Session 5
Session at a Glance
| Topic | Description | Estimated Time (In Minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival Activity | Students do a measurement brainteaser to start thinking about how young children build a foundation for understanding volume. | 10 |
| Welcome, Announcements, and Agenda | Give a general overview of the session and any relevant announcements, and provide time for sharing. | 5 |
| Discussion: The Value of Sensory Play | Students discuss why sensory exploration is a valuable experience for young children. Students brainstorm different sensory play activities to do in the classroom, and share about their own experiences. | 15 |
| Math Focus: Measurement | Students discuss how sensory materials can help build math skills. Students explore the big ideas about measurement, and watch and discuss an Erikson video of preschoolers theorizing about volume. | 20 |
| Science Focus: Solids and Liquids | Students participate in the exemplar activity: Solids and Liquids. | 60 |
| Discussion: Questioning Strategies | Students brainstorm examples of convergent and divergent questions in the context of the Solids and Liquids activity. | 20 |
| Looking Midterm Project / Looking Ahead to Next Session | Introduce the Midterm Project. Discuss the homework and reading assignment to be completed before next session, and address the materials that the students will be responsible for bringing. | 20 |
Instructor Guide
- Session 5_Instructor Guide (PPF, 12.66MB)
- Session 5_PowerPoint (PPTX, 53MB)
- Session 5_Exemplar_Solids and Liquids (PDF, 421KB)
- Reader_Session 5_Discovery Bottles handout (PDF, 618KB)
- Reader_Session 5_Sensory Experiences Can Be Messy Fun article (PDF, 827KB)
Student Learning Goals
- Articulate the value of sensory play.
- Gain knowledge of different aspects of measurement concepts in early childhood.
- Apply principles of constructivist learning to mixing solid and liquid ingredients.
- Distinguish between convergent and divergent questions and cite advantages or disadvantages of each type.
