Carolina’s module on How Can We Light Our Way in the Dark? is designed for students of Grade 1 under the Smithsonian Science for the Classroom™ curriculum and comprises of 10 lessons, which will be covered over 13 classroom sessions. The following is covered examples:

Light can help animals & humans survive

We know that sun is a source of energy, heat, and light, and that all living things need sunlight to survive. However, the requirement may vary from one species to the other.

Mammals and reptiles soak up sunlight during the day time, before they retreat into their cozy burrow or under tree-trunks, at night. Though bats and owls are nocturnal animals (active at night) they also require energy from the sun, which they get by feeding on other living creatures & insects that have already stored energy from the sun during day light hours. Even underwater fish feed on dead algae and seaweeds, that have sunk to the ocean floor from the surface, containing stored energy.

Humans require vitamin D for growth and development, which is acquired by exposing oneself to the sun, which gets absorbed through the skin

Some species reflect light

Did you know some animals emit their own light? Sea creates like jelly fish, octopus, and squids, are said to have bioluminescence properties, which help them produce and emit light to attract mates and confuse predators. Even insects such as; glow worms and fireflies, use their reflective light beauty, for the same purpose

How to See Things In Dark Spaces

Here children experiment in the dark and discover under what scenarios can an object in a pitch-dark room or cave, be visible.

First let us understand that, we can see an object only when the light rays are emitted or reflected from the object and it reaches our eye. In a dark room, there is no source of light, and therefore we can’t see objects in dark.

Discovering a way through the cave

In a story like form, children are taken on an adventure in a cave where few friends are on an exploratory mission, and have to make their way through pitch dark pathways. Thankfully, children are carrying some ‘explorer tools’ which will hopefully help them find their way out. The glow stick carried by one of the friend’s helps in identifying the faces of other group members, on holding it close to the person’s face. Though it doesn’t illuminate far away objects, at least it helps friends stay close to each other. Now one kid says that he has a reflective ‘safety vest’ in his backpack, but the other friend points out that it is of no use, as there is no source of even dim light in the cave, which will illuminate the strip on the vest. Now, the third, and the smartest one from the lot, lights a lantern, and voila, there is light galore, one can see through the paths & tread carefully to the cave’s exit.

Can light pass through objects

What objects can light travel through and which ones do not allow light to pass? This experiment depends on the nature of the object.

Transparent objects such as; clear glass windows, cling wrap, glass light bulb, allow light to pass through without any obstruction.

Translucent objects such as; frosted glass surface, butter paper, tissue paper, vegetable oil, allows only some light to travel through them.

Opaque objects such as; wood, stone, metals, do not allow any light to pass through them and instead block it.

The final objective is to give students clarity on the following concepts

• Students understand how animal structures interact with light. They learn how some animals have their own illuminating glow, which helps them in survival and procreate.
• Objects are only visible if they give off their own light or if an external light shines on them. Though interesting Smithsonian Science practices, students use a computer simulation to investigate whether different objects cause light to shine in a simulated dark setting.
• Children team-up to carry out investigations by placing different objects under a beam of light and noting down its effects. Which objects allow light to pass through them and which block light.

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Reading can be one of the most rewarding activities for adults and children alike. Building a habit of reading is one thing, but building a capability for reading with speed. It helps you gain information quickly while being able to process the information faster. Simplistically it enables you to think faster. It is also a pretty usable skill to have to be able to read fast and understand it all. Got a lot of paperwork? Got a lot to research? It helps! Here’s a few ways to increase your reading speed:

Practice with the clock

It requires experience to approach a material strategically, read actively, and summarize well. Use a timer to see how many words (or pages) per minute you can read if you wish to increase your reading speed. As your reading speed improves, check in with yourself to make sure you’re satisfied with your understanding.

It’s okay to skip

The idea that students must read every part of a textbook or article is an outdated one, according to Dartmouth College’s Academic Skills Center. Skip the portions that aren’t relevant to your goal unless you’re reading something really vital. Instead of just having time to study a few texts in depth, reading selectively allows you to grasp the key ideas of numerous.

Pay attention

Focus and concentration are required to read rapidly and comprehensively. Reduce outside noise, interruptions, and distractions, and be aware of your thoughts as you read. If you find yourself distracted, gently draw your attention back to it. Many readers skim through a few words without paying attention, then go back and reread them to make sure they understand. You’ll soon recognize whether you’re not comprehending a part if you study a book slowly and attentively, saving you time in the long run.

Plan why you’re reading

How you approach a text strategically will have a significant impact on how quickly you can comprehend it. Make a list of your objectives first. What are you hoping to gain from the reading? Make a list of questions you’d like to know the answers to by the end. After that, based on your preview, figure out what the author’s aim was in producing the material. Similarly, change up your strategy depending on what you’re about to read. If you’re reading a thick legal or scientific document, you should undoubtedly read some parts slower and more attentively than you would a fiction or magazine.

