EDEL 441 Reflections for Activity Binder

7/30/2019 EDEL 441 Reflections for Activity Binder

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Brittany Brown

EDEL 441

Activity Reflections

Reflection 1: Newtons 2nd & 3rd Laws of Motion

Teacher: Martha Rendon

This activity used balls with various masses to teach students about Newtons Second and

Third Laws of Motion. This lesson was designed for first grade and I personally think this lesson

might be too difficult for first graders. The background knowledge section of the lesson says that

students will have already been introduced to Newtons First Law of Motion and they also know

the definition of mass. I cant see how this would be true in a first grade classroom. I would

change the lesson to maybe 3rd or even 4th grade if you want students to really comprehend this

subject. These are just my reflections and opinions of the lesson.

With that being said I thought the activity itself was well executed. It was a simple yet ef-

fective way to demonstrate the Second and Third Laws of Motion. The activity of having stu-

dents roll the balls with different masses back and forth to each other, increasing force when in-

structed, is a great way to demonstrate to students that the greater the mass of the object, the

greater amount of force needed to accelerate the object.

Reflection 2: Newtons Third Law: Balloon Rocket

Teacher: Jennifer Carney

For this activity students got to investigate Newtons Third Law by experimenting with

balloon rockets. This was definitely one of my favorite activities. I thought that the video was a

great introduction to the lesson and was the perfect way to hook students attention. I especially

liked how the video led right into a class discussion about Newtons Third Law. I thought this

was important to do first so that students had some background knowledge before beginning the

activity. I thought this activity was very practical for a classroom setting and I think students will


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Brittany Brown

EDEL 441


certainly be engaged throughout the entire lesson, I know I was! I like how we used a bit of our

own experimenting by trying to send the balloon back by tilting the string. I think students would

would want to do the same.

Reflection 3: Determining Liquid Density

Teacher: Alyce Mack

This activity was about introducing students to density by using pickling salt water. It

was designed for third grade but I feel this activity may be a little difficult for third graders to do

on their own. The reason I say this is because there are a lot of components involved with the les-

son and I feel it may be better understood by students if the teacher were the one demonstrating

the activity to students. I know I was confused on the instructions for this lesson. There were a

lot of materials involved and I did not feel it was very organized which was part of the reason I

had trouble doing this activity. The objective of the activity was for students to be able to observe

which of the solutions was less dense. Students are the continue experimenting with each so-

lution, and ask students to establish the order of density. This sentence threw me off because I

didnt know how we were supposed to establish the order of density. Students may be able to

complete this activity but more clear directions and better organization would make this activity

more successful.

Reflection 4: Energy in a Jar

Teacher: Denise Crosby


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Brittany Brown

EDEL 441


The purpose of this activity was to show students that heat, like light, sound and electrici-

ty, is a form of energy. This objective was clear and was successfully demonstrated with this les-

son. The activity was organized, materials were all ready to go before the lesson began and was

simple yet very effective. This activity would be enjoyable at any age, but the 1st-3rd grade level

is the perfect time to introduce the concept of energy to students. Especially because most stu-

dents have some kind of prior knowledge on this subject. I really like how each student in the

group of 4 had the opportunity to participate by taking turns shaking the sand. I think this activity

is extremely useful and practical in the classroom. This activity was a great way to show students

that shaking something is a form of energy and so is heat. They will understand through this ac-

tivity that when you shake the sand, the energy of the sands motion was transferred to heat ener-

gy when the sand grains struck one another in the container and this is what caused the tempera-

ture of the sand to increase.

Reflection 5: Thermal Energy Solar Ovens

Teacher: Adrienne Hutchinson

This is the activity that I think students would have the most fun with. Students will be amazed

to learn that they can cook smores using without using fire or any kitchen appliances. Students

will learn by doing this activity that heat can move from one object to another by conduction.

I really liked that the teacher was modeling the construction of the thermal energy solar oven for

students to see instead of just showing them an already made one. I do think that this activity

would have worked a little better leaving the thermal oven outside (given that the sun was out)

instead of using a lamp. That might be the only thing I would change if doing this lesson with my

class.

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EDEL 441 Reflections for Activity Binder