The recent tragedies precipitated by the tornadoes in the south have brought out the best and the worst in some people. Even though I did not specifically teach Earth and Space Science I did take some time out of my planned lessons to go over the formation of tornadoes, the devastation it can cause and go over the safety tips again with my students (when you have a self-contained class you can tend to deviate from the planned lessons more so than in the mainstream classrooms). For the most part the students were very interested in not just what causes tornados but specifically what happens inside the walls of the tornado. We covered some of the misconceptions that they had (some gained from Hollywood movies) and also looked to gain a greater understanding of tornadoes themselves and the reasons they are so difficult to predict. We also looked at the current weather patterns across the region and tried to determine if there was a correlation to the weather and the number of tornadoes that spawned during that period of time. The students were also asked to research if there had ever been a similar event in recent history. We talked about what the effects would be on the local economy of the current disaster and what the continuing effect would be if more tornadoes occurred within the region. The students seemed to grasp the concept rather well as they began talking about agricultural loss as well as jobs from businesses being closed, etc.
I shared pictures of the affected areas with the students so that they could see the damage inflicted by the tornados. They were all moved by devastation that they saw and had many questions about how long it would take to rebuild the towns and who would do the rebuilding. I tried to answer their questions as best as I could and also made it relevant for them by asking them to think about the students their age who lost everything they had and could not go to school because it was no longer there. I also encouraged my students to actively participate in fundraising activities being organized by different entities in the school and within their neighborhoods, and to verbalize any ideas they had about assisting as well. While most of my students are from lower income homes (we are a Title one school) they contributed what they could to the relief efforts and took pride in updating me each day on new events that related to the tornado or relief efforts.
As teachers I think it is imperative that we teach our students the scientific data that they need to be able to process the information about the world around them. However, while doing so we still need to impart some sense of humanity into what is being taught. Students need to understand that what is studied in science affects people and things do not happen in a vacuum or a lab. They have to be taught that what happens in the lab is in direct relation to the greater good of the human race. Without being these skills students, though brilliant, may not be able to see past the facts and figures to the real purpose of the dedicated scientist.
Mellica,
ReplyDeleteI like how you are explaining the science behind tornadoes as well as the human impact. Sometimes there is an overload of information and students don't know how to process all they see and hear. I agree that there are often moments when we need to put aside regular plans in order to discuss important events in the world around us. This not only makes students more aware, but also makes them active participants. Presenting the human side of things also helps students makes more sense when they can relate it to someone who may be like those they knwo.
Ann
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI think it is wonderful that the students did what they could to contribute to the relief efforts; I wanted to suggest the following site to take a look at:
http://www.dosomething.org/
When there is a natural disaster, this site will often provide ways to help, and not all of them require a financial contribution. For example, when the tsunami hit Japan, my son's school made paper cranes, which were then turned in and converted to a monetary contribution. I really liked this idea because students were not limited in how much they could participate.
Even when there is not a natural disaster taking place, this can be a great way for students to look for ways to contribute both locally and globally to a cause that interests them. Amy :)
I agree that students need to understand the science behind events to become scientifically literate citizens. I want my students to be able to discuss natural disasters with an understanding of what caused them and how they can help.
ReplyDelete