Sanchez Science Switch Days

Sanchez Science Switch Days

Building Community Through Shared Science ExperiencesBuilding Community Through Shared Science Experiences

Why Science Switch Days?Why Science Switch Days?

Remember data-driven instruction? Sanchez’ bilingual students consistently

scored low on the 5th grade science TAKS test.

Our administrative team asked each grade level to develop collaboratively one lesson monthly that would help ELL students develop scientific language in English.

Remember data-driven instruction? Sanchez’ bilingual students consistently

scored low on the 5th grade science TAKS test.

Our administrative team asked each grade level to develop collaboratively one lesson monthly that would help ELL students develop scientific language in English.

What if this was an expectation at your

school?

What if this was an expectation at your

school? Spend a few minutes at your table,

brainstorming what you would do with this expectation.

We’ll have each table report back in 5 minutes.

Spend a few minutes at your table, brainstorming what you would do with this expectation.

We’ll have each table report back in 5 minutes.

We Started with What We Knew

We Started with What We Knew

Tie-dye T-shirt Day Hanukah celebration Rodeo Day All students participated in series of

hands-on experiences, going from station to station, involving parent volunteers, and our PALS (Parents as Literary Support ) teachers.

Tie-dye T-shirt Day Hanukah celebration Rodeo Day All students participated in series of

hands-on experiences, going from station to station, involving parent volunteers, and our PALS (Parents as Literary Support ) teachers.

We Liberally Borrowed Good Ideas from OthersWe Liberally Borrowed

Good Ideas from Others For our first Science Switch Day,

we already had knowledge of how the schedule would work.

We’d heard that Lucy Read had a Farewell to Summer Water Day, so for our first session, we decided to explore how water moves.

For our first Science Switch Day, we already had knowledge of how the schedule would work.

We’d heard that Lucy Read had a Farewell to Summer Water Day, so for our first session, we decided to explore how water moves.

Start with the End in Mind Start with the End in Mind

Start with theme/ topic Find Pre-K guidelines which apply

to the topic Determine target language for the

day Determine sentence stems that fit

the language or topic

Start with theme/ topic Find Pre-K guidelines which apply

to the topic Determine target language for the

day Determine sentence stems that fit

the language or topic

ThenThen

Brainstorm activities that would fit the time and the academic goals, including some activities with art, music, and physical activity.

Make a final list of activities. Divvy up the responsibility for setting

up and running stations. Determine the whereabouts of stations

and the schedule of the events.

Brainstorm activities that would fit the time and the academic goals, including some activities with art, music, and physical activity.

Make a final list of activities. Divvy up the responsibility for setting

up and running stations. Determine the whereabouts of stations

and the schedule of the events.

Teach the Concepts and Vocabulary in L1 for ELLSTeach the Concepts and Vocabulary in L1 for ELLS

Almost Ready Almost Ready

Gather the necessary materials for the stations.

Arrange for spaces that are not our classrooms.

Try out the activities beforehand. Make a distribution plan for student

products. Get plenty of rest the night before.

Gather the necessary materials for the stations.

Arrange for spaces that are not our classrooms.

Try out the activities beforehand. Make a distribution plan for student

products. Get plenty of rest the night before.

The Day DawnsThe Day Dawns

Brief our PALS teachers and parent volunteers as to expectations, especially using English only.

Carry out the plans. Try to document the students as

they visit each station.

Brief our PALS teachers and parent volunteers as to expectations, especially using English only.

Carry out the plans. Try to document the students as

they visit each station.

Reflect and ReviseReflect and Revise

Conduct a Glows and Grows session soon after the event.

Discuss how we can solve the problems we encountered.

Set some new goals for the next Science Switch Day.

Conduct a Glows and Grows session soon after the event.

Discuss how we can solve the problems we encountered.

Set some new goals for the next Science Switch Day.

The Senses(Los Sentidos)

The Senses(Los Sentidos)

A Science Switch Day AtSanchez Elementary

A Science Switch Day AtSanchez Elementary

Preparing for Switch DayPreparing for Switch Day

• We decided on a theme of the five senses.

• We decided to use five weeks to prepare for the Switch Day.

• The first week we introduced all senses as in DLM.

• We decided on a theme of the five senses.

• We decided to use five weeks to prepare for the Switch Day.

• The first week we introduced all senses as in DLM.

Preparing Our Bilingual Students

Preparing Our Bilingual Students

• Introducing concepts and vocabulary in L1.

• The sense of touch was the topic of week 2.

• Introducing concepts and vocabulary in L1.

• The sense of touch was the topic of week 2.

The Sense of SightThe Sense of Sight

The children used various tools during the third week to explore objects and their sense of sight. The tools included a hand lens, a prism, a microscope , and a kaleidoscope.

The children used various tools during the third week to explore objects and their sense of sight. The tools included a hand lens, a prism, a microscope , and a kaleidoscope.

The Sense of HearingThe Sense of Hearing

• Students used a variety of musical instruments explore the sense of hearing.

• They were introduced to concepts of soft and loud (suave and fuerte) and pitch (high and low).

• Students used a variety of musical instruments explore the sense of hearing.

