Science Super Star: Darlene Kong
We spotlight Darlene Kong, CRS Science Super Star honoree, who teaches at Monarch Academy in Oakland. Darlene encouraged hands-on learning and collaborative discussion to heighten her students' understanding of the plant life cycle. She wanted to ensure that despite their urban environment, her classroom would understand key processes of plant growth that they could apply into their every day lives.
March 30, 2020
We are honored to recognize Darlene Kong, a 2nd Grade Teacher at Monarch Academy in Oakland, as a 2020 Science Super Star!
Darlene recognizes the need for learning about the natural world.
"My students live in a very urban area, some scholars‘ access to science is limited, and school has limited time, yet so many requirements. We prioritize science lessons in my class so that all students get science at least 2-3 times each week."
This year, she led her students through the processes behind the Plant Life Cycle. While her students had some experience and background knowledge on plants, she encouraged her students to question their misperceptions on seed dispersal. After Darlene debunked the notion that animals consciously disperse seeds, a common misconception from her classroom, her students began to hypothesize ways that seeds could travel. Many concluded on wind & water travel, while others recognized animals can accidentally carry seeds. "Cherries are yummy, so their seeds get dispersed through scat." and "Animals can get seeds stuck on them." Her classroom compared various seed types, and focused on attributes that would affect dispersal. Through measurement and collaborative discussions, they figured out that certain seeds traveled better using different modes of dispersal, based on the conditions of their environments.
Darlene's top tip for other teachers?
"Having students really learn how to draw what they see is foundational to their understanding."
This was key for her students' next experiment. They drew models to explain the plant life cycle, and then took to action. Her 2nd graders experimented to see the necessity of dirt in plant growth, and whether or not their beet seeds would sprout without being planted. Students listened to one another use evidence from videos to support their ideas. Others disagreed because they had background knowledge from home about how things grow. Eventually, after hearing some students state their reasoning for their understanding, other students would change their minds.
It was this collaborative spirit that drove through Darlene's classroom, and into the outside world. Students were thrilled to take home their seeds, and share their newfound understanding of produce growth with their families. Many students now opt to spend their lunch recess exploring the school's garden, watching fresh vegetables grow over time.
Thank you Darlene for your dedication to bringing meaningful science and real-life application to your students!