Shakin’ and Learnin’

Sticking their hands out like they were writing observations, fifth graders in Melanie Key's class at Blanton Elementary sang about the scientific process.

"We get to stand up and do something fun while learning at the same time," fifth-grader Oliver Kimble said.

It's this hands-on approach that led to Blanton's fifth grade TAKS scores going up 36 points last year, the first year Principal Evelyn Garcia worked at Blanton. The school received recognized status for the first time. Key said the approach includes two key aspects: experimental labs and the songs, called Shake & Learns.

The Shake & Learns are purchased from a company, and Garcia said they are gradually expanding their inclusion down to all grade levels, just as labs are not just for the fifth graders this year. She said students need to have plenty of exposure to science before going to take the TAKS test. For Key, the hands-on approach gives something extra to students that reading or lecture can't provide.

"We try to be very creative and the songs help them remember and the labs give them hands-on experience," Key said. "The kids ask me to do the songs and are very excited about learning."

Students go through all their songs daily, and at this point in the year, they already have four to recite and dramatize: animal classifications, adaptations, needs of a plant and the scientific process.

The labs provide a time once a week for elementary students to get exposure to doing science, not just hearing about it. Student Teagan Clark said she has enjoyed an experiment to compare the growth of a plant by a window with one in a class locker getting little sunlight, opening the creaky locker to some seeds that had barely grown compared to a plant developing well in the window.

Key said last week's lab was about animal fat. Students had baggies, one with Crisco serving as a layer of fat and one without. They compared how the bags felt in water to see fat acting as insulation.

Principal Garcia said she purchased lab equipment for the students last year as a result of being one of the lowest scoring schools in the district prior to her arrival. Kimble said he has learned a lot about different chemicals and how to use lab equipment safely.

Key said a University of Texas of the Permian Basin professor provides a special lab to each class once a month. For example, the students planted bean plants as part of a lab on measurement.

Garcia, who came out of a one-year retirement to take over the helm at Blanton, said the teachers have really worked to include the new science strategies. She said she sees results when students come up to her in the cafeteria telling her all about their latest experiment.

Parents can even go to a fifth grade teacher's web page to view and read about the latest class activities related to science.

"If I were a parent, I would be thrilled to have it and see what they are doing," Garcia said.

The principal isn't done with adding to Blanton. She said she hopes next to add new technology, such as interactive white boards.

SCIENCE PIECES

>> Labs once a week.

>> Rotating labs with UTPB professor.

>> Shake & Learn songs.

>> Science stories or reading.