Learning in a classroom has its challenges and restrictions, especially for a diverse group of learners who like a hands on approach. I often hear adults say that they would rather do something than read about it. Children likely feel the same way, though don’t express it in those words. Experiences like a visit to the Apple Store (as Carmen blogged earlier), are opportunities that connect the student’s learning with a realistic context. Some excursions are very controlled and are presented as a program, but an excursion that connects learning in the classroom with a real context or environment is more meaningful for the learner.
When planning for a combined grade one and two class, I looked for commonalities in the curriculum that could be approached similarly or in the same context. At the time of planning, I was also reading a variety of articles that ranged in subject from nature deficiency in children to mindfulness in the classroom. I came across one article that demonstrated the value of science notebooks for observation and inquiry. So, in September every student in my classroom received a blank notebook that was introduced as a “field journal”. Every week our class takes our science lesson outside with field journals to observe what we have learned in a real world setting. The children date each entry and record their observations and questions using pictures and words. A ravine that is located within a block from our school provides a rich context when looking for signs of the water cycle or evidence of the sun’s energy. We have also carried our journals around the school to find examples of energy use and consumption by tracking how many classrooms use their lights, some lights, or rely only on the light from the windows. The use of the field journals is effective because they are purposeful and the children are investigating their environment with specific intent. When we discuss their observations back in the classroom, the children learn from each other as their perspectives or findings differ. Often, new questions arise, which leads to more investigation or research.
Although it has only been two months since the introduction of field journals, it has become routine to our science program and the children look forward to applying the knowledge acquired in the classroom to their own natural and constructed surroundings. The journals integrate concepts and skills that we learn from other areas of the curriculum such as language, visual arts, and mathematics. But best of all, the children are visibly engaged in their learning while making meaningful connections to their world.
