Connecting with reluctant readers... |
 | My brother, Eric, and I got along famously as children. It might have been because we were so very different. We each had our own ways to shine. I was artistic, a strong reader, and nurturing. He was athletic, mechanically inclined, and outgoing. If it involved going fast, he was all in! Sitting still to read was not his strong suit. Two book series, however, were a game changer for him: the Choose Your Own Adventure series and the TinTin Comics. Each of his favorites has shaped an element of Go2Science but I'm going to focus on the latter for now. |
The Adventures of TinTin somehow worked its magic on my high energy brother. The comic book format just hooked him! I've often reflected on this in my professional career. What is it about comics that reluctant readers love? I can't claim to have done quality research on this and I have no studies to site, but I do have 25 years of watching children become readers. These observations have led me to some thoughts:
- Comics are fun to look at! Children can engage with them even if reading is hard. They create a risk-free way to engage with a story without having to actually be a fluent reader. Ironically, this increased time with text often leads children to want to read. Maybe just a sound effect at first; but eventually the story draws them in and they start attending to text.
- Comics are flexible! If you are a young reader, reading from top to bottom, left to right, page by page can be constraining. While comics follow this convention they also allow kids to pick and choose. They can loop back and re-read. They can read in layers. It's for this reason, I think comics have value for all emergent readers as a sort of training for the type of reading we do online or environmentally.
- Comics are fast! There is less of a commitment involved in starting to look at a comic than opening up a chapter book or even a picture book. The story is broken down into bite-size pieces. Think of each frame or even each speech bubble as a micro goal. A student has a sense of accomplishment for reading any part. This sets up a positive feedback loop that seems to draw kids in and keep them there.
| We designed our comic to be engaging to an extremely wide range of readers. Early Emergent or pre-readers can read the pictures and decode the sound effects. Emergent readers can focus on the speech bubbles. Readers that are more fluent can access the text boxes and synthesize the whole frame. As an educator, you are freed from having to assign certain levels to certain children as everyone has an access point and every student can get the "cool book." Our new artist, Ben Matsuya, has given the comic an incredible look and feel. PLUS, he's done a great job attending to all the scientific details Curtis includes. |  |
We provide the comic in three formats. Many teachers print them as there is nothing quite like the physical act of turning a page. Other teachers push out pdfs to student devices to save on paper and ink. You can project the comic from the web page or download the three format pdf. You or your students can also cut and assemble a little book for each week's installment. Other teachers prefer to print each frame to make a big book. You can also print the full nine panel image that shows the whole week's installment on a single page.
 | This year we are also providing the full fame per page in an uncolored version so your students can color their own big book if they wish. While the days of spending hours of the school day coloring are long past, sometimes there is still a time and place for such a soothing activity. We'll post an installment each week while the mission is live. In the days of binge watching, this is an opportunity for students to wait with anticipation for the next part of the adventure. We'll also share tips for integrating the comic into instruction. |
Our comics are available to users for each mission on the website. Ben's art will be featured on all the comics we roll out this year.
0 Comments
Oddball Materials for Mission: Tigers!
We work hard to keep materials as simple as possible, but there are a few oddball items you may not have on hand. Remember, you do not need to do every lesson! Below, we've broken materials down by lesson to help you streamline your prep time! K-2 lessons are listed first and I've bolded items I think are likely to be oddballs!
Most of our PreK lessons utilize typical dramatic play props. Most of the materials below are suggested play props. We urge you to customize and make these lessons your own!
- Day 1 - To Thailand!
- maps, measuring equipment, a stapler, folder, or binder to create a Go2Science journal
- We provide: printable journal pages and maps
- Day 2 - Weather the Market
- props you can use to build a market
- something real or pretend to sell at your market
- classroom supplies for creating your own currency (paper, markers, etc.)
- We provide: printable journal pages and rubrics
- Day 3 - Camera Trap
- digital camera, tablet, or phone students can use for taking photos
- about an inch of painter's tape
- blindfold, noise canceling/reducing headsets (OT might lend some?)
- spray bottle for scented water
- We provide: printable sense cards, journal pages, and rubrics
- Day 4 - Recycling Truck
- recyclable materials (You may want families to save some.)
