Great Article for Science Teachers!

I feel that this is a great article explaining a readers’ theater using a well-known children’s book to link relevant environmental concerns to the story. It is a problem-based style of lear... See More

I feel that this is a great article explaining a readers’ theater using a well-known children’s book to link relevant environmental concerns to the story. It is a problem-based style of learning and also incorporates reading into the learning as well. This is important in that it may draw in more student interest due to the nature of the readers’ theater at the beginning. Also, giving the students a plan of action keeps them engaged throughout the learning and encourages them to solve a real-world problem. I assume that this would be a highly engaging lesson and would probably take up more than one day in the classroom. I also liked the student examples that are included throughout the article including some of the student responses that can be expected during the activity. This is a great article and could be replicated during the normal class time or even at an after-school weekly meeting such as 21st century after-school program.

The Lorax

I think that this lesson is a great way to introduce the topic of sustainable development, especially to young children. I agree with the authors that it is extremely important to integrate ... See More

I think that this lesson is a great way to introduce the topic of sustainable development, especially to young children. I agree with the authors that it is extremely important to integrate literature into the science classroom. In self-contained primary classrooms, a certain portion of the day has to be set aside for math and a certain portion for language arts, leaving little to no time for science or social studies. Therefore, it is critical that teachers find a way to integrate science into the language arts lessons. This is a great way to do that. Throughout this lesson, each activity addresses language arts standards, from Reader’s Theater to comprehending the meaning of the story. Also, it introduces sustainable development to students in a way that does not seem overwhelming or foreign. I think that students, especially young students, have a dislike and fear of textbooks as a whole. I feel that textbooks can be a little dry and uninteresting to students, so it is our job as teachers to find alternative ways of engaging students. I think this lesson is an excellent way to engage student interest. I feel that anytime you can address multiple standards while peaking student interest and engagement, you have a win-win situation. This lesson does that, covering multiple language arts standards and multiple science standards as well.