Teachers: Sandy Giang, Miranda Colvin, Jamelle Jones & Kari Shelton
Grade & Subject: 1st Grade
School: High Tech Elementary North County
First graders worked as naturalists to connect the community to the ants that share our environment. Students engaged in the science practices through hands-on investigations in science and observed animals on campus, in our local community, at the zoo, and at the Safari Park.
With the support of entomology experts from Holway Laboratory at UCSD, students conducted research on local ants and contributed their findings to our scientific community. In the classrooms, students conducted research to learn more about local ants and communicated their understanding in an informational research journal.
Partnering with the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, students shared their knowledge about ants. They then applied this knowledge to create an interactive journal to engage guests at their exhibition. These projects, combined with collaboration with local experts, fostered a greater appreciation for ants within our community.
Teacher Reflection
This project was a great experience for both teachers and students. I did not know much about our local ants and through this project teachers learned together with the kids. The best part for me about this project was watching the kids transform their knowledge into games and interactive experiences for our guests at the Safari Park. We could truly see how much the students learned when they created their products that included facts, questions, diagrams, etc. To see our products, games, and our ant song, you can view them here!
—Jamelle Jones
Student reflection
We studied ants because people don’t really care about ants, but since we taught about them at the Safari Park, they cared about ants.
—Bella
People are walking across the ground and most people don’t even notice ants! I used to squish ants and think they were annoying, but now I think they’re really cool. We were doing science like actual scientists, like Scientist Ellie. And we can make major discoveries! We even worked with real scientists- that’s the science we’re doing, and it’s really awesome!
—Aiden W.
Teachers: Sandy Giang, Miranda Colvin, Jamelle Jones & Kari Shelton
Grade & Subject: 1st Grade
School: High Tech Elementary North County
First graders worked as naturalists to connect the community to the ants that share our environment. Students engaged in the science practices through hands-on investigations in science and observed animals on campus, in our local community, at the zoo, and at the Safari Park.
With the support of entomology experts from Holway Laboratory at UCSD, students conducted research on local ants and contributed their findings to our scientific community. In the classrooms, students conducted research to learn more about local ants and communicated their understanding in an informational research journal.
Partnering with the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, students shared their knowledge about ants. They then applied this knowledge to create an interactive journal to engage guests at their exhibition. These projects, combined with collaboration with local experts, fostered a greater appreciation for ants within our community.
Teacher Reflection
This project was a great experience for both teachers and students. I did not know much about our local ants and through this project teachers learned together with the kids. The best part for me about this project was watching the kids transform their knowledge into games and interactive experiences for our guests at the Safari Park. We could truly see how much the students learned when they created their products that included facts, questions, diagrams, etc. To see our products, games, and our ant song, you can view them here!
—Jamelle Jones
Student reflection
We studied ants because people don’t really care about ants, but since we taught about them at the Safari Park, they cared about ants.
—Bella
People are walking across the ground and most people don’t even notice ants! I used to squish ants and think they were annoying, but now I think they’re really cool. We were doing science like actual scientists, like Scientist Ellie. And we can make major discoveries! We even worked with real scientists- that’s the science we’re doing, and it’s really awesome!
—Aiden W.