Read more

The simplest of all ways to increase reading speed is to read more. Making reading a habit allows you to become adept with your own understanding and reading style. Start with things that interest you strongly such as novels, newspapers and more. Slowly you can graduate to longer and more demanding materials. This enables you to build a good reading speed with time.

Because Reading Eggs is based on scientifically sound research, over 91% report a visible increase in their child’s reading skills after using it. The program unlocks all elements of learning to read for your kid through the five fundamental keys to reading success, concentrating on a core curriculum of phonics and phonemic awareness, sight words, vocabulary, comprehension, and reading for meaning. From schools in the GCC, UAE, Dubai and the rest of the Middle-East similar reports and numbers have been found with Reading Eggs.

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Planet Earth

Earth, our planet is the only planet in the universe that has life due to the presence of water and oxygen. Our home Earth is the third planet from the sun and the fifth largest amongst the 8 planets in our solar system.

How far is Earth from the sun?

The estimated distance of planet Earth from the Sun is about 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers. The distance from Earth to the sun is measured in terms of an astronomical unit or AU, which is used to measure the distances through the Solar System. However, the distance between Earth and Sun doesn’t remain constant, because Earth moves around the sun in its orbit which is elliptical or slightly oval-shaped. So, NASA has revealed that in due course of the calendar year sometimes Earth is closer to the sun and sometimes farther away from the sun.

What is Gravity?

Gravity is essentially a force that draws objects to its center. The gravity of the sun keeps all the planets of our solar system in their orbit. The planets that are closer to the sun experience more gravitational pull and those that are farther away have lesser effects of gravity. This is because gravity gets weaker with distance.

Each planet has its own gravity and even the moon & asteroids have gravity, based on their density, size, mass, and distance to other celestial objects.

Even the revolution of the moon around Earth is due to gravitation force. The gravitation pull of the moon causes high and low ocean tides on Earth.

Stars- a part of our Solar System

The twinkly stars that you see at night are actually huge celestial bodies made of hydrogen and helium that produce heat and light due to the nuclear reaction in their core. Stars are a part of the galaxy. Our solar system lies in the Milky Way galaxy and this alone has 300 billion stars.

Some stars appear to shine brighter than others and there are several factors behind this phenomenon. The brightness or luminosity of a star depends on how much energy it is spending on the illuminating effect and at what distance is it from Earth. Stars that far away appear to be less twinkly, than those closer to the Earth.

Under the clear night sky when you gaze up, the stars seem to be arranged in a sort of pattern. The pattern of stars that you notice are called constellations. Officially astronomers have identified 88 constellations and most of them appear as animals or mythical characters. The most popular constellation is Orion, as it is visible from any place on Earth.

Sun-Earth-Moon

The Earth rotates on its axis and this 24-hour cycle causes day and night. We also know that Earth revolves around the sun and takes about 365 days to complete one full round in its orbit. During the day the sun appears at different positions in the sky and it was rises in the East and sets in the West.

Earth’s Movement Brings About Changes in Seasons

Earth is slightly tilted at a 23.5-degree axis, this means one part of Earth is more exposed to the sun’s rays than the other. The part of Earth which is away from the sun experiences cool or winter season, and the part titled towards the sun experiences summer season. Therefore, when it is winter in the Northern hemisphere, it is summer in the Southern hemisphere. So when it is winter in North America, it is summer in Australia- which lies in the Southern hemisphere.

The Phenomena of Day and Night

When we say that the sun rises in the East and slowly moves towards the west, where it sets, it doesn’t mean that the sun is actually moving. It only appears that way because of Earth’s 24-hour rotation. The part of Earth which is exposed to the sun experiences daylight and the other part experiences night. So, when it is sunny in Indonesia, it is night in New York.

Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, and Biosphere

Hydrosphere refers to all the forms of water on Earth. It encompasses water in oceans, lakes, streams, rivers, seas, glaciers, and even water below the surface of the Earth. Plants, animals, and humans require water for survival. Water makes about 71% of the Earth’s surface, however only 0.5% is usable water and hence, water conservation is an important topic to be addressed.

The atmosphere is a layer of air that surrounds Earth and is made up of 14 gases. Weather occurs in the lower atmosphere which is referred to as the troposphere. The ozone layer is present in the stratosphere and is responsible for absorbing the harmful Ultra Violet (UV) rays of the sun. Pollution is rapidly causing the ozone layer to deplete and hence every effort should be made by mankind to reduce the harmful release of pollutants into the atmosphere.

