Teacher Training By Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski

Teachers and students throughout the nation will be celebrating the birthday of Dr. Seuss this week. Theodore Seuss Geisel aka Dr. Seuss (March 2, 1904- September 24, 1991) was the author of over 40 children’s books. A great many of us learned how to read through the literature of Dr. Seuss. Classrooms throughout the nation and world will celebrate Dr. Seuss’s Birthday this week by reading Dr. Seuss books, conducting hands-on science explorations like making Oobleck, the unique substance that looks like a liquid but behaves somewhat like a solid, conducting experiments with eggs and more. In addition to the well-known Dr. Seuss books Tish Rabe and Bonnie Worth have authored over 31 children’s books that have science-related themes Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library Collection. The books contain the recognizable Cat in the Hat character, and Dick and Sally. Each book has a glossary with science terms as well.

I developed a teacher training workshop “Teaching Science Through the Literature of Dr. Seuss” years ago to introduce teachers of early childhood students through grades 6 how to teach science through the literature of Dr. Seuss. Teachers are introduced to over 70 Seuss books as well as 30 books in the Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library Collection that can be used to introduce and reinforce science concepts. Teachers are actively engaged in conducting hands-on investigations to explore the states of matter, plant and animal kingdom concepts, earth and space concepts and more. A key component of the teacher training workshop is teaching the importance of making observations as well as writing and drawing in the science classroom.

The following photos are from a recent hands-on science program I conducted for students to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss.  To view and purchase science-related theme books from the Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library Collection check out my recommended book page, all books can be purchased from Amazon via this site at no extra charge. For more information about teaching science concepts through the literature of Dr. Seuss check out the following slideshare link of a recent Teaching Science Through the Literature of Dr. Seuss teacher training workshop I conducted.

You can sense a slight change in the seasons in Florida during this time of year, and the teacher training workshop I presented as a featured speaker at the Daytona/ Flagler County Early Learning Coalition Discovering The Joy Conference Young Nature Explorers could not have been timed better. Approximately 45 early childhood teachers were actively engaged in exploring age-appropriate early childhood science concepts. Additionally, teachers were introduced to connecting mathematical concepts, and children’s literature as they explore outdoor and life science concepts with their early childhood students. During the teacher training workshop teachers used eye loupes and simple microscopes to explore a wide-array of specimens from nature including: leaves, seeds, rocks, animal coverings, and more. Additionally, teachers observed and touched live garden snails, earthworms, and pill bugs. Teachers also were asked to draw pictures of what they observed throughout the teacher training workshop. As the session ended teachers were invited to bring the snails, earthworms, and pill bugs back to their classrooms to share with their students. Teachers left the session motivated, energized, and ready to teach their early childhood students about nature using their schoolyard as a classroom. Another great session and group of dedicated teachers. For further reading on sharing nature with children check out the following books. All the books listed can be ordered from Amazon via this site at no extra charge.