Danielson Framework - Classroom Observation

Summary

In this lively and engaging lesson, children explore the wonders of the ocean, from sea creatures like sharks and manatees to the vastness of underwater ecosystems. The lesson includes fun, interactive games where kids identify ocean animals, learn about coral reefs, and hear firsthand experiences of ocean adventures. The teacher uses real items like sand dollars and shells to enrich the learning experience and encourages kids to share what they've seen at the ocean. The session ends with a playful sing-along of 'Baby Shark' while engaging with ocean treasures, making learning about marine life both educational and fun.

Takeaways

• 😀 The lesson is centered around teaching young children about the ocean, marine animals, and related concepts.
• 😀 The educator engages the children with hands-on props like a sand dollar, conch shell, and underwater pictures.
• 😀 The session includes interactive games where children identify whether an animal lives in the ocean, on land, or both.
• 😀 The educator introduces the concept of diving and underwater exploration using a personal story from their father-in-law's trip to Mexico.
• 😀 The children are introduced to coral reefs, schools of fish, and underwater animals, emphasizing marine life diversity.
• 😀 The educator asks the children to identify animals like sharks and manatees, teaching them whether those creatures live in the ocean or not.
• 😀 The children reflect on what they've seen at the ocean, sharing their experiences and observations about marine life.
• 😀 A game is played where children raise their thumbs to indicate whether a specific animal lives in the ocean or on land.
• 😀 The educator emphasizes the difference between the ocean, lakes, and rivers, explaining how the ocean is larger and contains saltwater.
• 😀 The session ends with the children singing the 'Baby Shark' song and interacting with the objects from the ocean-themed lesson.

Q & A

What did the children do with Miss Sandy during the Fitness class?

The children had fun playing games with Miss Sandy, which involved activities like using balls and other playful exercises.

What was the teacher's surprise box filled with?

The surprise box was filled with ocean-related items like a sand dollar, a conch shell, and other sea creatures or objects found at the beach.

What did the teacher say about the conch shell?

The teacher explained that the conch shell came from the beach and still had sand falling out of it, showing the children that it was a real shell.

What is coral, and what did the teacher explain about it?

Coral is a type of underwater plant that can be hard, not soft like typical plants. The teacher showed pictures of coral reefs and explained their significance underwater.

What is a school of fish, and why is it important?

A school of fish is when a large group of fish swims together. This is an important concept in marine life, as it helps fish stay safe from predators and find food.

How did the teacher explain the concept of diving?

The teacher explained that diving involves jumping off a boat, swimming underwater with an air tank and a mask to see and breathe underwater, and sometimes wearing a wetsuit to stay warm.

What did the children learn about ocean animals in the game played in class?

In the game, the children had to determine whether an animal lived in the ocean or on land. They used thumbs up for ocean animals and thumbs down for land animals.

What did the teacher use to illustrate the depth of the ocean?

The teacher referred to the book '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' and the story of the Titanic, which rests at the bottom of the ocean two and a half miles down, to illustrate how deep the ocean is.

What is the difference between rivers, lakes, and oceans, according to the teacher?

The teacher explained that oceans are much bigger and saltier than rivers and lakes. Rivers and lakes have freshwater, while oceans contain saltwater.

What did the children share about their own experiences at the ocean?

The children shared various ocean-related experiences, like seeing hammerhead sharks, seaweed, baby sharks, and even a giant Pacific octopus, some of which were from aquariums or during trips to the ocean.