- small wagon or box to represent recycling truck
- tape, rope, or bungie cords to secure your load
- yardstick or ruler
- optional: scale and timer
- We provide: printable data sheet, journal pages, and rubrics
- Day 5 - What's Eating You (game)
- 12 sheets of cardstock
- We provide: printable game cards, journal pages, and rubrics
- Day 6 - Tiger Tracks
- things to make tracks on (dirt, sand, play dough, water, wood etc.)
- access to heating and cooling (a fridge or freezer, sunny window, hair drier, etc.)
- small toys or other objects to make prints
- optional: large sheets of paper and paint for arts integration
- Day 7 - Elephant Wash
- stuff to build with (recyclables, cardboard, string, spray bottles, whatever you can scavenge)
- optional access to water (perhaps dish tubs, small watering cans, towels!)
- We provide: elephant wash levels chart, journal pages, rubrics
- Day 8 - Comparing Adult and Baby Animals
- tape or glue for assembling posters
- optional hula hoops for large Venn diagram
- plenty of printer paper
- We provide: printable poster puzzles and student Venn diagram journal pages
- Day 9 - Build a Better Hide
- stuff to build with (recyclables, Lego bricks, other construction toys, etc.
- We provide: printable "action figures, " journal pages, and rubrics
- Day 10 - Seed Dispersal (game)
- Repositionable glue stick OR painter’s tape and 24 plastic sheet protectors
- Cardboard and utility knife to assemble spinner
- We provide: lots of printable game cards. Allow some time for printing and prep on this one.
- Day 11 - Resident Population (game)
- Optional: pattern blocks
- We provide: 2D and 3D printable game pieces, journal pages, and rubrics.
- Day 12 - Publishing
- The sky is the limit! Create a bulletin board or poster series. Go digital. Or just keep it simple!
- We provide: journal pages, rubrics, publication checklist.
- The sky is the limit! Create a bulletin board or poster series. Go digital. Or just keep it simple!
Most of our PreK lessons utilize typical dramatic play props. Most of the materials below are suggested play props. We urge you to customize and make these lessons your own!
- Day 1 - To Thailand
- Pillows, blankets, jammies, slippers, eye mask (can make one out of construction paper)
- Books and flashlights
- Teddy bears or other stuffed animals for comfort
- Travel items (toothbrush holder, empty mini shampoo bottles, empty toothpaste tube etc.)
- Suitcase or backpack
- Tray and pretend food
- Chairs or pillows to create the plane/boat/train/bus seats
- Pillows, blankets, jammies, slippers, eye mask (can make one out of construction paper)
- Day 2 - Market
- To make the money: Construction paper, scissors, crayons or markers, stickers or pictures, contact paper or clear tape, glue, round pieces of cardboard for coins
- For the outdoor market: set up a table or surface and display toy items that might be for sale (toy foods, paper, books, clothes etc. ). Use umbrellas or fabric as a canopy over the table. Set up a cash register or toy money tray, provide cloth bags, toy plates
- To make the money: Construction paper, scissors, crayons or markers, stickers or pictures, contact paper or clear tape, glue, round pieces of cardboard for coins
- Day 3 - Camera Trap!
- Small boxes or cardboard / construction paper rectangles for pretend cameras
- Tape, velcro, or straps to attach the cameras to furniture
- Scissors
- Materials for camouflage - real or pretend leaves / plants
- Crayons, colored pencils, markers, paint or other arts materials
- Biologist dress-up clothes and props, such as oversized button-down shirts, cargo pants, safari vest, sun hat, boots, binoculars, clip board, etc.
- Small boxes or cardboard / construction paper rectangles for pretend cameras
- Day 4 - Recycling Truck
- Non-breakable plastic, cardboard, paper, items from the recycling bin (rinsed clean) etc.
- One or more large boxes or wagons to represent recycling trucks
- Clock or timer
- Non-breakable plastic, cardboard, paper, items from the recycling bin (rinsed clean) etc.
- Day 5 - What's Eating You
- 24 sheets of cardstock
- We provide: printable game cards.
