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Julia Wilson

TLS 314

Kristen Gunckel

28 April 2019

Final Reflection

Throughout the course of this semester, I have been able to see teaching science in a new

light. I have gained useful information on how to make proper connections from science to

children’s lives outside of the classroom. It is important to connect to children’s funds of

knowledge because it will make the lessons and activities that much more meaningful when

those connections are made. It seems as though children are able to make those connections

when it is relevant to their lives.

Scientists’ science has been a big part of our curriculum this semester. It has been used as

a reference that schools should incorporate more. We have learned the difference between school

science and scientists’ science. School science is referred to as the glimpse of science that

schools have been giving children. It is not quite the whole picture and it does not give children

the opportunity to create, investigate, and explore that true scientists. However, scientists’

science has been introduced to schools, currently in TUSD, and it ensures that students are being

able to explore and engage in science list true scientists. It creates a more positive environment

and stigma around science. It is not just another subject that we, as teachers, have to teach, but it

becomes more of a fun and creative learning activity. We are able to bring science into the

classroom and explore many different ideas and activities with our students and connect it back

to their lives. This creates a much more positive learning environment that helps students
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become more excited and eager to dive into the many different activities and explorations that

we are able to create for them.

My science lesson was not perfect. I do not think that I can confidently say that I will be

successful at creating a scientists’ science lesson for some time. However, I am trying and will

consistently keep working at trying to make my students have a positive relationship with

science, as well as make it as meaningful and engaging to them so that they can engage in

scientists’ science as soon as possible. I plan on working with 4-5-year old’s and giving them

science experiences as early as possible will be very beneficial to how they see the world and

understand their world around them. I will work on making meaning and connecting to their

lives so that they feel understood and excited about learning science.

Throughout this semester, I have gained a new understanding of how to teach science in a

more developmentally appropriate and meaningful matter. I think that this course has helped me

realize the importance of exposing young children to meaningful science and giving them an

opportunity to make their own connections and beliefs to the world around them. It is important

to let children create their own understanding because they need to make their own meanings

about their world. Connecting to their funds of knowledge is also an important aspect of teaching

scientists’ science as it exposes them to their own understandings already and it helps them feel

more connected to the science in the classroom because they have already have knowledge to

what it is they are learning.

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References

Gunckel, K.L. (2010). Using experiences, patterns, and explorations to make school science

more like scientists’ science. Science and Children, 48(1), 46-49.