Mapping Student Minds

I was impressed by the complexity of the assignment these students were completing. I can see how this project addressed the various intelligences of students. I love that the lesson included an actual trips to the creek, although only two, I felt it brought more reality and importance to the assignment. I am sure it made it real for the students. I was happy to see how the teacher decided to explain the graphic organizer with an example that allowed her students to not focus on the topic but rather on the structure. What I mean by this is that students know what steps they must take and which to avoid in order to receive a good grade in science. They were able to give out numerous answers and focus on how the teacher was structuring the organizer. I love group/partner work therefore, appreciated the fact that students could work with partners. In this sense, like the article discussed, students could discuss different/similar perspectives and at the same time help each other out in order to complete the organizer. The students who are visual learners must have definitely benefited from this project. They were able to see in 3-D how their observations and data connected to why the creek is the way it is, how animals survive there, etc..

The presentations are great! It gives the students an opportunity to practice speaking in front of a group, defend their points of view and learn to accept other's points of view. I like the idea of having the students who were not presenting be the city council. With the activity students are not only learning the content matter but also technology, and other skills like group work, acceptance, and presentation methods.