Inertia, a tendency to do nothing. This time of the year, as we are nearing our holiday break, this is in full swing. Although, we have more to do than normal, we often just lag. We slow down and become stagnate, before the sheer volume of tasks, that lie between us and vacation. We gaze, mesmerized, at the mass and velocity, needed to complete our end of semester check list. Ticking off our responsibilities, one by one, relieved, yet, burdened with the knowledge there will always be more on the horizon.
As teachers, we are overwhelmed, but what about students? They have the work load of many teachers bearing down on them. They have the pressure of their parents, to excel. They have the weight of their own anxiety and determination, reducing their focus and curtailing their enthusiasm. You can see it in their eyes, complete shut down is approaching. I asked myself, "What simple things can I do to help alleviate my students fretfulness and jitters?"
This year is the first year that 7th graders have to take cumulative, academic finals. If the end of the semester was not stressful enough, now they have added, to the myriad of projects and quarter assessments, an end of the semester exam. The pressure is mounting and I wanted to make sure that, the level of nervousness and concern was minimized for my students, not amplified.
I allowed my students to use a 4 x 6 note-card to take as many notes as they could, on the human body. I reassured them they could use these on the cumulative test. The final, aggregate exam, was not by choice, but district requirement. So, I wanted to ease their feeling of foreboding, with a simple gesture. I noticed, as they were taking the exam, most did not need or use their note-cards. The mere act of making it, created a sense of security that pushed them through.
Finally, as a review for the final exam, rather than a study guide or review session, my students made board games. Each team made cards, using vocabulary and any type of design they wanted. Then we spent a day playing them. It was a fun, upbeat, energetic way to review. They listened to holiday music and had a relaxing day, as a classroom community, enjoying the fruits, of their labor (see pictures below).
Gearing Up For the Wrap Up
Topping off the quarter, my GT students had a STEAM field trip and our SciCon event. The field trip was all about the human body and students: listened to a brief lecture from a NASA scientist, created a full sized human, with all the organs and systems, albeit a unique looking one, using supplies from a giant makerspace. They made a paper model of the human hand, a gooey plastic bag of blood, created pulley's to demonstrate work, and played with Spiro's and sheep hearts. It was definitely a fun day. (see pictures below)
Last week, our two month experimental projects were completed and students designed a display, model and 1-2 minute speech about their findings. We set up all 60+ presentations at the SciCon convention (The Robert Shaw STEAM Center) and family, friends and Beckendorff faculty, came to see and hear, all about the science of the human body. The theme was universal, but the topics were by choice and ranged from: memory, vision, exercise and the effects of smoking, caffeine and sunlight on the human body, to just name a few.
It was an amazing night. The first SciCon I have organized, and after grading all 60+ projects, I had little time to mingle. But, I had a blast meeting with each team and hearing all about their successes and failures. It will definitely become an annual event for my students. (see pictures below)
SciCon was designed for all my students, but because the other science teachers did not want to participate, I could only have my GT students complete the experimental design project, for a grade. However, several of my Pre-AP students participated, for extra-credit. I am so proud of all my students, they dove in head first, swam for two months, through sometimes murky waters, but made it ashore with some fantastic results and realizations. The parents were excited and enjoyed it as well. 120 students participated and over 400 people came to SciCon. The event was a success.
G.U.M: Getting Ultimate Momentum
Like chewing gum, the true flavor of the experience of finishing the year, does not become apparent until the motion of your jaw, salivary glands, and teeth create the motion of chewing. The act of chomping, gnawing and nibbling at the rubbery mass of sugar, creates the pleasure of freshness and in some people calm and contentment. The rumination of studying, gulping of knowledge and feasting on the last assignments and assessments of the semester, keep the power of momentum up, until the last bell, signalling the holiday has begun.
This momentum of chewing gum, propels the act itself, the desired effect, which is the minty or sweet sensation. Completing the semester brings a similar satisfaction, the pleasure of accomplishment and the anticipation of a restful respite, from the grind of school. It is a stressful time for everyone, but it can be lessened, with some opportunities to do something different. To have a SciCon rather than mere presentations, to go on a field trip or adventure, to have a day of playful learning, and to give a safety net, so students don't feel so apprehensive, before a week of exams.
Momentum is dependent on overcoming the mass of an object (responsibility) and the inertia (laziness) and getting ourselves in motion, sustaining velocity and at times accelerating, until the finish line is crossed. For our district, the checkered flag has been swung and the race has finished. No winners or losers, just participants who all worked hard to reach their destination: the winter break, a time for family and fun and well-deserved rejuvenation.
A STEAM Field Trip
Board Game Review Day
SciCon
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