The 4/5’s class had time in the day for story reading. The teacher asks the children to choose a book they would like her to read to them. They chose a book on the human eye.
They read a portion of the story that discussed how the eye dilates and the amount of light that filters through the eye. The children began looking at each other’s eyes and asked many questions such as “what happens in the dark?”; “Do cats’ eyes do the same thing?”; “How many different colored eyes are there?” After the story reading was over the children went back to work. As the teacher moved around the room, the children were continuing to talk to each other about “the eye”. This was a signal to the teacher that further study on this subject was necessary.
With the teacher as facilitator, a study was developed around the human body and the five senses. The children drove the conversation and participated in the planning. The teacher prepared the classroom with books and materials that would support the study.
After much conversation and collaboration, the study began with a discussion about skin. The teacher listening to children’s conversations heard the topic of germs come up frequently. They read books about germs and discussed the illustrations showing the germs being blasted by toxins from the white blood cells. The teacher explained to the children that “germs are like the bad guys.” They get into our bodies and want to eat up all our energy. The white blood cells are the good guys. They protect our bodies so we don’t get so sick. When the bad guys (germs) get into our bodies, the good guys (white blood cells) rush over to fight them away.”
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