- Day 6 - Tracks!
- Sand table and/or outdoor space with access to different substrates, such as sand, mud, water, grass, pavement, wood, Play-Doh
- Toy animals with distinctive feet shapes. Alternatively, if outside, kids can use their own feet or hands, or if inside, you can use different shaped objects.
- Sand table and/or outdoor space with access to different substrates, such as sand, mud, water, grass, pavement, wood, Play-Doh
- Day 7 - Life-size Animal Poster
- Tape or stapler
- Objects for measuring
- We provide: printable poster!
- Tape or stapler
- Day 8 - Elephant Parade
- Clothes that resemble a “mahout suit”
- Elephant trunks and tails (yarn, paper, fabric, or other materials)
- Paintbrushes, paint, paper, and easel
- Flags
- Blocks, sticks, or other materials for elephants to move
- Musical instruments
- Clothes that resemble a “mahout suit”
- Day 9 - Hide
- Variety of toy animals, such as elephants, monkeys, bears, and tigers
- Play dough, trays, and play dough tools
- Pretend animal foods (fruits, animals, and/or real leaves/grasses)
- Pretend or real seeds, grass, plants, toy bones that can be mixed into the play dough
- Variety of toy animals, such as elephants, monkeys, bears, and tigers
- Day 10 - Play Dough Poop
- Variety of toy animals, such as elephants, monkeys, bears, and tigers
- Play dough, trays, and play dough tools
- Pretend animal foods (fruits, animals, and/or real leaves/grasses)
- Pretend or real seeds, grass, plants, toy bones that can be mixed into the play dough
- We provide: play dough recipe
- Variety of toy animals, such as elephants, monkeys, bears, and tigers
- Day 11 - Resident Population (game)
- Cardboard, glue, and a paperclip to make the spinner
- We provide: printable spinner
- Day 12 - Publishing
- Paper, writing and drawing implements
- Water-color paints, paint brushes, collage materials, or other visual art supplies
- Photos you have taken during the activities
- Recorder device (optional) or notebook to record each student’s words
- Hole punch and yarn, or sheet protectors and a three-ring binder to bind the book
- Paper, writing and drawing implements
| Thailand has incredible diversity. We'll see lots of birds! Some we know but others are "Mystery Birds!" We've created a Field Guide with selected birds of Thailand so your students can identify the the "Mystery Birds" in each Field Mission video. This is one more way to keep your students engaged! The guide includes Mystery Bird check off so students can track the species they identify! | |
There is also a Bird Survey so students can track all the birds they spot as they participate in this mission. Dr. Goodrich wants to know how diverse the bird population is so he's asked us to do a bird survey as we search for signs of a resident tiger population!
Mission Thailand is Live!
We will go deep into the forests of Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (HKK) in pursuit of tigers!
Dr. Goodrich is sending us to Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (HKK) in Thailand to investigate the hypothesis that there is a resident population of tigers living in HKK. We know tigers occasionally pass through HKK but are they now calling HKK home? We will search for clues of a resident population such as tiger tracks, scratch marks, poop, tiger prey species, scent marks, and, of course, actual tigers! Dr. Goodrich also wants us to do a bird survey while we investigate our hypothesis so we are going to need your help! Come along with us as we go into the wilds of HKK. Who knows what we will encounter!
If you want to know more about Dr. Goodrich you can check out his bio here:
https://www.panthera.org/people/john-goodrich-phd
If you want to know more about Dr. Goodrich you can check out his bio here:
https://www.panthera.org/people/john-goodrich-phd
| We've teamed up with #TeachSDGs to reach even more classrooms as we strive to make the world a better place. So...What's #TeachSDGs? Teach the Sustainable Development Goals. Go2Science Service Learning opportunities help you address these goals! Here's some background: In 2015, the United Nations announced the 17 goals which include those such as Climate Action, Life on Land, and Life Below Water. The 193 member states of the U.N. and others are taking steps to achieve the goals by the year 2030. |  |
That's where teachers come in. It is critical that students know and understand the goals and begin to take action now. Toward the end of 2016, four educators came together, met with officials at the United Nations and a movement was born. #TeachSDGs has grown over the last two years to over 300 ambassadors, and over 30,000 followers. Now it's your turn to take part.
