Computer Writings on Computers and Writing!

This week the class continued their work on their Mineral Identification Guide.  We have worked out some kinks as far as materials and groupings and this weeks stations ran great.   Each week allows us Arlette and I to see how we can improve the process and make the next weeks lesson run smoother. I think we should have it all figured out in a couple of weeks.... uh oh! Although we will be moving on from our science class,  I know will absolutely be putting the strategies and techniques I have learned to use in my future classrooms.

We are in a very tech friendly room so luckily we have been able to incorporate technology pretty much each week; this week we chose a website that demonstrated a real Mineral Identification Guide.  We did this hoping that the kids would make the connection between the tests they are performing each week and what their final outcome will be.   We wanted them to see by conducting tests on minerals they are slowly determining what each mineral is; that what they are doing in the classroom Geologists really do out in the field.  

To get our kiddos to do some science writing we played a sort of "What Mineral Am I?" Game.  We had the students review the mineral properties that they have collected over the prior weeks and write clues about what mineral they were describing.   Their partner had to use the clues and guess the mineral.  The students seemed to really like the activity and I hope it also reinforced the other skill we have been trying to work on with the kids about keeping detailed records.    

I think our lesson went well.  Our kids are working really well together and with us.   I am glad that with the way the timing is running we will actually be able to finish the Mineral ID guides with the kids.  It will be cool to be able to wrap it up together.