Teacher Training By Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski

Back from conducting teacher training in the state of Colorado. Forty K-8 teachers from two Colorado magnet schools attended the training entitled “Integrating Science and Children’s Literature”. Teachers were introduced to over 60 children’s K-8 books that can be used to introduce and reinforce K-8 science concepts. Teachers were actively engaged in conducting hands-on-minds-on inquiry-based explorations to investigate K-8 science concepts. The Colorado Department of Education has revised the science standards from 5 to 3 to include Physical, Life and Earth Systems Science. The largest change to the science standards is acknowledging that scientific inquiry, science process skills, and content can’t be taught separately. These important aspects of science were integrated into the three science content standards. This change makes total sense. Teachers must integrate the nature of science, science process skills within all science explorations students undertake, as opposed to covering the nature of science in isolation in the first nine weeks of the school year. The following sample photos were taken from the Integrating Science and Children’s Literature K-8 teacher training workshop held in Colorado. Once again it was a great group of teachers.

On June 25th, 2010 parents and children had the opportunity to explore science concepts through popular children’s literature. Parents of early childhood-age children and their children eagerly took part in hands-on explorations to investigate nature of science, earth, physical and life science concepts. Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski a nationally recognized science education consultant conducted the family science parenting workshop. Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski  introduced parents and children to popular children’s literature books that have science content directly related to regional and national science, math, literacy, history, and art standards. Parents and children conducted hands-on science explorations to investigate the behavior of soap bubbles, observing the behavior of a unique substance called Oobleckwhich behaves like a combination of a solid and a liquid, what objects sink or float, observing how rocks can be broken down into beach sand, observing and touching live garden snails, pill bugs, and earthworms, observing and sorting leaves and seeds. At the end of the two hour session families left with numerous models they had made throughout the session, and art work depicting their observations of the live creatures they observed as well as leaf rubbings they had made. Most important, parents left the session with many new explorations to undertake at home with their children to investigate science and mathematic concepts. Approximately 40+ popular children’s authors were introduced during the family science workshop teaching science concepts through early childhood literature some of the most recognizable children’s authors included: Eric Carle, Gail Gibbons, John Himmelman, Leo Lionni, Dr. Seuss, Eve Bunting, Ellen Prager, Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, Wendy Pfeffer, Tish Rabe, Bonnie Worth, Bill Martin, Franklyn Branley, Anthony Fredericks, Ruth Heller, and many more. For a detailed view of most of the children’s literature used during the family science workshop please visit this page,  all the children’s literature used during the family science workshop can be ordered from Amazon.com via this site. For additional reading on the positive impacts of parental involvement in science education please view the National Science Education Teacher’s Association position statement on parent involvement in science education see this page.

Sorting Shells during the family science workshop.

Families used sand and water wheels during the family science workshop. Families used sand and water wheels during the family science workshop.

Families sorted seeds during the family science workshop.Families connected science concepts and children's literature together.

Child observes and sorts leaves during the family science workshop.

Families observed and sorted shells during the family science workshop.

Child shows drawing completed during family science workshop.

Families made leaf rubbings.

Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski demonstrates how to make a leaf rubbing during the Family Science Workshop.

Families used microscopes to observe leaves and bird feathers.

Families used microscopes during family science workshop.

Families explored what objects sink or float during the family science workshop.

Families explored floating and sinking.

Families explore states of matter with Oobleck.

Family science participants blows bubble during family science workshop.

Families explored the states of matter during the family science workshop.

Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski demonstrates how to use the bubble window during the family science workshop.

Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski helps family science participants mix the Oobleck.