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How to teach kids about transformations in nature

Susan Cumberland Published: July 1, 2016 Last Updated Date: June 27, 2024

Real-life projects can leave a long-lasting impression on kids. In this article we’ll give you three great projects you can do in your classroom to teach kids the amazing science behind transformations in nature and metamorphosis.

This lesson can be used as a follow-up, or introduction into another lesson on our blog about autumn nature changes:

Science lesson: teach students about autumn’s nature changes

A simple project such as making raisins can introduce the topic of transformations in nature

This is probably one of the easiest science experiments you can do with kids. If you show a regular group of kids a bunch of round juicy grapes and some dark, dry, and wrinkly raisins, they’ll probably tell you they look nothing alike and don’t even taste the same! So this is a great lesson to introduce kids to how nature transforms itself from one thing to something completely different.

This lesson ties in with teaching kids about the properties of sunlight. You can put kids into small groups. Then give each group a bag of about 10-20 grapes. Designate a spot in the classroom for each group to place their bunch of grapes, preferably a sunny one. According to planet-science.com, it can take as little as three sunny days (if you leave them outside) for grapes to transform into raisins. If you leave them in your classroom it may take longer, up to two weeks according to learnplayimagine.com.

But, while waiting, you can get your students to check the progress of this natural transformation every other day. They can make notes of the change in colour and shape. And at the end, they get to enjoy their project by eating it!

Teach kids about one of the most amazing transformations in nature by studying the butterfly life cycle

Probably one of the most known natural transformations is that of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. You can start by reading the classic book ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar.’ You can then show your classroom a short video clip documenting this natural transformation. Here are three possible clips:

Depending on the kids’ ages, you can then do a simple craft activity such as this one made with different types of pasta. Or this more elaborate one showing the actual metamorphosis.

If you would like for the kids to see first hand this incredible transformation of nature, you can raise live butterflies in the classroom! As the butterflysite.com states, you can either go find your own butterfly eggs and get the appropriate tools for rearing them. Or you can buy a butterfly kit online.

Side note: need help learning how to find educational crafts online? Check out our blog article on using Pinterest to do so:

How to find educational crafts and activities on Pinterest

Teach kids about the metamorphosis of a tadpole into a frog

The life cycle of a frog is another great way of teaching kids about metamorphosis and transformations in nature. There are a number of books that can introduce this topic to kids. ‘From Tadpole to Frog’ by Wendy Pfeffer, may be a good one to start with. Stillplayingschool.com has a great craft of a frog’s life cycle using recycled materials. And here is a great site with a bunch of other different resources on the life cycle of frogs.

Depending on the laws where you live, your school regulations, and your own personal beliefs, it is possible to raise tadpoles in the classroom for a more hands-on approach. Exoticpets.com begins with a warning for this activity, but then outlines the different steps needed to make this a successful experience. Mum, teacher, and marine biologist Cerys from rainydaymum.co.uk, has successfully raised tadpoles with her children and outlines all the steps she’s taken on her site.

Related lessons:

A related lesson on this topic of raising tadpoles is on invasive species. Since raising tadpoles and then releasing them into the wild could pose environmental restrictions, this can be a great segway into another lesson on our blog:

Focused Lesson — teaching kids about invasive species

Also, did you know salmon go through changes when they return to their birthplace to spawn? See our other article on teaching kids about this topic:

Focused science lesson: teaching kids about salmon controversies during the B.C. salmon run

Make science lessons memorable by using these hands-on activities on natural transformations in your class!

How tutors and teachers can prepare for the BC curriculum update in 2016

Susan Cumberland Published: June 24, 2016 Last Updated Date: June 27, 2024

In the 2015/16 school year, British Columbia introduced the draft of a researched new model of BC’s curriculum for kindergarten to grade 9. In September 2016, BC teachers will be given the choice to use the draft for grades 10 to 12. This updated curriculum will continue to be slowly introduced in the school system until the year 2018.

