K.Gregory_Anecdotal+Records

Attached is my Anecdotal Record from a Science lesson on Tuesday, April 22nd. [|Gregory_anecdotal.doc]


 * Grade Level:** 4
 * Content of Lesson:** The students were in their science groups doing the first lesson of the 4th grade Motion and Design FOSS Kit. Students were challenged to make a car in 20 minutes that moved 100 centimeters. 
 * Assessment Criteria and instrument:** I evaluated the students by observing them.
 * An analysis of the data:** After the students in this particular group were presented with the challenge to build a car that would move 100 cm. in 20 minutes, Jonathan took it upon himself to put together their car. Jonathan transferred to Hope Valley Elementary from Tower St. in Westerly about a month ago. While he was at Tower St., Jonathan and his classmates used the Motion and Design Kit that his new classmates have just begun to use. He began the lesson with much more prior knowledge than the students in Mrs. Ricci's classroom. This frustrated his group members, Angelica and Amanda, because they wanted to be as engaged in the lesson as Jonathan was. Jonathan didn't express his ideas of how to build the car to his group members verbally, he merely heard the task and began to manipulate the materials. Angelica was able to attach a connector to one of the axles, but that was the only part that she put on the car. Unfortunately, Amanda did not have a turn at putting pieces onto the car, because time ran out as Jonathan finally handed her the car. During the trial, the girls were able to test if the car would move 100 centimeters by pushing it across the floor before Jonathan tested it. This allowed the girls to end the experiment much happier than when they began.
 * A sample of student work:** There is no student work to go along with my record.
 * Recommendations for future instruction for the entire class:** Because I was only observing this particular group, I was unable to observe the entire class. Therefore, I can't make any recommendations for the class in the future.
 * Recommendations for future instruction for the students you sampled:** The first and foremost thing that I would stress to the students is that participation among all members of the group is most important. Jonathan was very interested in working with the materials himself, because he had experience with the Motion and Design Kit at Tower St. before transferring to Hope Valley Elementary. Jonathan is very brilliant, yet he only completes about five percent of his daily work. It is important not to discourage him from participating in the group, because this will be his area to shine in since he has a lot of background knowledge about the Kit. I would stress to Jonathan that he should explain to his group members why he is developing the car that he is and allow them to offer suggestions to the design of the car. If the girls didn't have any ideas of their own, they could use Jonathan's ideas to build the car together next time. During the trials, I feel that the students taking turns pushing the car the distance was a great idea. If I was to do this lesson again, I would be sure to leave enough time for everyone to participate just as the students had today.