Alana McSharry- Blog 3- Observation of Spring PBL

I chose for Dawn to observe a lesson that involved the students observing a rain making activity.

Here is the lesson.
Standards: 1. LDC-2o: Participate in a group discussion making comments and asking questions related to the topic. 2. LDC-13f: Represent thoughts and ideas in drawings and by writing letters or letter-like forms. 3. CD-10o: Notice and describe weather conditions, position of the sun and moon at different times and seasonal changes. 4. CD-11n: Represent what they learn during scientific exploration through drawing, modeling, building, movement and other methods.
Procedures: 1. Review the idea of rainy days with students. 2. Explain to students that they will participate in an experiment that will show how rain falls from a cloud. 3. Show students a cup with water in it. 4. Add shaving cream to the top of the cup. 5. Show students how to use the eye dropper to get water and drop it on the shaving cream. 6. Explain to students that they will do the experiment, discuss it and draw a picture of it. 7. Send students to their tables. 8. Place a cup with water and shaving cream on the table, a small cup with blue water and eye droppers. 9. Have students begin to drop the blue water onto the shaving cream. 10. Have students observe what is happening to the blue water and the water in the cup. 11. Have students discuss with each other what is happening and how it is similar to rain falling from the clouds. 12. Give students paper and have them draw a picture of what is happening in the cup. 13. Have students write about what is happening in the cup. 14. Have students bring their papers back to large group and share it with a friend.
Assessment: Students participate in discussions. Students draw about their observations.

During the lesson the students actively participated in the activity. The students talked about how the blue water moved through the shaving cream into the water in the cup. They talked about how it looked similar to rain. The students took turns sharing the eye dropper and worked well together.

After the observation the students drew and colored a picture of what happened to the blue water when it was dropped on the shaving cream. Then the students dictated a sentence that matched their picture. All of the students' pictures had detail and related to their observations. All of the students dictated sentences that explained the activity or rain in a correct manner.

In large group three or four students presented their picture to the other students. The students spoke clearly and did a great job explaining their work. The students were engaged and involved throughout the lesson.

In my opinion the lesson went well. It was organized and well delivered. I think there is little I could do to improve the lesson.