Using Models in the Classroom

Last week I implemented a lesson on earthquakes with my 5th grade class.  I consider the lesson to be a success.  The objectives were to learn about plates and the movements that create earthquakes.  I used many different models throughout the lesson to help my students learn about these topics.  I started the lesson off with a Brainpop video on Plate Tectonics to give students some basic background information.  My school purchased a subscription for Brainpop and I find them to be great resources.  The students find them very interesting and I find them as great lesson starters.  Brainpop videos are great at taking difficult or complex concepts and present them in easy to understand kid friendly videos.  This video was great model of plate movement.  It had easy to understand animations of plate movement which we would later model in a hands on approach.  After the video was over I started a discussion on the different types of movements along faults.  

Once I felt my students had a good grasp of the types of movements, I then gave each student a piece of styrofoam.  The pieces were of different shapes and sizes, similar to plates.  Students then would push their "plate" against a classmates.  We then discussed what they observed while pushing their plates against each other.  By modeling the actions with the styrofoam the students were able to mimic the breaking of rocks and release of power associated with an earthquake.  My students found this activity to be fun and informative.  The styrofoam ened up being an excellent material.  It would bend and build up pressure and then just snap, much like real rock along faults.  The popping also added a fun little controlled explosion that added a touch of excitement to the activity that really engaged the students.  

Overall, I would say the lesson was a great success.  My students were able to explain what an earthquake was and what were the factors behind them.  They also were able to learn a little bit about plate tectonics and the continental drift theory, thanks to the Brainpop lessons.  This experience overall also helped to reaffirm the idea that models are great tools for teaching.  They help bring visuals to a lesson that a book or lecture just cannot offer.