Learning will be more flexible and personalized

The 2016 BC curriculum has been updated to ensure that learning is more flexible and personalized for the students. There is an overall agreement among educators (not just in Canada) that “small-group instruction” and the use of technology is a great way to personalize learning.

By pairing up students or placing them in small groups for tasks and projects, the teacher is able to keep up with the large numbers of students that classrooms often have. Students can also use each other as sources of information and help. Using technology in the classroom, and the new trend towards personalized learning, helps students connect with one another and the teacher. It also gives students the chance to learn basic learning skills through a variety of methods.

If you would like to know how to use more technology in the classroom, check out our articles on these trends that also reflect the personalized learning approach:

Get students ready to use math and literacy skills in real life situations

Based on the previous 2016 BC curriculum link there will be a greater emphasis on getting students to apply whatever they learn into real life, and tapping into students’ individual skills and interests. Math and Literacy assessments have been updated in the BC curriculum to meet that goal. Teachers and tutors can prepare for this curriculum change by looking into math and literacy activities that help students apply those skills in real world situations.

Teaching math skills for the real world

Education World has a number of great activities that teachers and tutors can use to help students apply math to real life situations. For example, students can learn about annual expenses when working for minimum wage by preparing a budget based on the given earnings.

Another activity consists of adjusting a basic recipe to be able to feed 150 for a dinner.

Real World Math is another great website with great resources that link math to the real world. This site even utilizes google earth for very interesting math activities.

Philtulga.com is a site that combines music with reading, math, and science. This would be a great site for teachers and tutors to find activities for students who are musically inclined and thus can learn other skills using music.

We’ve also developed real-world math skill lessons on our blog. Check them out here:

PLUS! See all our teaching resources on other subjects here.

Teaching literacy skills for the real world

Literacy assessments have also been updated in the BC curriculum to reflect a more real world approach to learning. Although geared towards ELT ( English Language Teaching) and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) instruction, elt-resourceful has a number of great real world writing activities that BC teachers and tutors can use with their students. Some of those activities include “writing to a favourite author, writing a review for a movie, writing a short story for the internet, and writing on behalf of human rights abuse victims”, among others.

Education World, linked to above, also has great literacy activities with the same goal. For instance, students can research the Tower of Pisa, write a report of their findings, then develop and budget a class trip to see it.

The 2016 BC curriculum update has been thoroughly researched and the drafts for grades 10 to 12 are open for feedback from anyone who looks into the drafts. To see some of the other changes of the 2016 BC curriculum update, visit https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/.

The impact brands have on children

Susan Cumberland Published: June 10, 2016 Last Updated Date: June 27, 2024

If you think that brands are only something teenagers and adults are concerned about, you might be surprised to know children as young as 3 can recognize brands. But what is wrong with a preschooler wanting to buy only Lego as opposed to other types of blocks? Or by choosing to have a Mcdonald’s birthday party over having one at home? As you will read in our article below, brands may have a deeper impact on young children than you may think.

Kids are understanding brands at a much younger age nowadays

In their article ‘Preschoolers know all about brands’, Slate.com points out how powerful brands can be on young children. Based on a study done by the Madison-Wisconsin and the University of Michigan, 3 year olds are already familiar with brands such as Disney, Mcdonald’s and My Little Pony. Livescience.com has also referenced the same study. In their article they have included several quotes from preschoolers, aged 3 to 6 year old.

They say that, nowadays, kids are starting to judge others based on the brands they like from a much younger age than before. What these kids have to say shows that they do make certain judgements based on the brands they recognize.

For instance, a child associated having a birthday party at Mcdonald’s with having lots of friends. Anna McAlister, a researcher in the study “Children’s Understanding of Brand Symbolism” says that this type of cognitive discernment would be expected on an 8 year old.

So why is it bad for a 3 year old to have such developed thinking? In the Livescience article linked to above, McAlister calls this type of child socially mature. She says: “Children who are able to think about the thoughts of other people are better able to dig out a toy and say ‘I’m going to take this Lego to preschool because other kids at school will like it … and think I’m cool.’”

As a solution, McAlister advises parents to have more control over their kids’ tv time. This is so they don’t get overly influenced by brands and don’t start judging other kids based on what brand advertisements are teaching them.

