. Dr. Pangan showed us a 7 slide PowerPoint that we were going to present to 3rd grade students at the Butler University Lab School later in our class session. The slide I presented showed the NASA ground crew facility located in Florida. When I presented my slide to the students, I asked them to discuss with us what occupations they think are involved with the NASA ground crew. To my surprise, many of the students knew there had to be engineers, doctors, and technicians. Then, I asked the students what they think happens at the ground crew. One girl mentioned the NASA workers must keep information and contact the astronauts in outer space. That was exactly right! The doctors have to check the astronauts health. The engineers need to make sure the equipment is sufficient enough and safely working properly. The technicians must read the data and check the route of the ISS. Students became aware of all the important people involved in the ISS mission.
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Quotes from Isaac:
- How does liquid turn into a ball?
- How does the water not go everywhere?
- Is there air conditioning or heat? What's it like in space? (temperature)
- How do you breathe?
- Can you watch movies in outer space?
- How do you entertain yourself?
- What type of food do they eat?
- How hard is it to sleep?
- Have you visited the moon?
- What are your thoughts on Pluto no longer being a planet?
- How do you shower?
- How do you brush their teeth?
- How do you play sports? Games?
- Are there plugs/electricity?
- Do you have a kitchen?
After our visit to the Lab school we shifted our focus to controversial topics in the classroom. Dr. Pangan has tried this activity with her students; however, only with a class that is mature enough. This means they are able to reason with their thinking and accept what they can't change. In order to determine whether or not to implement this activity into the classroom, a teacher must know his or her students well. Each table or group of students are given a "hat" or "mode" in which they have to think under. For example, the white hat group must reason with a controversial subject in a way needs known information. They don't contribute to the discussion about feelings, optimism, alternatives, etc. They only focus on the information known or needed.
What Can A Teacher Do When Controversial Topics Arise?
What Can A Teacher Do When Controversial Topics Arise?
- avoidance
- awkwardly, half-address the issue
- use children's literature
- clarify or balance the issue
- tell their opinion only
- Study the facts.
- Communicate with the students' parents.
- Know your students and what they can handle.
- Encourage support.
- The attack on September 11th, 2001.
- School shootings
- Natural disasters
- Death
- Abortion
- Capital punishment
- Racism