Modeling: Showing Students How its Done! How to Make Observations And Scientific Drawings

Show them the Way! / Children need you to demonstrate how to do each part of the activity. Show them what it will look like as you model the correct procedures. / Children are better able to complete an activity correctly when they actually see how it’s done, as well as seeing the finished product. / Make a larger paper version or transparency to use in front of the class as an example. / Then later show them the actual materials they will be using. But don’t pass them out until you model an example first, or else the students may lose focus. / Children need you to demonstrate how to do each part of the activity. Show them what it will look like as you model the correct procedures. / Children are better able to complete an activity correctly when they actually see how it’s done, as well as seeing the finished product. / Make a larger paper version or transparency to use in front of the class as an example. / Then later show them the actual materials they will be using. But don’t pass them out until you model an example first, or else the students may lose focus.

Show How to Observe with O ur Senses / Tell students they will be using some or all of their five senses. / List them on the board. / Have students point to the part of their body they use for each of the five senses. / Choose an item from the classroom to observe. / Use your larger version as an example to demonstrate how to draw observations. You may want to tape it to the board or drawing only what they observe in the box. / Children have a tendency to draw other non-related things (such as rainbows, flowers, their dog, the sun, their teacher, etc.) unless you instruct them otherwise. / Explain which senses you are using as you make your observations. / Show how to use the entire box to draw their observations. Fill the space with detailed drawings! / Tell students they will be using some or all of their five senses. / List them on the board. / Have students point to the part of their body they use for each of the five senses. / Choose an item from the classroom to observe. / Use your larger version as an example to demonstrate how to draw observations. You may want to tape it to the board or drawing only what they observe in the box. / Children have a tendency to draw other non-related things (such as rainbows, flowers, their dog, the sun, their teacher, etc.) unless you instruct them otherwise. / Explain which senses you are using as you make your observations. / Show how to use the entire box to draw their observations. Fill the space with detailed drawings!

Guide Students as they Make Scientific Drawings / Tell students they will be making scientific drawings of their observations in the same way, only with real creatures. Make sure the students have sharpened pencils! / Go over safe handling procedures and expectations with the class, and check for understanding! / See Classroom Management link for getting students into groups, or ask the teacher for a recommended strategy. / Pass out the creatures to the groups. Pass out the drawing papers and sharpened pencils. / Circulate between groups to guide them in making their scientific drawings. Remind them to use the entire space, or else their drawings may appear too small. / Tell students they will be making scientific drawings of their observations in the same way, only with real creatures. Make sure the students have sharpened pencils! / Go over safe handling procedures and expectations with the class, and check for understanding! / See Classroom Management link for getting students into groups, or ask the teacher for a recommended strategy. / Pass out the creatures to the groups. Pass out the drawing papers and sharpened pencils. / Circulate between groups to guide them in making their scientific drawings. Remind them to use the entire space, or else their drawings may appear too small.