KLEIN's
GUIDE TO
SCIENCE EDUCATION
PHOTO CREDIT: Nadene Klein at Tuolumne Meadows Yosemite National Park
Some teachers show movies to as a passive lesson. Used strategically, a Hollywood feature film can really connect students to content. My experience has shown that students become more engaged with feature films rather than an educational film or documentary. Here's how I use one of my all time favorites: OCTOBER SKY. I teach a one semester Astronomy class. The first quarter focuses on the solar system, astronomical scale, various celestial bodies, and how scientists work to discover and understand the universe from Earth. We then move to the second quarter investigating space exploration and travel. To help us transition between these two units of study, I show my class October Sky. This film depicts the impact of the launch of Sputnik on a young Homer Hickam who grows up to work for NASA. I created a worksheet to guide student learning. It was from this historic event that the Space Race began. After processing this movie we look at what NASA is doing today and what the future of privatized space travel might look like. Please note that we don't simply watch the movie non-stop. We pause the movie and discuss it. The worksheet questions also generate discussions as a class in pairs. Then we refer back to the movie as we advance through our studies of Astronomy. Choose movies wisely with intention. Generate a guide to help students focus on their learning and not just entertainment. Use that guide to engage students in scientific dialogues and discussions. Maybe a little popcorn can add to the fun of learning with a movie.
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AuthorNadene Klein, M.Ed. has been an educator for over 25 years. She brings a passion and love for science to the classroom and through this blog to you. Archives
March 2024
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