• They were introduced to concepts of soft and loud (suave and fuerte) and pitch (high and low).

Smell and TasteSmell and Taste

• Ziploc bags or canisters with cotton balls with a sample to smell was used for the sense of smell. Samples used included vanilla, onion, coffee, lemon, perfume, pickle juice.

• A dark chocolate, a piece of apple, a pretzel and a lemon was used for the sense of taste.(bitter-agrio, sweet-dulce, salty-salado and sour-amargo)

• Ziploc bags or canisters with cotton balls with a sample to smell was used for the sense of smell. Samples used included vanilla, onion, coffee, lemon, perfume, pickle juice.

• A dark chocolate, a piece of apple, a pretzel and a lemon was used for the sense of taste.(bitter-agrio, sweet-dulce, salty-salado and sour-amargo)

ESL ActivitiesESL Activities

• We introduced vocabulary in our ESL activities necessary for Switch Day.

• We did activities that used the concepts same and different.

• We used Avenues to help reinforce colors and the senses.

• During our theme Fall, we made books with the stem I see that we used for the sense of sight.(Yo veo).

• We introduced vocabulary in our ESL activities necessary for Switch Day.

• We did activities that used the concepts same and different.

• We used Avenues to help reinforce colors and the senses.

• During our theme Fall, we made books with the stem I see that we used for the sense of sight.(Yo veo).

What Topics Would you Consider?

What Topics Would you Consider?

At your tables, consider some themes or topics you could see your colleagues doing for a similar event.

We’ll make a master list in about 5 minutes.

At your tables, consider some themes or topics you could see your colleagues doing for a similar event.

We’ll make a master list in about 5 minutes.

Some Science Switch Day Themes We’ve Held

Some Science Switch Day Themes We’ve Held

Farewell to Summer Water Day Color Day Motion Five Senses Foods and Nutrition Animals Winter Weather Wind Power Earth Day Celebration

Farewell to Summer Water Day Color Day Motion Five Senses Foods and Nutrition Animals Winter Weather Wind Power Earth Day Celebration

How We Grow in Complexity

How We Grow in Complexity

First semester, classes stay intact and rotate through the stations together, to let children, PALS teachers, and adult volunteers learn the process.

Establish the Shape Groups (students from each class who go to each teacher’s class for the second semester Switch Days.

Have a science or social studies switch days with the shape groups.

First semester, classes stay intact and rotate through the stations together, to let children, PALS teachers, and adult volunteers learn the process.

Establish the Shape Groups (students from each class who go to each teacher’s class for the second semester Switch Days.

Have a science or social studies switch days with the shape groups.

What We’ve Learned Logistically

What We’ve Learned Logistically

Try out activities beforehand for timing, flow, and supplies needed for the activity and for clean-up.

Plan a system for distributing student products to various classes.

Make sure everyone understands the schedule.

Try out activities beforehand for timing, flow, and supplies needed for the activity and for clean-up.

Plan a system for distributing student products to various classes.

Make sure everyone understands the schedule.

What We’ve Learned Socially

What We’ve Learned Socially

Students will not necessarily interact with each other just because they’re assigned to the same group.

Therefore, devise a variety of ways for the children of the various classes to interact (playground times, WOW Time, Fun Fridays or Wonderful Wednesdays ( Pre-K-wide singing times).

Students will not necessarily interact with each other just because they’re assigned to the same group.

Therefore, devise a variety of ways for the children of the various classes to interact (playground times, WOW Time, Fun Fridays or Wonderful Wednesdays ( Pre-K-wide singing times).

Also. . . Also. . .

Follow establishing the Shape Groups with some Social Switch Days (afternoon choice center time), so each teacher can establish group norms, and develop a sense of community with the mixed language groups. Be sure to have center choices that require interaction between students.

Revise the groups as needed. Children move and groups can become lopsided.

Follow establishing the Shape Groups with some Social Switch Days (afternoon choice center time), so each teacher can establish group norms, and develop a sense of community with the mixed language groups. Be sure to have center choices that require interaction between students.

Revise the groups as needed. Children move and groups can become lopsided.

What’s New This Year: PPCD

What’s New This Year: PPCD

PPCD students participate in all the activities.

Students receive additional and one-on-one assistance.

Guidance is given to support specific needs.

We considered activities and materials in light of special needs.

Students were successful.

PPCD students participate in all the activities.

Students receive additional and one-on-one assistance.

Guidance is given to support specific needs.

We considered activities and materials in light of special needs.

Students were successful.

The Value We See for our Students

The Value We See for our Students

To build a greater sense of community among all students.

To increase scientific knowledge through common hands-on experiences.

To increase English academic vocabulary for ELLs.

To feel part of something unique.

To build a greater sense of community among all students.

To increase scientific knowledge through common hands-on experiences.

To increase English academic vocabulary for ELLs.

To feel part of something unique.

The Value We See for Ourselves

The Value We See for Ourselves

To promote collaborative planning among the team.

To bring us closer individually and instructionally.

To challenge ourselves on a regular basis to try something out of the ordinary (like this presentation).

To promote collaborative planning among the team.

To bring us closer individually and instructionally.

To challenge ourselves on a regular basis to try something out of the ordinary (like this presentation).