"Soil Analysis" Science Class and Other Classroom Things

I asked the students to draw a picture of their scientific findings....hummm...did they all get the concept? Interesting soil...


We had a great science class last week. We analysed what was in the soil in our school yard. The students had a great time but a lot of them didn't get some of the scientific points of the analyses.

This was evident when they filled in their science notebooks. They were supposed to list the ingredients that they put in the groups and then draw pictures of the groups. The did have some it down and some spoke well in their interviews. As far as the science notebook went....Well, they sure did have fun. After all, they are first graders in a second language environment.

I had fun too but at times it was a juggle between loose class management (noise) and science exploration and fun. Where is the line between order and creative expression and learning? I felt I was on the head of the balance tip many times and told myself to error in the favor of creative expression and fun. So, since it is my class, and the school gives plenty of freedom to their teachers, I did. But really, where is the boundary? Especially in an ESL environment.

Usually, when the students come to class at the beginning of the day, there is a lot of bantering and talking - bull shitting in adult terms - going on. How much of this should I let go on? I let some go then cut it off. They do their bantering among themselves in English - their second language. I think their should be a class called bull shitting for about 40 minutes a day to help improve their English. Why not? Imagine your child or you having to learn Chinese curriculum in Chinese text? And you're only in the first grade...