The human body, a topic 8th graders have not discussed since last year. In fact it is a unit lasting an entire semester. In order to review for the STAAR test 8th grade and 7th grade science teachers swap students for a day. So today I am teaching a crash course about the human body systems to 8th graders, many of whom I taught last year. It is exciting to reconnect with these students.This could cause some behavior issues for some, but with a concise lesson plan disruptions are at a minimum. It is a different feel for sure. The vibe of each class is more chaotic causing a sense of imbalance. But after a little prompt from me it calms and they settle into a routine. 8th graders carry themselves differently, they definitely have a little more spunk in their interactions with teachers and they carry with them a sense of spring fever knowing that in less then six weeks they will be high-schooler's.
The classes I am teaching are GT classes so as much as they try to pretend they don't care, they do. They are competing a card sort about the different systems and completing a content frame including pictures and analogies. This takes about 1/3 of the class. They are excited to be back in my room, noticing the standing desks they didn't have last year and the change of posters etc. Many of them hug me and are excited to be back. It is amazing to see how much taller a lot of them are, the more mature they are and the more focused they have gotten. While a few of them are exactly the same. I hope they mature before next year or high school is going to be a very tough place for them. They settle down and begin working, completing their assignment. Then we watch an Amoeba Sisters video about the Human Body. They laugh at the puns and quirkiness of the video.
Finally, students complete a chart of which doctors would be called upon in different scenarios: chest pains, cardiologist for example. They begin to discuss family members who are doctors, visits they have had to different physicians and many of whom want to be doctors are discussing which field they want to study and why. Great conversations going on. It is good to see that these students are thinking about their future and how to accomplish their goals. They take school very seriously, as most GT students do. There is a huge maturity difference between 7th and 8th graders. It becomes more apparent watching the interactions of these 8th graders. They are less touchy feely and hands-on with each other and more stand-offish. The girls and boys talk more together, less apprehension to inter-mingle, for good reason they are full-fledged teenagers now. It shows in just about every way possible.
Several of the other science teachers were apprehensive about swap day- they were worried it would be a STAAR wars battle. But, I think for the most part they are finding it a productive day as I am. It is all about the tone you set when they enter the room. Be concise and direct and they will follow your lead. The force is definitely with us today, the ebb and flow of 7th graders and 8th graders changing hallways and classrooms is definitely felt throughout the campus but it is going smoothly. 8th grade swap day is an epic event for sure. They anticipate it all year. All we need now is some John Williams theme music playing in the hallways. But lets play the upbeat Ewok Theme and not Darth Vader's Theme, it is about the tone.
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