Science Super Star: Heather Peguero
April 17, 2020
We are thrilled to recognize Heather Peguero, a 2nd Grade Teacher at Bella Vista Elementary in Oakland, as a 2020 Science Super Star!
Heather had her classroom explore how weathering changes landforms. She engaged her students through a multitude of different teaching styles, to ensure that every single one would be able to make meaning out of the lesson.
She requested her students to bring in rocks to share, and they discussed the rock’s properties as a classroom. In the discussion, students recognized other weathered rocks they have seen before (sand on beaches!) Heather also asked her students to take careful observations of streets around the school and their homes, and to do the same after a storm. What differences would they notice?
Heather had her class see how they could weather the rocks themselves. This is where she saw the curiosity and perceptiveness of her students shine bright.
I observe this rock changes color when I put it in water.
I wonder what will happen if we leave this clay out overnight?
She asked for sketches and scientifically labeled drawings. To promote using scleritic vocabulary, she had her students have words, definitions, questions, and physical examples written in their notebooks. She did the same on the Class Science Word Wall, for everyone to see.
Like many teachers, Heather understands that searching for time and materials is half the battle of creating lessons:
Investigate available resources. Partner with a more experienced teacher to reduce workload of lesson/materials prep (always the thing that takes too much time!)
She found an innovative way to promote participation from all students, using just peer learning (no materials required!)
She identified that not every student would excel in this form of learning. She had her students read “The Story of Sand” from their science textbooks. Afterwords, she had students re-enact the process of “the boulder breaking down”, by starting with a large clump of students, and slowly breaking apart as students recounted the steps of the story. Students who were able to understand the process were able to directly help peers, who hadn’t got as deep of an understanding through reading. It was also an amazing visual learning experience.
Heather’s use of alternative teaching methods, and dedication to science, has made a great impact on her students:
I have one student who doesn’t like to participate in most academic work, and is usually checked out by the end of the day. However, he loves getting to do hands-on experiments and is always engaged whenever we get to work with science materials.