Science Biomes

Making Our Voice Thread

This week Mark and I created a voice thread on the tundra and rainforest biomes. Mark did all of the research reagrding the two types of biomes and eveything said in the movie is from his work. We both found some suitable pictures and created the voice thread. When it came time to record Mark's voice we had a very hard time. We ended up recording it onto my cell phone and transferring it to voice thread. That is why it may sound a little scratchy! Despite that, I think we did a great job on this collaborative project. I know I learned alot! Mark had already been studying biomes, so he was an old pro, but I think he had lots of fun too!

Here's the link to our movie! Hope you like it!

Collaborative Project - Touring CCMS

This Thursday, April 9, I was able to tour the Corpus Christi Montessori School. It was a great experience! The school was unlike any other I had ever seen. Students worked quietly on the floor or at tables. They were busy and looked engaged by their assinments. Many were working in their socks! Miss Sylvia, the school's principal, showed us around enthusiastically. The lower grades worked with many manipulatives, while the older children did more group work and experiments. The three of us on tour were also treated to a look at the student's garden and PE area.

I really appreciated the peace and unity that evidently exists among the students. Even children in the lower grades were calm, busy, and seemed to be having fun. I also like the methods used by the teachers. They didn't order the children around and there was no yelling. Every teacher at CCMS is called by her first name, making the impression that teachers are not above, or more important than, students. At the end of the tour we all asked about how to become Montessori teachers because we were so impressed and excited by their methods. The school is small and humble, but within those walls many children are experiencing and learning great things!

Collaborative Project - Week 2- Meeting My Student for the First Time

After a week of trying to meet with my young student, i was finally able to do so yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon at CCMS. The scene was a little crazy and confused, but we were able to figure out a strategy for Mark's project. I'm very excited to get started. Mark has chosen to focus on two biomes- tundra and rainforests. He is going to learn all he can about them, compare and contrast them, and find lots of great pictures of the biomes and the kinds of animals that live in them. I think it will be a great project!

Collaborative Project - Week 1

My first week working on the new collaborative project was very interesting. I was assigned a student from Corpus Christi Montessori School named Mark. Mark’s project is on science biomes. As I knew little about science biomes, I was eager to get started. I emailed Mark and his family Monday night and received an email asking me to call at my convenience. I called the next morning and was asked to call back later. Because I had classes later, I emailed once again stating the purpose of the assignment as I understood it, offered a few suggestions for when we could get together for a face-to-face meeting, and left my phone number encouraging Mark and his family to call or email me with their preferred time and any questions. A few days later I decided it might be a good idea to get to work on explaining how a blog is created. I wrote a detailed (step-by-step) description of how to create a blog and begin blogging. I again emailed, attaching the explanatory document. Hopefully I’ll hear something soon! I can’t wait to meet Mark and learn more about science biomes and show him all about a few other cool computer tools!

A few questions I am planning to ask or incorporate into the project’s blog are:

1. What are biomes? Why are they important?
2. How many different kinds of biomes are in existence?
3. Where are biomes found? Does climate matter?
4. How do plants, animals, and other orgaisms live in biomes abd how do they affect each other?
5. How do biomes affect humans? how do humans affect biomes?

Plans for my parent-child meeting will include

1) In general, getting to know the parent and child
2) Finding out what the child wants to achieve from this project
3) Asking what role they would like me to play and how I can be of assistance in the project
4) Help Mark set up his blog and get started on ideas for his voice thread
5) Have a good time and learn something new!!!