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kristen39
kristen39
04 November 2007 @ 11:35 pm
Simple Machines + Practical Experience= Knowledge... November 4, 2007  
 Week 9: Concepts, Experiences and Integrated Activities
Chapter 13: Simple Machines 

When I think of ‘simple machines’ my eyes don’t glaze over. I never thought of levers, pullies and wheels turning to be a scary and complicating concern. Maybe it is because their entitled simple machines…I don’t know, just at hint. Apparently, the text assumes that we are all scared and think about equations. Me, I’m not really inclined to think about equations at any point in time…that is unless I’m figuring out how much I’ll save when there is a sale at the mall. Besides that point, I feel as far as I’m concerned simple machines are staying simple for me. I love playing around with things and testing things out, participating in activities, getting my hands dirty and actually initiating movements and manipulation to solve problems. With simple machines, this is inevitable. But, there is a catch...you must have these manipulative materials in order to fulfill your tasks and learning concepts.

 

The text, once again points out such a cheesy intro involving the movement of hands being rubbed together to create friction. I will sadly admit, this would work for me. The heat produced would spark an initial inquiry and help evolve that spark of interest. However, follow up is necessary and the exploration of further issues needs to happen. This will expand on that experience and broaden the focus from a narrow perspective.

When I think of friction I am reminded of a wet day at wonderland. Walking around the park with a damp pair of jean shorts rubbing back and forth until a rash is developed. Just that feeling of discomfort and wonder about why this is happening only when my shorts got wet had me problem solving.

 

When it comes to simple machines, practical experiences can just cut right to the chase and enable ample learning opportunities. When reading through all the learning objectives for simple machines, I could think of so many practical experiences that could be used to assist in the understanding of the concept. When experiences are more personal and felt they are better understood in my opinion. This isn’t to say that experiences can’t go wrong or are beneficial in every case. Some things are hard to understand and grasped when too many steps are involved or explanations are not given. It is extremely important to follow up on experiences with the levers, ramps or wheels. The plank of wood with rock supports example displayed in the text reinforced the notion that changing where you stand on the plank can change how the lever operates. Total participation in activities like this one can be beneficial to all the students in the class. This unit to me, showed the need for extra manipulative activities and movement through working with the machine models.

Word Count: 459 

 
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[info]lindsay_keith on November 5th, 2007 06:46 pm (UTC)
Use of manipulatives
Kristen,
I have had a large amount of experience in a variety of classrooms, and I think that the most important reason that children are not taught the simple mechanics of simple machines is becuase the materials are not there. I was at the school that I volunteer at on Friday for the P.A. day. I was helping my teacher to complete orders of materials for the school. The school did not order a single material that related specifically to science. Most of the money was spent on literacty and new computers for the school. I think that this type of learnind does not occur because there is not a arge focus on science in the younger grades, reading and writing and more important in the eyes of parents and some administration.
kristen39[info]kristen39 on November 10th, 2007 03:59 am (UTC)
Re: Use of manipulatives
Wow..thats good to know. Not a good thing, but that actually makes me think back to last year in the kindergarten classroom. When talking to the teacher about a science lesson I would be planning, she directed me to the shelf of old and dusty science supplies. I guess there was better things in mind for the budget..sometimes you dont always need to spend money though. I know its nice to have cool lego and electronic stuff like what jason brought in, but you can learn about simple machines using inexpensive materials too. You just have to be creative and innovative.
mdrohan[info]mdrohan on November 6th, 2007 12:57 am (UTC)
Would spark me to....
Kristen, I laughed when I read your post because the hand heat intro at the beginning of the chapter struck me a really cheesy as well but at the same time it would totally spark questions for me as well. I think it is so interesting that our bodies can create that type of heat just by rubbing two parts of it together. I think it would be a great way to get children involved in the lesson as well because they can participate directly with their own bodies.
kristen39[info]kristen39 on November 10th, 2007 04:04 am (UTC)
Re: Would spark me to....
Ya, jason used it too in class and it wasnt as bad as I thought. Using your bodies and actually feeling and experiencing a reaction helps in the area of curiousity. Personal experiences are key, like I always say in these posts....I see a trend.
jennycld415[info]jennycld415 on November 6th, 2007 02:10 am (UTC)
As usually Kristen, you have a way of getting your opinions across in a very eloquent and humours way. I aggee with you that teaching simple machines though personal expereinces is the best way. Giving children information about things that they use everyday and impact thier lives that are simple machines will intrige them to want to learn. I think of a boy I workded with in a placement. He was struggling in most subjects, but he really liked hockey. Each day he read the sectons about hockey in the newspaper durring his reading time. If this child know that a hockey stick was a lever, he would be more inclined to learn about this simple machine.
kristen39[info]kristen39 on November 10th, 2007 04:02 am (UTC)
So true jenny...personal interests really "gear" up children's interest levels. That is why its so important as an educator to really observe your class and get to know childrens likes and dislikes.