Seeds of Learning
| Name: |
Kelly Deirdre |
| School: |
PS 124 Yung Wing School |
| Address: |
40 Division St. |
| City: |
New York, NY, 10002 |
| Original Project: |
Seeds of Learning |
| Author: |
Karen Olszewski |
| URL: |
http://teachersnetwork.org/impactii/profiles02_03/seeds.htm |
How did you modify this unit for use in your own classroom?: In this modification, students used Math and Science skills to set up an experiment using five different bean seeds, observing and recording growth over a specific time period. Students then discussed a variety of graphs to choose from and determined which was appropriate for their data. Students graphed the results indicating how many seeds sprouted and how many did not sprout. Students reasoned why beans germinated and why they did not, referring to the different growing conditions under which the seeds were placed, during the germination period.
List your primary instructional objectives for your students.
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Instructional objectives for my students are: Collaborate with peers to set up methods for recording and collecting scientific data |
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Categorizing data; graphing data using appropriate increments |
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Accurate math calculating using addition, multiplication, subtraction and division |
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Proper use of hand held magnifiers, rulers, measuring tapes, and calculators |
What role did technology play in this curriculum unit?: Technology played a role in this modification in the following ways: students used calculators to verify their math results; Internet was used to research specific seed ( as an extension for those who completed work ahead of schedule). Web sites used included: www.enchantedlearning.com and www.askjeeves.com
How did you assess and evaluate student performance?: Student performance was evaluated with completion of worksheets, notebook records of data, group discussions and completion of bar graph.
Please tell us briefly about your background & teaching experience: Ms. Deirdre Kelly who has been teaching for 13 years, the last six at PS 124, holds a M.S. in Elem. Ed. and is also Orton-Gillingham trained at Teachers College, Columbia University. The goals for my students are to become independent learners, who are motivated to question, work in groups or independently, and reach out to others sharing knowledge and experience. Ms. Kelly enjoys the very active, hand-on learning environment that science and math offer.
What are your recommendations for other teachers interested in adapting this unit?: This unit is an excellent opportunity to learn graphing skills; collect data; observe measurable growth and think about how the results of the data can be interpreted. This adaptation can be valuable for grades 3 thru 5, as well as for ESL students.
Samples of Student Projects
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Completion of worksheet |
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Completion of bar graph |
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Possible reasons/interpretation of data in written paragraph form |
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