The biosphere is where all organisms, plants, humans, and animals live. All organisms that live three meters below the ground and thirty meters above it are considered a part of the Biosphere.

Carolina’s Building Blocks of Science® 3D: Earth and Space Systems (©2019)

This kit is designed by Carolina for Grade 5 students and consists of 5 lessons, that can be taught in 22 sessions. Along with theoretical knowledge about space, universe, Earth, and sun, children actually use 3D models and practice hands-on learning experiences. IB Schools in Dubai across the Middle East encourage research-based and project-based studies, as it promotes greater retention amongst youngsters.

Summary of the 5 Lessons

Lesson 1: Children are encouraged to conduct research on the 8 planets in our solar system and make posters to showcase their diameter, distance, from the sun, and other important dimensions. They learn about the shape of the Earth and its movement around the sun.

Lesson 2: How does Earth interact with other objects in space? Students make models to investigate why some stars twinkle brighter than others and how they form patterns in the night sky and their position.

Lesson 3: With the help of models, children learn about the phases of the moon and how it affects the tidal pattern on Earth.

Lesson 4: Students are encouraged to work out models and make charts representing the Earth’s major systems of hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere, and make a graph showing the distribution of water on Earth.

Lesson 5: Students perform group activities and research the positive and negative impacts of humans on the environment. They also enlist different measures that communities can undertake to protect natural resources.

To learn more about Carolina’s Building Blocks of Science resource kits and to collaborate with them in GCC and UAE regions, visit our website https://knowledge-hub.com/

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As we know it some students love Math and others detest the subject. In a classroom there may be mixed emotions towards perceiving Math, however, a good teacher tries to help students who are weak at Math and give them the confidence to befriend numbers. A good Math teacher makes the sessions interactive and the subject easily understandable, such that students look forward to attending class.

Here are a few qualities that a Math teacher must possess:

Confidence About Mathematics

A successful Math teacher has great knowledge of the subject and has acquired formal education in different branches of mathematics such as; algebra, geometry, and arithmetic. The teacher must be well-versed with the new topics introduced by the various educative boards and stay abreast with the changes in the Math curriculum. Especially if the educator is teaching in an IB School across Dubai, UAE, or any other region that has adopted the IB culture, they need to stay on top of everything, as the curriculum is flexible and new amendments are introduced based on the teaching-learning progress within classrooms.

Making Math Interesting

As we have seen before, Math as a subject can be terrifying and it takes extra efforts for the subject teacher to ease the Math anxiety amongst students. This can only be done with apt teaching methodologies. There are a number of EdTech resources available today that motivate children to learn concepts through activities in a fun & engaging manner. Mathletics is one such popular Math platform adopted by schools across the Middle East, including GCC countries. The best part is that, the activities, games, and challenges, are designed by subject experts and are perfectly aligned with the school’s curriculum. One can even introduce hands-on learning by making use of different tangible Math teaching aids like; 2D – 3D shapes, number rods, abacus, and bead chain for counting & multiplication.

Facilitate Learning

An experienced Math educator never gives out the read-made answer but motivates students to work through the problem and arrive at the solutions. Teachers can give cues and hints, but never solve the problem on behalf of the students. This is the only way children develop confidence. The child becomes more comfortable with numbers and gets exhilarated on arriving at the right answer by himself, thereby motivating himself to perform even better with every successive examination or classroom assignment.

Respect Every Learner’s Pace

Each child is unique as students have their own grasping power. Brilliant learners may pick up the steps to a complex theorem in just one Math explanatory session, while others may still struggle after three times of repetition. However, the teacher needs to consider every child’s pace of learning and slow-down or speed-up a particular topic, as per all the students learning capabilities in class. They may also have to extend extra help to children who can’t cope and even have on-on-one sessions after school hours to bring slow paced learners to the same level of understanding, as other students in class.

Don’t Judge Children on Their Mistakes

Making mistakes in Math is a good thing! When children are pressured to solve the problem and arrive at nothing less than ‘The Correct Answer’ they get tensed & may not feel like attempting the sum. A good teacher changes this mindset by explaining to students that solving complex problems is more of a journey, rather than a destination. Even though the child makes a mistake in the fourth step, the steps prior to the one he made a mistake are still correct and if it were an examination, they could even score marks for the steps. Moreover, mistakes are opportunities to grow! If students are too scared to make a mistake, how would they correct themselves and finally accomplish victory over the subject?

So, being a good Math teacher doesn’t mean every student scores a A+ in their exams. A great teacher knows the strengths and weakness of every student and acts as a catalyst to change the mindset of children from looking at Math as a ‘difficult’ subject, to making it very ‘interesting’ and inculcating an analytical & problem-solving approach amongst learners.

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