Brands influence what kids want to eat

Food is a huge part of a child’s development. And advertising companies know this very well. Fast food companies target children in a very particular way, offering indoor playgrounds, toys with their meals, and most important of all, yummy treats.

Slate.com points out that, “if you stick a McDonald’s label on carrots, kids will tell you that they taste better.” Slate also quotes Alison Gopnik, author of The Philosophical Baby. Gopnik links the influence brands have on kids with obesity. And it makes sense.

Take a child who watches an advertisement in which children are thoroughly enjoying some sort of junk food. The child will then go to the supermarket with mom and see this brand item displayed. Chances are this kid may beg and even throw a tantrum over wanting the treat. To keep the child happy (and calm), parents may give in and feed their kid the treat he so enjoys. The brand has won.

Children are incredibly smart. They absorb absolutely everything they see and hear. Brand companies know this and advertise their products accordingly. In the McAlister study linked to above, she says that the more a child is exposed to brands, the more socially mature and sophisticated they’ll become. And this may create:

Children who make distinctions based on brands.
Children who choose friends and peer groups based on their favourite brand of toys.
And children who prefer to eat unhealthy food.

So in a way, the simplicity of a child’s thinking and understanding may be taken away if they are overly influenced by brands.

Benefits of teaching students using iTunes U

Susan Cumberland Published: June 3, 2016 Last Updated Date: June 27, 2024

Whether or not you are into Apple, you might be interested in this iTunes app that offers free educational resources, from books and videos to complete academic lectures and courses. According to Speirs.org, universities and K-12 schools can sign up to create complete academic courses. But anyone is able to access the free educational content.

Teachers can create iTunes U courses and apps for their students

In her Teaching with Technology blog, Tina Coffey talks about how the Boyne City schools have been using iTunes U and iPads to create courses and apps for their students. Upnorthlive has a news clip about the school. The students say these apps have made homework much easier for them. They have access to a video of their teacher explaining the homework and they can view it as many times as they need to. The online courses have books, powerpoints, and videos so the students have access to different resources that enhance their learning.

And, important to note for school and classroom budgets, the Boyne City school says (in the video linked above) they’ve saved $12,000. This is by not having to use as much print material anymore.

iTunes U can teach students about self-awareness and focus, when the teacher isn’t there

Learningworksforkids.com explains that, using iTunes U requires students to rely a bit less on the teacher or classroom structure. Instead they need to depend more on their ability to access knowledge through the online education tools they are given. This would be an important asset for homeschoolers or anyone who wants to learn a subject without the formality of ‘going to school.’

As one private school in Lebanon pointed out, they first developed iTunes U courses to help students who were too ill to come to school. This way, they could keep up with classwork online. Eventually, the program was so successful to student learning, the school got rid of textbooks altogether. Now, all hired teachers MUST work with the iTunes U platform. And all kids have iPads.

When left alone with iTunes U, students need to learn to focus on the task at hand. From the experience of the students at the Boyne City schools, the courses and apps created by their teachers are motivating enough for them to get invested in the online content. This may be because the delivery of the content is more modern. Some may even argue that using technology in the classroom makes subjects more engaging and relevant.

The LearningWorks for Kids page linked to above also says that students may develop more self-awareness by using iTunes U. Because of the variety of content students have access to, their sense of self is enhanced as they explore various subjects in different formats. Through iTunes U, students are enabled to learn more about their interests as they have access to a broad range of learning tools (books, videos, games, lectures). This is, of course, in the context of learning for interest’s sake. Or, it can be thought of as a way to let kids direct their own schooling based on what inspires their imagination. With teacher supervision, of course.

iTunes U can be used as a tool alongside traditional teaching tools

Psychologytoday.com gives 5 reasons why iPads in particular should not be used in classrooms. Some have to do with screen time and reading. And some teachers may agree that reading on an iPad can never replace a book. Or that handwriting cannot be replaced by typing. Nowadays technology is so prevalent and advanced though, that many would argue technology does improve education.

