Jillian Morrin

November 11, 2015

Science Lesson Reflection

What did the students find out in the experience? Were there any surprises?
The students learned about igneous rocks during this lesson. They found out that
we could touch igneous rocks because they are not hot anymore once they have
cooled. The students were very excited to touch and play with the igneous rocks

we had on hand.
How did the students in each group work together? Were there any
problems?
The students worked in groups in a sense, when they had to pass the rocks around
themselves. They had to share a few rocks because we only had access to a few. I

did not come across any problems.

Was the activity open-ended enough, or did each group do more or less the
same thing?
The activity was not as open-ended as others. They were examining rocks and
determining whether or not they were intrusive or extrusive and why they know
that. So all the groups did the same thing. Their elaboration activity was more
open-ended. The students had to create their own comic strips that showed the
process of how igneous rocks are formed. Students got to draw the sequence

however they wanted to, just as long as they included the formation process.
How did the students extend the investigation?
The students extended the investigation by asking so many questions about the
rocks. They asked me to compare and contrast them to metamorphic and
sedimentary rocks. They asked me questions that showed me they were learning

and understanding what I was teaching them.

How did the students connect this experience to their daily lives?
We talked about erosion and how the igneous rock began to separate over time to
form smaller rocks that we have now in a natural way. I had one student who had
been in an earthquake before and he knew a lot about erosion based off of that
experience. He had seen the plates shift from under him in one of the field trips
they took to a science laboratory when he lived in California. So he was able to
relate that to his life. Other than that, since it was about rocks that are formed
from a volcano, students were not really able to relate the experience to their lives
very well.

Jillian Morrin
November 11, 2015

How did I accommodate students with learning and physical differences?

I did not have any students who needed to have accommodations for this specific
lesson.
Did I use technology effectively?
I used the Smart Board to display the short video they watched and also to show
the slides that had the notes on them. Technology was not really needed with this

lesson. Hands-on was the most effective way to teach it.

Overall, what do I think the students got out of the experience?
I think the students learned the process of how igneous rocks are formed and they

can show/tell how that happens.

What do I remember most about this science activity?
The thing I remember most about this science activity was getting to see all of the
different ways the students drew and explained the process of how igneous rocks
are formed. All of the students were creative in their own ways, and getting to see
their different artistic talents and abilities made me better understand that not all
students are the same and their talents are not the same either. Some students are

better drawers than others; some are better writers than others.
Would I do it again? How would I plan differently the next time?
I would definitely teach this lesson again. It was a strong lesson and it was
effective. The students retained the information they were taught. Next time, I
would allow the students to be creative and choose a way they would like to show
the process in which the rocks are formed. Instead of having the students all draw
a comic strip, because some students cannot draw, have the students pick from a

variety of ways to show the process.

What did you learn about yourself as a learner and as a teacher during this
lesson?
I learned that not everything goes as planned during a lesson and you have to
compromise your time and lesson based off of what is going on in the classroom
that day with the students. I also learned that students are going to ask you so
many more questions about the topic, some you may not know, so you can turn
that in to a different learning experience for the students in the form of research. I
also learned that some students will not catch on as fast as others and so it is good
to keep repeating the things you teach over and over again throughout the lesson

Jillian Morrin
November 11, 2015
with hopes that slower students will eventually catch on to what you are teaching
them.