Book Blog #1: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

The Lorax

Written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss

Random House Children's Books: Copyright Dr. Seuss Enterprises L.P. 1971, renewed 1999.

Fantasy

Plot Summary:

In The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, the Once-ler tells a story of a creature called the Lorax who speaks for the trees. The Lorax comes to town when the Once-ler decides to cut some of the truffula trees down to use for his "Thneed" sweater making business. The Lorax warns the Once-ler that once the trees are gone, they're gone, and the results of his actions could have dangerous effects on the beautiful nature that surrounds them. Will the Once-ler listen to the Lorax? The fate of the truffula forest is in his hands. 

Illustrations: Dr. Seuss' The Lorax depicts whimsical images of the land that the Once-ler lives in, as well as the truffula forest. The pages of this book are filled with fantastic cartoon images that are meant to be seen through a child's point of view, which explains why many of the images seem big or looming, or seem as if the reader is looking up. Some of the pictures are single spread, but many stretch across two pages. 

I would most definitely use this book for a K-2 science lesson in my classroom. This book is filled with environmental talks of safety and protecting the Earth. I would provide a lesson on what my students could do to help our Earth, as far as in the classroom, in our community, and places further from home. I think my students would benefit from a science lesson on environmental consciousness in order to relate what we read in The Lorax to what we can do in our own lives to protect our environment from pollution and disease. 

Makerspace

For my last reflection post, I am going to talk about Makerspaces. Makerspaces are used for exploring, creating, and building as well as discovering new ideas, and places to find solutions. Makerspaces promote problem solving and critical thinking while allowing students to have autonomy and choice when setting goals and persevering through them. They allow students to express their ideas! They are primarily rooted in STEM. Students work creatively and collaboratively and explore curiosity and inquiry. Participating in Makerspaces teach technological fluency and digital literacy, and explores meaningful learning for students. Makerspaces are theory based, rooted in the ideas of theorist Papert, who was the founder of Constructivism. Makerspaces are a positive technological development framework that help students grow in social skills, and gross/fine motor skills. They are used for all ages as a project based learning program. The teacher's role in Makerspaces is to be a facilitator and leader in exploration and discovery. Teachers are to set challenges and expectations, but let students ultimately take the lead. Teachers need to support not control! The student's role is to gain content knowledge, and to be immersed in collaborative and meaningful learning. 
What have I learned? How will this benefit me as a teacher?
Makerspaces prove that learning can happen outside of the traditional classroom. Students are given responsible roles as learners and given the opportunity to show their creativeness. Using Makerspaces will benefit me as a teacher because I am providing my students with an opportunity to learn and experiment that will help them grow as lifelong learners. 

The following pictures show students participating in Makerspaces. 



The following video explains what a Makerspace is and how to use it efficiently.
https://youtu.be/NLEJLOB6fDw

Genius How

Genius How is a program/movement that allows students to explore their passions, and promotes fostering creativity. It is usually implemented in schools that choose to participate in the program for an hour a week. Students begin making projects for this program by brainstorming ideas of what they want to research. Teachers may add parameters if they choose to do so. Then, students ask questions, and research the answers. Lastly, the students share their work and research with the class. This program promotes the self sufficiency of students and the responsibility of creating something that the students are proud of. Every Genius How project has to include an essential question. This question must promote deep thought and encourage research. The question cannot be easily answered by google, otherwise it defeats the purpose. Students are allowed to research on scholarly websites and use scholarly resources. This introduces them to the idea of digital literacy and also to the idea of determining if a source they use in their project is credible or not. Students will also need access to materials such as those found in a "makerspace" to use for their projects. The best way to showcase student work for this program is to give the students who participate an authentic audience to present to. This can be done through hosting a "Genius Hour Fair" in which students show off their hard work to other students, teachers, and parents. 
What have I learned? How will this benefit me as a teacher?
I have learned that involving students in projects and work like this is challenging, but the results are so worth it! It is difficult to teach self-sufficiency, independence, and responsibility. By using Genius Hour, teachers already have a platform in which the students can build off of by experience. Using programs like Genius Hour will benefit me as a teacher because they will allow me to provide my students with an authentic learning experience in a different context than traditional teaching and learning. 

The following pictures are examples of Genius Hour projects made by students around the world. These students worked extremely hard on these projects and are perfect examples of what Genius Hour can help your students achieve!



The following video is an introduction to Genius Hour. It gives great tips to  introducing Genius Hour in your classroom!
https://youtu.be/PzjIHD7l2Mc

Virtual Fieldtrips

Who has ever heard of the idea of taking a field trip from your computer or device in the classroom? Now that I have, I am amazed at the possibilities that can come with introducing this to your class. Virtual field trips are experiences using technology that allow us to see new places, people, and things that may be difficult to see from the classroom. Types of virtual field trips include presentation images, guided video tours, pre-developed or personalized trips, and interactive or 3D trips. Virtual field trips can also be performed physically using the Google goggles that you can buy. 

There are so many great advantages to using virtual field trips in the classroom! They allow students to see outside the classroom without actually going. They also are a great accommodation for students with special needs or limited access to monetary funds. If your class isn't able to go on a physical field trip, why not take them on a virtual one?

You can integrate using virtual field trips across disciplines. For example, if you are teaching a lesson on regions of the world, you could actually immerse the students into each region through virtual field trip technology! Students are able to visualize lessons that are being taught and are engaged all the while!

A good example of virtual field trip technology is Google Expedition. Google Expedition allows teachers to provide guided instruction throughout the field trip process, and comes with sample lesson plans!

What have I learned? How will this benefit me as a teacher?

I have learned that sometimes physically going places with your class isn't possible. This could be for many reasons. Whatever the reason, there is no need to deprive your students of an experience! Using virtual field trips is a great engagement tool for the class, as well as a fun learning experience. I love the idea of skyping experts on topics you are teaching around the world to let them talk and have a discussion with your class. I would have loved that as a kid! This will benefit my future classroom in case a problem with a field trip comes up, and in general, because I anticipate to use this technology often. 

The following pictures showcase virtual field trips in action. The first picture is of students using google goggles to participate in a virtual field trip. These goggles allow them to see images, videos, and real time streaming of places around the world. The second picture is of a class having a video chat with another person from a different place in the world! 

The following video explains virtual field trips and all the benefits that come with using them in your classroom!

https://youtu.be/tXwkh52bHeM