Light Interactions

Light Interactions 

Observing this inquiry lesson by group two was quite the experience! They decided to base their inquiry lesson on a light interaction experiment! There were four different stations that the students rotated between: reflection, refraction, absorption and transparency. This was a great idea because the teachers provided so many different materials for the students to utilize during these experiments including mirrors, flashlights, jars of water and much more! Before the experiments began, the teachers reviewed the previous lesson in great depth. Even though they provided a little too much material to review, this was a great way to assess the students' knowledge. It took a little too much time, but I thought that the students really enjoyed sharing what they've learned from the last day of instruction. After reviewing the previous lesson, one of the teachers introduced the scientific method and had the students chorally read the 5 steps of the scientific method out loud as a class. After doing this, one of the teachers introduced the light interaction experiment. Each student was handed out a packet of questions to go with each experiment. One thing I would change about this lesson is that I wish that the teachers described each station in detail. I feel as though the students were thrown into a situation and weren't exactly sure of what they had to do. As soon as they got there, the groups figured out what they had to do and how to answer the questions, but I wish that the teachers introduced each station and stated what was expected in each group. Once the students started their experiments, they really seemed the enjoy them! After each group was finished, the teachers gave them the opportunity to reflect on each experiment and tell the class what they learned. This was a great way to get the class together to discuss each station. After sharing, the students got the opportunity to write a letter to their 4th grade teacher about what they learned about light energy and how it relates to the sensory garden, since their teacher wasn't present in class when they completed the inquiry lesson. I thought that this was a great idea!! Overall, this lesson was great and I loved the idea of the light interaction experiments. I love how prepared all of the teachers were and how they supplied all of the great materials for the class to use. This was a great lesson to observe because it gave me so many new ideas for the future. The only thing I would have changed is that the teachers should have reviewed each station in detail before the students went to each station, just to have each group become more clear of what they have to do and how each station works. But the experiments were a great idea and it's such a cool way to introduce an inquiry lesson.