Observation

Instructional Lesson
Classroom: Mrs. Parker
Grade: 3rd
Curriculum Area: Science
What I notice
-Hands-on activities are fun but they
also get kids away from the text
book/ worksheets and learn by selfdiscovery.
-Students concept of the planets
and the Sun.

-Students understanding that the

Sun doesnt just pop-up and
disappear throughout the day.

-The lesson was challenging for the

students but understandable.
-The students learned by making
discoveries on their own as I guided
the lesson.

-There were a few challenges during

the lesson.

-The lesson went well and was

effective. All of the students were
active participants and well
behaved.

Observer: Ali Carlson

Date: 03/19/2015
Time:
Thoughts, Connections to Methods
Classes
-They loved that flashlight/ shadow
activity. I believe that it really
helped them make the connection
on how shadows are formed. (an
object blocking light).
-Students have a firm foundation of
the solar system. They have already
briefly touched on the fact that the
planets of our solar system revolved
and orbit around the sun (and that
the sun does not revolve around the
Earth like it might seem to young
learners who what the Sun move
across the sky).
- Most of the students have already
made the self-discovery that the
Earth rotates so that the Sun
appears to be at different locations
throughout the day (sunrise,
midday, and sunset).
- Students absorbed the information
in the lesson very well.
- Students discovered on their own,
with the model, that the shadows
shape changes depending on the
location of the sun. (I later discussed
this with the class to reinforce this
concept).
- A few students (2) had a hard time
grasping the concept of
sunrise/midday/sun set. I had to
spend extra time with these
students visualizing the sun and
stepping into scenarios

(day/lunch/night).
- By the end of the lesson, all of the
students could easily explain how
shadows are formed and could
easily demonstrate how they are
formed.