Constructivist Approach

Science

English

Mathematics

Health

Resources

Assessment

LEARNING TECHNOLOGY

Activity                       Details

Engage

Experiment with water and record existing knowledge on class chart on easel.  

Develop questions and facts that children would like to research.  

Develop water vocabulary.

Introduce recount genre and learning journal. 

Self-directed use of water trough, water and containers in small groups. 

Children demonstrate their knowledge.    

Brainstorm how many ways people use water in a day.    

Water

Water trough

Variety of containers

Kettle

Learning journals

Observe children's involvement in activities.    

KLA:     ART

Find and discuss drawings made by other children, as to how they use water.

LINK

Access

Group

Timing

Record

Demonstration in library

Whole Class

One-Off

Print out drawings

Explore

Explore existing knowledge and extend through an investigation of water concepts ie floating and sinking.    

Expose children to picture books and literature linked to water concepts.  ie Who Sank the Boat. 

Join construction of recount genre for learning journal.   

Volume

Spatial concepts

Mass

Temperature

Conservation of liquids.

Graphing    

Develop ideas on how water is both helpful and  dangerous. 

Water and growth.  

Picture and information books.    

Observe children's involvement in experiments and ask open-ended questions.    

KLA:    

Make labels and signs to be used with experiments and investigations.

Access

Group

Timing

Record

Rotating groups

Small groups

one-off

print out

Explain

Explain and compare results of investigations. Children discuss their results in terms of  their observations and data collected.    

Group discussion of results followed by a written recount of the investigations in learning journal.

Record further questions that have developed from the investigations.    

Explain their understanding of the conservation of a liquid.       

Research why living things need water. 

Assess the children's concept knowledge.    

KLA:     English

Publish work from learning journal using classroom computers.

  Software: Once Upon A Time - Passport to Discovery - Underwater module

Access

Group

Timing

Record

Follow the leader

Pairs

As long as required

 

Print out

Elaborate

Apply concepts and ideas developed through investigations to other contexts.  ie ships can float.     

Oral summary of their work from the learning journal presented to class .

Research information related to other contexts of water. 

Research how plants grow and apply knowledge.    

Eggs, cotton buds and sprout seeds.    

KLA:    

Make labels and signs for plant growth displays.

Access

Group

Timing

Record

Media

Same as stage 2, except this time students use a chart for guidance rather than the teacher

Evaluate

Refer back to what the children knew and wanted to know, and reflect on their experiences.

Children apply new knowledge to problems solving scenarios.  ie what if?    

Individual contribution to class presentation "Water is ____________"

Peer and self evaluation of learning journal.    

Evaluate the success of the plants growth.    

Evaluate changes in skills and knowledge.