Blog Post Week 1

 

  1. The big question addressed in lab, and a description of what you did.
The big question that was addressed in lab this week was, why should elementary students learn about science? Another was, how should elementary students learn about science? After discussing these questions, we watched a video of students playing on a playground and noted what we noticed and wondered. Following this, we explored how we can support play that is exciting but not dangerous. To explore this question more, we did an experiment on how to make a race exciting by ensuring the racers will cross the finish line close to each other. To do this, we measured the distance of our race and the time it took us to walk this distance. After figuring this out, we were able to determine how much time one racer should start before the other to make the race close. 
  1. A description of what you learned in Thursday's lecture.
In Thursday's lecture we looked at the SEPS, DCI, and CCCs that are in 3-PS2-2. I was able to refresh my memory on where to find each of these. After doing this we worked through a few different problems. I learned how to determine the amount of distance head start someone should get if they are running at different speeds for the same distance. We did this again with a problem where someone is riding a bike and a car at different speeds while going the same distance. We figured the equation of speed=distance/time to measure motion. 
  1. Answer questions about the weekly textbook reading: Measuring and Describing Motion
    1. What did you learn?
I learned different ways we describe motion such as rising, falling, and swinging. Two benefits of describing motion include predicting where something will be in the future and knowing whether we understand what we observe happening. This reading also touched on position and what we need to know for position which includes distance from a reference point and direction that we must travel from the reference point to get to where we are. 
    1. What was most helpful?
The equation to determine speed was the most helpful reminder in this reading. I have used this many times but it is a good reminder to use speed=distance/time and I feel we will be using this a lot in the future. Another equation that was helpful was for velocity which is velocity=change in position/time. Another equation that was helpful is for acceleration which is acceleration=change in velocity/time. 
    1. What do you need more information on?
I need more information on acceleration since this is an idea that I have not touched on recently. I will need more practice with this equation as well as the label for the answer. 
    1. What questions/concerns/comments do you have?
Do elementary students seem to struggle the most with speed, velocity, or acceleration?
What can we do to support these students?

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