I love science and as the daughter of a retired science teacher feel I've come by it naturally. For this reason today was especially exciting to me....the Rockets performed our 1st "Rocket Science" experiment of the year. I never expected to be doing such experiments on the 4th day of school, but it went hand in hand with getting to know our new friends. Actually it was ALL about one of our new little friends.
You see our Rocket friend, Meric (name used with permission from her parents) is hearing impaired. In an effort to explain to the class Meric's unique needs, we simulated hearing loss through the use of ear plugs. While seated together on the carpet, Meric delightedly allowed me to show the class her "good ear" and "bad ear" before passing out plugs to each child.
After discussing all the safety concerns regarding not putting things into our ears and mouths without permission, we performed our experiments of talking, clapping and whispering with and without earplugs. The children really seemed to understand and in the end agreed to being "peer helpers" to their new friend who doesn't always hear what the others do.
Ask your Rocket to share their view of our experiment today. It's not Rocket Science, but it is....
What a great idea. I love it. And that is a great way to educate the children about everyone's unqiue and wonderful gifts/needs.
ReplyDeleteI think it's the first time Meric has fully realized her hearing impairment. She told me in the car as I buckled her in that, "this ear hear-d all the time and this ear never hear-d at all." I asked her about the ear plugs and she said, "You don't chew them." The lesson was a success on many levels!
ReplyDeleteEverything has gone wonderfully. Sophie is so excited to go to school. Your communication is a dream come true for a first time PreK parent!
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