Balloons, Balloons, Balloons Science and Literacy Debbie Rodriguez, M.Ed. Math and Science Teacher Tamahara Guerra Bilingual Education Teacher Ysleta Pre-K Center

Science and the young child Create a sense of wonder Construct knowledge Foster Language and Literacy Development Build the foundation for student success on the 5th grade Science TAKS5th grade Science in the Preschool Classroom Capitalizing on Children’s Fascination with the Everyday World to Foster Language and Literacy Development by Conezio and French

How do we know what we know? We discover it ourselves We learn it from books, teachers, parents, television, but someone before us discovered or created it Creating knowledge is called inquiry Children engage in inquiry all the time – they are naturally curious and have a sense of wonder Introducing Students to Scientific Inquiry by S. Etheredge

The 5E Model Constructivist view of learning Learners bring with them preconceived ideas about how the world works The 5E model provides a planned sequence of instruction Encourages students to explore, construct their own understanding, and relate new understandings to other concepts. More Picture Perfect Science Lessons by Ansberry and Morgan

The 5E Model Engage - capture their interest Explore - cooperative activities that allow to building concepts and developing skills Explain - students explain, you clarify Elaborate - help correct any misconceptions Evaluate - you assess students’ knowledge

Texas Pre-K Guidelines VI.SCIENCE DOMAIN A.Physical Science Skills End of Prekindergarten Year Outcomes VI.A.1. Child describes, observes, and investigates properties and characteristics of common objects. VI.A.2. Child investigates and describes position and motion of objects. VI.A.3. Child uses simple measuring devices to learn about objects.

Engage – Get the students talking and thinking. Have you ever had a balloon? What color was it? What shape was it? How did it feel? What is your balloon story? Tell a friend. Read a story – Gilberto and the Wind by Marie Hall Ets – Emily’s Balloon by Komako Sakai – You Can’t Take a Balloon Into the The Museum of Fine Arts by J. P. Weitzman and R. P. Glasser – La Suelta de Globos by Helen Bird

Explore – How’d that work? Let’s try. _large.html _large.html We can not raise a house with balloons in class, but let’s try our school supplies. How many helium filled balloons does it take to lift: – Scissors – Glue bottle – Pencil – Marker

Continue Exploring through Centers See the Power of Air (activity in Awesome Air) Does a balloon float or sink? What will happen when you force it into the water? (activity in My Balloon) Draw a face on your balloon? Blow it up and release the air slowly. What happens? (activity in My Balloon) Ice Balloons (activity in My Balloon) Balloon Pendulum (activity in Discovery Science Explorations for the Early Years) Balloon Power (activity in Discovery Science Explorations for the Early Years) Rocket on a String (activity in Discovery Science Explorations for the Early Years) Reading Center

Explain – students explain their understandings As students go through the activities have them record in a journal/notebook so later they explain their new knowledge to you. You, as the teacher, may need to clear up any misunderstandings. Perform the experiment again for the students to make sure they no longer have questions/misunderstandings.

Elaborate – make sure the students understand Read I Face the Wind by Vicki Cobb Perform experiments as you read the book

Evaluate – assess students’ new knowledge Let’s take a quiz! water What is this balloon filled with? How do you know?

Which balloon is inflated? Which balloon is deflated?

What is happening to this lady’s hair?

Thank You Science and children’s books go hand in hand when exploring new ideas with young children. Make sure to make it fun so that it becomes memorable! address: Website: www2.yisd.net/drodriguez2

Teacher Resource Books Science in the Preschool Classroom Capitalizing on Children’s Fascination with the Everyday World to Foster Language and Literacy Development by Kathleen Conezio and Lucia French an NAEYC Young Children article 0&y=0&pr=journal 0&y=0&pr=journal Introducing Students to Scientific Inquiry by Susan Etheredge and Al Rudnitsky (ISBN ) More Picture Perfect Science Lessons by Karen Ansberry and Emily Morgan (ISBN ) Discovery Science Explorations for the Early Years (ISBN no longer in print)

Children’s Literature Gilberto and the Wind by Marie Hall Ets (ISBN ) Emily’s Balloon by Komako Sakai (ISBN ) You Can’t take a Balloon Into the The Museum of Fine Arts by J. P. Weitzman and R. P. Glasser (ISBN La Suelta de Globos by Helen Bird (ISBN ) Awesome Air by Rena Korb (ISBN ) My Balloon by Kay Davies and Wendy Oldfield (ISBN ) I Face the Wind by Vicki Cobb (ISBN )