ENGAGING YOUNG LEARNERS IN SCIENCE

VICKY RAMPERSAD - 3495438

INVESTIGATING SCIENCE TEACHING IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ED 5960

DR. LEO MACDONALD
ROYTEC ( UNB ONLINE )
31st OCTOBER, 2014.

INVESTIGATING SCIENCE
ED 5960

ENGAGING YOUNG LEARNERS

IN SCIENCE

VICKY RAMPERSAD
3495438

Engaging young learners with Science and learning about the way children think was the
purpose of this assignment. This was the first time during this B Ed programme that I had the
opportunity to work with students. I began by firstly introducing myself and what was the
purpose for engaging the students. The activity chosen was the Impossible Bottle which
demonstrates how air occupies space.
Prior to engaging the students I experimented with the activity. I explored how difficult it
was to inflate the balloon because of the air pressure inside the plastic bottle. Upon piercing a
hole in the bottle, the air escaped and allowed the balloon to inflate with ease. By experimenting
by myself I was able to attain a better understanding of the activity. In the beginning of the
Science course, I learnt about the 5E lesson plan that is Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate and
Evaluate and I chose to structure my engagement with the students in this way. Even though it
was a short activity, structure is important and the 5E lesson plan allowed me to be more
organized.
I commenced the lesson by firstly introducing the activity. I told the students that we
were going to investigate air by experimenting with a plastic bottle and a balloon. I began by
firstly inquiring their knowledge of air.

INVESTIGATING SCIENCE
ED 5960

ENGAGING YOUNG LEARNERS

IN SCIENCE

VICKY RAMPERSAD
3495438

ENGAGE

Teacher: What is air?

The students looked confused, I thought to myself this question may be too complex and I
may not get an answer. I therefore rephrased the question so that it may seem less confusing to the
students.
Teacher: What can you tell me about air?
Syndi: Its all around us.
Sanjay: Air is something we breathe and plants need it.
Teacher: Can you see or smell air?
Syndi: No.
Sanjay: No
Sanjay: Air has no color. What about if its air pollution? We can see air pollution and we
can smell if there is a bad scent.
Teacher: Can you feel air?
Syndi: No
Sanjay: Yes, if it is windy.
Sanjay blew on Syndis hands and asked: Can you feel the air?
.
Teacher: Do you think air occupies space?
Syndi: No, because we cannot see it.
Sanjay: Yes, because wherever we go we need to breathe so air is all around us.
Teacher: Do you think that there is air in this classroom?
Syndi: No
Sanjay: Yes, because we are breathing.

INVESTIGATING SCIENCE
ED 5960

ENGAGING YOUNG LEARNERS

IN SCIENCE

VICKY RAMPERSAD
3495438

I told the students to think carefully before they answer and I observed there was a
difference in the way they approached the questions. I observed how Sanjay pondered for a
moment and then spoke. He took the time to analyze and then answer. However, Syndi spoke
openly and answered as I asked a question.

EXPLORE

The students were introduced to and explained how to complete a Predict Observe and
Explain (POE) sheet. (See Attachment #1)
ACTIVITY: THE IMPOSSIBLE BOTTLE
The question asked: What do you think would happen if you try to inflate a balloon in a
plastic bottle? The students made their predictions on the POE sheet and then observed what
actually happen.

What would happen?

INVESTIGATING SCIENCE
ED 5960

ENGAGING YOUNG LEARNERS

IN SCIENCE

VICKY RAMPERSAD
3495438

They believed that the balloon would inflate and take the shape of the bottle. After the
prediction, the students were given the opportunity to partake in the activity. They stated that it
was quite difficult to blow the balloon. They were asked why they found it difficult. From the
POE sheet, Syndis observation stated that the neck of the bottle was too small and was reason
for the balloons inability to inflate.

We tried a second time to inflate the balloon however this time I pierced a hole in the
bottle. The students were asked: What do think would happen if you try inflating a balloon in a
plastic bottle but this time a hole is pierced in the bottle. The students wrote their predictions on
the POE sheet and once again observed and participated.

