Digging (kind of a lame pun) into our resource unit for grade 5 this week. We’re looking at water, rocks, and soil (hence the pun) and as always the students are really into rocks, while my focus is mostly water.
What’s interesting is that I’ve been trying to learn more about the quarries in Singapore in the past. Rocks have played a prominent role in our history, I’ve also been thinking more about “rocks” in the sense of cement and sand and building resources as well as an essential part of soil. I’ve tried expanding my thinking rather than trying to convince the students water is more important (and if rocks are part of soil, they may have a point).
I do think water is so interesting here though, especially with new water and how here in Singapore we really try to use every drop. I love the Open Minds aspect of this unit where we go to Marina Barrage and try to understand how important water is. I’m wondering how to make more meaningful connections to rocks and the rock cycle, also how to engage students more towards erosion and how that impacts us everywhere (again maybe with soil and land reclamation).
Anyway, trying a slightly different spin on a very familiar unit, always learning (or trying to).
Joe Teft 