What does it take to build a civilization? What does it take to build learning in a community? A Science School Exploration

How do you engage an active group of students with many different interests and learning abilities?  As a veteran of many Open Minds experiences, I know the value and impact of multi-disciplinary learning opportunities in a community based location.  What I wondered about before Science School was how successful I could be as a teacher in a discipline that I do not perceive as a strength.  I plunged in with more enthusiasm than knowledge and began the journey to CCOM Science School at Telus spark.

I began the journey with last year’s grade 5’s and 6’s who made the decision through democratic process…they voted to explore Science School.  The big idea of building a civilization was a natural fit for the Grade 6 program of studies with it’s emphasis on the Ancient Greeks, Iroquois Confederacy and government today.  Incorporating the scientific and mathematical developments of previous civilizations into the big question followed easily.  From here, our question and ideas snowballed.

Students became engaged in a variety of activities to build vocabulary –especially our concept staircase where base vocabulary for ELL learners could be expanded to include content specific language. Here we came to understand the meaning of the 4 C’s of Telus spark and the meaning of a civilization.  This staircase followed us to Science School and each day we added wonderments or language based upon our learning.  This resource was then referred to over and over again as needed.  Another resource, our visual journals were constant companions, a source of knowledge, planning and idea sharing.   Whether math, science, art or language arts student learning became very visual and creative.

As a part of our preparation for Science School, students began exploring Scratch, a coding program.  It was used illustrate math concepts, and many became adept at using code to create a presentation in science and social studies as well.  Our learning advanced further at Telus Spark when we combined Scratch with Makey-Makeys to build an interactive diorama of a sustainable civilization designed by students.  This was a highlight of our week as students applied previous learning to the new setting at Telus Spark.  We explored the city skyline from Tom Campbell Hill, wondered about innovation in the different galleries, and looked at past perspectives through archaeology and Indigenous sense of the land.

This lead us into many conversations on what a civilization is, and what can lead to the collapse of a civilization. Students identified the need for collaboration, commitment and stable governments as key building blocks to a successful civilization.  Culture and resources such as housing, food and water were also considered necessary to a civilization.  As student dioramas evolved, ideas about successful and sustainable environments for civilizations changed, some ideas were discarded, and new ideas considered. 

Attaching wires and connecting a Makey-Makey to the diorama to bypass the keyboard allowed students to be creative in coding information to describe their projects using Scratch.  Using conductive tape, students discovered they could build a control panel, or they could use specific touch points on their models to activate a screen presentation.

Our next steps will occur back at school where our goal will be to explore the role of government in a modern civilization and then develop a government suited to our newly created sustainable civilizations.  Hopefully creating more codes and adding additional touchpoints to our dioramas.

~ Karen Alderson, 5/6 Teacher Richmond School