We’ve written on these types of topics on our blog before, and encourage you to delve into them for more on the subject. Clearly, the idea of technology in the classroom is a new one (relatively speaking). We can find arguments on both sides of the ‘camp.’ Here are some of our blog posts to check out:

Moving on, however…

The great thing about iTunes U is that the teacher is still in control. In this article, BBC Active talks about the Enfield County School and how they have incorporated the use of iPads in their lessons. Thus, you can decide whether to use iTunes U as your main teaching tool. Or you can stick to your traditional teaching ways and use iTunes U as a secondary aid.

Use iTunes U as a tool for your flipped classroom model

If you do think iTunes U would be a good teaching tool for your students, you’ll want to also check out our blog post on the flipped classroom model. iTunes U certainly falls straight into the model and benefits of the flipped classroom approach. In short, this technology-based teaching method gives students their ‘learning time’ outside class, and their ‘activity time’ in the classroom. According to the private school in Lebanon mentioned above,

This is the real learning experience. When students share and collaborate with one another they enhance their ways of thinking and improve their logical progression. This opens their minds to alternate aspects of a situation or an idea, and that is how higher orders of thinking become possible.

Plus, the school mentions another benefit of using iTunes U and a flipped classroom approach – it allows teachers to collaborate on lesson plans, for more input on the material itself. This is because an iTunes U course can have up to 5 collaborators. In a school setting with professional development workshops, this can be a great asset and organization tool. It can ensure that communication between faculties is received and incorporated into the instruction across classrooms.

There may be some downsides to using iTunes U in the classroom (such as those outlined by the article from Psychology Today). However, there are a number of benefits that seem to have worked positively for those who have used it. So it may be worth giving iTunes U a try!

Check out these related titles on our education blog!

The Effects of Child Beauty Pageants on Kids

Susan Cumberland Published: May 20, 2016 Last Updated Date: June 27, 2024

If you thought child beauty pageants happened mostly in United States, you may be surprised to know that they are actually quite popular in Canada too. Miss All Canadian Pageant is one of the biggest in the country. As indicated on their website, anyone from 0 to 20+ years old can be registered in their beauty pageant. Self-esteem, confidence and social growth are some of the core values they say children will walk away with after participating in their beauty pageant. So do kids actually benefit from participating in beauty pageants or are there more negative effects associated with this practice?

Child beauty pageants give kids a superficial view on beauty

Based on a short documentary by CBC, ‘natural beauty’ may not be enough for a child to win a beauty pageant. Yes, there are dresses, costumes, and makeup, as we’d expect. But children may also get wigs, spray-tans, and even get their pictures re-touched. The message children may get is that, in order to be liked, they need to be beautiful. But in order to be beautiful enough, they need to accentuate how they naturally look. They are not being taught that all children can be beautiful based on many other reasons other than physical appearance.

Psychology Today points out that any activity focusing on what a child looks like, can have a long-lasting effect on body image once they get to their teens. Issues may be carried even into adulthood. Some may suffer from eating disorders, perfectionism, and depression.

Child beauty pageants teach kids that success is based on looks and how others perceive them

One view on beauty pageants is that they teach children that success (winning a trophy or a crown in this case), is very much related to how they look. Yes, there is a talent portion to the pageant. But they still need to look beautiful while performing. And even showcasing a talent may not truly be what the child is good at. It may be what the parent thinks will win the judges over.

So in the end, the child’s view on success may not even be related to who they are, what they like, or what they are good at. Instead success becomes attainable only when parents and in some cases coaches shape them to their liking.

Children may also internalize the concept of perfectionism. They are trained to perform in a certain way and to not only do their best, but do it perfectly. Not only does this put huge pressure on kids, but it may teach them that whatever they do is not good enough, unless they win.