Go2Science supports classrooms in addressing the SDGs to make a difference that extends outside the classroom. While most of our previous Service Learning opportunities were already directly aligned with the SDGs, we are making it even easier by including the logo that corresponds to the goal right in the Service Learning area of each lesson.
By simply using the vocabulary associated with the goals, our students will soon become well-versed in speaking about them, and more importantly taking action. Here's to teachers and students around the world, working together, to improve the world by 2030!
Go2Science supports classrooms in addressing the SDGs to make a difference that extends outside the classroom. While most of our previous Service Learning opportunities were already directly aligned with the SDGs, we are making it even easier by including the logo that corresponds to the goal right in the Service Learning area of each lesson.
By simply using the vocabulary associated with the goals, our students will soon become well-versed in speaking about them, and more importantly taking action. Here's to teachers and students around the world, working together, to improve the world by 2030!
Schedule for the 2019-20 School Year
We will have three new research adventures this school year! Of course, you can use any of the existing missions at any time, but if you like to join us live we want to make sure you know when we'll be live. We'll live stream on Tuesdays and Thursdays according the the schedule below.
Mission: Thailand: Tigers!
Mission: Thailand: Tigers!
- Selected pre-mission materials to teachers in August
- September 13 – Mission 1, week 1 materials to teachers
- September 17 – Live Stream Day 1
- September 19 – Live Stream Day 2
- September 20 – Mission 1, week 2 materials to teachers
- September 24 – Live Stream Day 3
- September 26 – Live Stream Day 4
- September 27 – Mission 1, week 3 materials to teachers
- October 1 – Live Stream Day 5
- October 3 – Live Stream Day 6
- October 4 – Mission 1, week 4 materials to teachers
- October 8 – Live Stream Day 7
- October 10 – Live Stream Day 8
- October 11 – Mission 1, week 5 materials to teachers
- October 15 – Live Stream Day 9
- October 17 – Live Stream Day 10
- October 18 – Mission 1, week 6 materials to teachers
- October 22 – Live Stream Day 11
- October 24 – Live Stream Day 12
- Publication page remains open for posting and commenting and this mission is listed as “current” until Mid-December
- Selected pre-Mission materials to teachers in Mid to Late December
- January 4 – Mission 2, week 1 materials to teachers
- January 7 – Live Stream Day 1
- Tuesday/Thursday live streams continue (12 total)
- Friday materials deliveries continue (6 total)
- February 13 – Live Stream Day 12
- Publication page remains open for posting and commenting and this mission is listed as “current” until Mid-March
- Pre-Mission materials to teachers in late March
- April 3 – Mission 3, week 1 materials to teachers
- April 7 – Live Stream Day 1
- Tuesday/Thursday live streams continue (12 total)
- Friday materials deliveries continue (6 total)
- May 14 – Live Stream Day 12
- Publication page remains open for posting and commenting and this mission is listed as “current” until mid-summer
Meet Beth and Curtis!
Presidential Award-Winning teacher and hula hoop fanatic, Beth loves bringing real world science to kids! Beth is fascinated by engineering challenges, technology, and outdoor learning spaces. After 25 years teaching kindergarten, she’s excited to share her passion and experience on-line with classrooms from around the world!
Curtis is a lot of things: a scientist, lawyer, explorer, drummer and Ironman. His brain is always churning. His paleontological finds are in museums across the country and he even has an extinct sea turtle named after him. He loves traveling the world and immersing himself in new environments and cultures. Curtis finds joy in sparking the imagination of young learners and making them think in new ways.
Archives
October 2020
September 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
April 2018
November 2017
Categories
All
3D Printing
Birds
Bonus Materials
Calendar
Comics
DCI
FAQs
Field Guide
Galapagos Islands
Jane Goodall
Literacy
Materials List
Math
NGSS
Productive Talk
Professional Development
Schedule
Scientist
Service Learning
Standards
Super Teachers!
TeachSDGs
Thailand
Tigers
Travel
Trees
RSS Feed