INVESTIGATING SCIENCE
ED 5960

ENGAGING YOUNG LEARNERS

IN SCIENCE

VICKY RAMPERSAD
3495438

Sydnis prediction stated that the balloon would remain the same however Sanjay stated
that it would inflate. The students then observed that the balloon inflated. As they participated
they stated that it was not difficult to blow up the balloon. I then asked them to compare both
attempts in inflating the balloon and give an explanation for what happened.

EXPLAIN

I then proceeded to explain and distinguish between the two attempts. I explained to the
students that air occupies the space in the bottle. In the first attempt we tried to inflate the
balloon however it did not inflate. This was due to the air pressure in the bottle. Sanjay said that
air is all around us because we need it to breathe. This investigation attempts to prove that air
occupies space. While I explained, I simultaneously demonstrated again using the activity. We
applied pressure into the balloon by blowing in but there was no way that the air in the bottle
could escape causing it to not inflate. However, the second attempt resulted in the balloon
inflating. As I continued with the explanation, Sanjay asked if the air escaped through the hole
causing the balloon to inflate. He was correct. The air escaped allowing space for the balloon to
inflate. The students were eager to repeat the investigation but this time by themselves.

INVESTIGATING SCIENCE
ED 5960

ENGAGING YOUNG LEARNERS

IN SCIENCE

VICKY RAMPERSAD
3495438

ELABORATE

They took charge and conducted the investigation by themselves. By doing so they fully
grasped the concept of what we investigated. They understood why the balloon did not inflate the
first time and felt the air escape the second time and therefore connected with the experiment.

The first attempt:

The balloon did not inflate

The second attempt:

The balloon inflated

INVESTIGATING SCIENCE
ED 5960

ENGAGING YOUNG LEARNERS

IN SCIENCE

VICKY RAMPERSAD
3495438

EVALUTE

The students were then asked to complete a KWL sheet (what do you know, what do you
want to know and what did you learn.)(See Attachment #2) This together with the POE sheet
allowed me to better understand the students level of understanding. I read what the students
wanted to know and this had me thinking and questioning myself to find out the answers. I
wanted to take the experiment further. For instance, Syndi wanted to know what would happen if
more holes were pierced in the bottle. It is an investigable question and I would like to go further
and explore with the students. In addition, the room in which the activity took place was a quite
chilly and I believe it triggered the question by Sanjay, can air freeze?
Throughout the entire activity the students thinking was observed. During the elaboration
part of the lesson, the students used their prior knowledge and recalled attributes of air. They
understood that air occupies space however upon analyzing the investigation they were able to
prove how air occupies space and attain a more comprehensive understanding of the
investigation. Blooms Taxonomy has listed types of thinking skills, these include; knowledge,
comprehension, application, analysis, creating and evaluation. As a future educator I must learn
to think critically and improve my thinking skills of evaluating and creating. I am also a learner
and I believe that the students must be taught how to think not what to think. Activities allow for
the students mind to expand and ensure students fully grasp what is being taught. The students
stated that they learnt more by experimenting as opposed to talking about air occupying space.
In conclusion, I understood that in some ways each learner may think alike but they are
absolutely different. Students may not fully comprehend a question asked therefore as a future

INVESTIGATING SCIENCE
ED 5960

ENGAGING YOUNG LEARNERS

IN SCIENCE

VICKY RAMPERSAD
3495438

educator I must be able to identify with the students and know to rephrase what they may not
understand. We must be able to understand how the students think so that we can better assist
them in achieving their highest potential. By conducting the activity I was able to attain a level of
understanding about each student and how they think. This engagement gave me an opportunity
to learn and attain some experience in conducting an improved lesson the next time.

The following are scanned copies of a comparison of the students POE and KWL sheets.

SANJAY

SYDNI

SANJAY

SYDNI

SANJAY

SYDNI

INVESTIGATING SCIENCE
ED 5960

SANJAY

SYDNI

ENGAGING YOUNG LEARNERS

IN SCIENCE

VICKY RAMPERSAD
3495438

ATTACHMENT #2 THE KWL SHEETK

What do you
KNOW ?

W
What do you
WANT to know?

L
What did you
LEARN?

COMPLETED

INVESTIGATING SCIENCE
ED 5960

ENGAGING YOUNG LEARNERS

IN SCIENCE

VICKY RAMPERSAD
3495438

ATTACHMENT #3 THE POE SHEET- COMPLETED BY STUDENTS