Elementary Teachers Explore Life Science Concepts During Inquiry-Based Teacher Training Workshop
Diana Wehrell-Grabowski on April 18, 2010 in Teacher Training Workshops No Comments »Fourth and fifth grade elementary teachers conducted numerous inquiry-based hands-on science investigations during a full-day teacher training workshop to explore life and environmental science concepts. Teachers expanded upon their existing life science content knowledge, designed and constructed several models to teach life science concepts. Teachers conducted the following investigations during the full-day teacher training workshop conducted by Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski:
- Took a hike around the schoolyard to learn how to incorporate schoolyard ecology into the science curriculum.
- Observed the complete life cycle of the lady bug on Hibiscus plants growing on schoolyard property.
- Studied characteristics of plants and animals with emphasis placed on structure and function.
- Designed and constructed a model of a plant or animal cell using simple household materials.
- Observed plant and animal cells with a microscope.
- Observed pond water organisms with a microscope.
- Observed the life cycle of brine shrimp.
- Made a classroom terrarium that was brought back to their own classroom to teach about interdependence, ecology, population, energy transformation, plant and animal kingdom, producers, consumers, and decomposers.
The following photos were taken during the full-day teacher training workshop.
Teacher observes pond organisms under the microscope.Teacher builds model of plant cell using simple household materials.Teachers used interactive student notebooks during workshop.
Teacher observes ladybug on Hibiscus flower.
Teacher building terrarium to teach life science concepts.
Teachers built terrariums to teach life science concepts.
Teacher builds model of plant cell using simple household materials.
Teacher uses a microscope to study a fish scale.
Teachers used interactive student notebooks during workshop.
Completed classroom terrarium.Cell mitochondria made with gelatin capsule and wrap tie during teacher training workshop.