Child beauty pageants sexualize girls in particular

From the CBC documentary on child beauty pageants linked to above, we can see some parents who choose their girls’ costumes appropriate to their age. However, as some note, the overall trend of these beauty pageants is on portraying sexy rather than cute. So, we end up seeing little girls dressed in skimpy clothing that hardly covers their underdeveloped body. They will then parade like ‘sexy’ super-models. They may even showcase provocative routines during the talent show. According to the American Psychological Association, sexualizing girls can lead to depression, low-self esteem, shame and anxiety, and eating disorders, among others.

As stirred up by the comedian John Oliver, the idea of beauty pageants still being in existence is dated and one of the “weirdest” things on television (as he says it). In his video, he rants with the undertone that we should acknowledge strides feminism has taken in the last couple of decades. Are we still living in a world where we give women points, and have men judge them, based on their physical image?

Admittedly, John Oliver’s other major point in his rant was about the financial management of the Miss America Pageant rewards. But the point in this article is that his talk was about adult pageants. Taking his points and applying them to child pageants could multiply the seriousness of the situation to some skeptics.

When contemplating the decision of enrolling children in beauty pageants, it is important to take into account the potential long-term consequences discussed in this article. Specifically, it is crucial to consider how beauty pageants can impact the mental well-being of our children, as we are deeply concerned about their overall healthy development.

How to help kids who won’t come to school

Susan Cumberland Published: May 13, 2016 Last Updated Date: June 27, 2024

Monday comes around and your child is refusing to go to school. Your kid used to love going to school but this has now become a daily battle. So you engage your child because you know school is a must and there shouldn’t be any reason, other than illness, to skip school. The result is a power struggle that may only intensify the negativity with which your child is viewing going to school. If this is a daily occurrence in your household, here are some ways to help your kids love going to school:

Find out what is bothering them about school

According to Sara Bean, M.Ed., children who refuse to go to school may be experiencing a number of issues. It’s possible that they are being bullied. They may also be having trouble meeting their academic requirements. They could be having issues with responding to authority and rules. They can also be having other types of anxieties which may or may not be be related to school. Sara Bean also suggests that, when trying to find the root cause of your child’s issue with school, you should use open-ended questions. For example, you could ask,

“Who is bothering you at school?”
“Which subject are you having the toughest time with?”
“How are you feeling in Ms. X class?”

These types of questions will probably help your child open up to you and get the conversation going.

Respond appropriately and find a long term solution

When your child opens up about what’s bothering them about going to school, don’t take the response lightly by trying to find a quick solution to it. Some parents may resort to bribing them for the day or week, or promising them it’ll get better soon but not really doing much about it. Based on Sara Bean’s four possible categories your child may have fallen into, they may need extra tutoring to meet their academic shortcomings, counselling, a talk with the teacher or principal, changing classes or school, and so on.

Example, routine, dialogue, involvement

Once a long term solution to the particular issue(s) your child expressed are appropriately addressed, you can establish healthy practices going forward to keep your child motivated. Begin by becoming a motivating example to your child. According to parenting expert Brenda Nixon, “a parent’s attitude is contagious.” So if you wake up in a bad mood, remember that children are influenced by your attitude. Based on Nixon’s advice, the article linked above suggests to be positive in the mornings and leave enough time as to not rush them to school. Make their mornings as calm as they can be.

For this to happen you could set up daily routines for your child. You could both do a fun routine chart so your child knows what to expect every school day. This will ensure your child has a regular bed and wake up time, a set snack, homework, dinner, and free time, for example.

Ensure there is daily dialogue with your child. A great place to ask about how everything is going at school may be at the dinner table. You can also have this talk at bedtime. This can be a way for your child to open up with you about school. By having open dialogue, you can hopefully catch issues before they become a morning power struggle again.

Finally, Care.com suggests getting your child involved in either sports, music, or another after school related activity. Not only will your child make new friends, it will give them a positive outlook on school. They will have something to look forward to after school is done. Do be careful that you are not over-scheduling your children though, as they still need time to do homework and rest.

If you child is chronically refusing to go to school, there may be a deeper issue at hand. The solutions may be ongoing until your child graduates from school. Don’t just quickly dismiss your child’s plea. Instead, get to the bottom of it and find a workable long term solution. Your children may love going to school for the rest of their school life if you do so!