This semester, all of my Science Methods Maniacs have been part of a partnership-in-the-making with Pat McShea, Sue McJunkin and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Pat McShea, the program officer of Carnegie Museum of Natural History's distance learning initiative, and Sue McJunkin, the program specialist have worked with my students over the last six weeks. Sue conducted a somewhat low-tech phone conference with the methods class early in September. She prepared my students for various possibilities that Carnegie could provide for them as pre-service teachers in the Science After School program. On September 11, 2009, all seventeen of my methods students went to explore Carnegie Museum of Natural History for ideas on the topics they would teach during the month of SAS.
During our time at the museum, Mr. McShea allowed the students to explore the various items and kits available through Carnegie's Educational Loan Collection through their Division of Education. He also introduced the purpose of using 'object learning' with students. He emphasized the importance of creating lasting memories in a social context and addressing tactile learning by using objects that children would not normally be able to touch and explore in their everyday lives. The result has been getting all of the methods students involved in learning how to use kits and objects to teach science that addresses the whole child.
Kayla and Heather explore many of the exhibits at Carnegie.
The lessons have to focus on teaching the whole child, as well. Science lessons must address at least three of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, it must be differentiated, and it must be hands-on science. I believe that by teaching science in this way, we can begin to reach not just the schooled student, but rather the musician, the dancer, the artist, the explorer, the thinker, the scientist that exists within every child.
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