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Traditional Instruction |
Read about sea turtles. Complete worksheets about sea turtles. Write a report. Take a paper/pencil test at end of unit. |
| Read about honey bees.
Complete worksheets about honey bees. Write a report. Take a paper/pencil test at end of unit. |
| Read about manatees.
Complete worksheets about manatees. Write a report. Take a paper/pencil test at end of unit. |
| Read about pioneer life.
Complete worksheets about pioneer life. Write a report. Take a paper/pencil test at end of unit. |
| Read about space.
Complete worksheets about space. Write a report. Take a paper/pencil test at end of unit. |
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Meaningful Learning Experiences |
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Gather information about sea turtles. Visit a sea turtle rehabilitation center. Record observations in science notebook. Create a lapbook about sea turtles. |
| Gather information about honey bees.
Visit and talk with a local beekeeper. Make bee crafts such as beeswax candles. Share facts learned via a blog or website. |
| Gather information about manatees.
Visit a natural manatee refuge. Write a letter to lawmakers thanking them for making laws to protect the manatee. |
| Read “Little House in the Big Woods.”
Visit a pioneer village or museum. Learn to churn butter and make candles. Create a lapbook about Pioneer Life. |
| Gather information about space.
Visit Kennedy Space Center or planetarium. Develop a model of the solar system. Go stargazing and record observations. |
The point is to demonstrate the difference between learning that really “sticks” versus rote learning. Rote learning is what traditionally occurs in schools. Many adults agree that much of what they learned in class was actually memorized and regurgitated for the test. That’s the difference between rote learning and meaningful learning. It absolutely must be noted that educational research supports learning skills in context rather than in isolation. Letting children play active roles in their education is backed up by research while the more traditional “skill and drill” approach is not.
