“
Susan Hansche, JTSD kindergarten teacher So they took all that information
and took action, taking a
fi eld trip to the other classrooms
to measure the space between
the bearded dragons’ eyes —
1/2 inch for Max and 3/4 inch
for Spike, in case you were
wondering — before measuring
the cockroaches themselves.
While these lessons were
completely impromptu for the
fi rst days back after Christmas
break, Hansche
said the project
has brought
the opportunity
for many more
hands-on lessons,
including counting,
size comparison,
measuring, communication,
problem solving,
life cycles and what living things
need, to name a few.
“All of this has just been
spontaneous, driven by their own
observations and experiences.
That’s really key to inquiry-based
instruction. If you can take their
observations and questions and
apply it to an actual project, it
makes it much more meaningful,”
she said.
Students were excited and
engaged while learning how
to use a ruler or trying to fi nd
appropriate containers to put the
“treats” in after measuring them.
And being engaged is key to
learning.
“I could go on doing whatever
is on our regular routine, but
they’re going to be thinking
about the 50 cockroaches in the
room. I want them thinking about
how to problem solve in our
lives,” Hansche said. “The teachable
moment is so key at any
level. It’s so much more effective
to do it when it’s relevant, do it
when it’s motivating. ... You’ve got
to be enthusiastic about teaching
those teachable moments.”
The way we teach at JTSD is try to teach as much as we can through
inquiry. Kids generate questions on how the world works ... We’re taking real
life problems and ideas and doing real-life meaningful things with them.”
Caden Comfort Christian Oakley
ABOVE: JTSD kindergartner
StarrLynn Petersen uses a ruler
to measure the space between
the eyes of Max, a bearded
dragon. The lizard will not eat
insects larger than the space
between its eyes.
LEFT: Kindergartner Mason
Yancey measures between
the eyes of Spike, a bearded
dragon, as Christian Oakley
watches in amazement.
SPRING 2018 THE NEST NIXA PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAGAZINE 9