Tag: Eleanor K. Smith Authentic Learning

Authentic Project Ideas – Planting Trees

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Project Ideas, Blog, Social Awareness and Responsibility Skills, Uncategorized

Teaching our children that they can make an authentic difference is something that I think is really important. There are so many current problems we have on our planet. And it can seem like, “why bother,” we really can’t make a difference. But we can! If everyone just tried to make a bit of a difference, think of the changes that we could make.

Our planet desperately needs trees planted. There are many, many groups that are planting trees. A great authentic project would be to learn why we need trees, what we use trees for, what are all the different types of trees… Then involving our students in either planting trees, or fundraising for groups that are planting them. Tons of authentic reading, math, science, social studies… Learning and a good cause – can’t beat that!

Authentic Project Ideas – Understanding Others

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Project Ideas, Blog, Social Awareness and Responsibility Skills, Uncategorized

I live in the heart of Amish country in Central Pennsylvania. Because of this, I have interacted with the Amish and learned a great deal about their culture.

They are a fascinating group of people. The more I know about them, the more I want to learn. There are definitely some things they do, and believe in, that I would like to try to incorporate into my life, and some things I would not. (Totally not interested in giving up my washing machine and dryer.) But, isn’t that true for everyone. And isn’t it true that the more we learn, understand, and appreciate other people, the better we will get along.

I think a great authentic project for students in my area would be to learn about the Amish. What group(s) of people who practice different or unique religions, customs, or ideas are in your area? And what are your students interested in learning about these people? It won’t and shouldn’t be the same for every student. I am especially interested in Amish clothing. My friend down the street is interested in Amish cooking. Both topics are authentic and can lead to further discovery on different topics.

And just let me say…I do NOT want the Amish recipe for those little chocolate donuts stuffed with peanut butter filling. I have worked too hard to lose weight this year to get my hands on that recipe!

One School’s Journey – Further Down the Path is a Finalist!

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Books for Parents, Books for Teachers, Uncategorized

One School’s Journey – Further Down the Path is a Finalist in the Instructional & Insightful Non-Fiction Category of the Chanticleer International Book Awards Contest. This book was a total labor of love about teaching authentically!

Available in Paperback and on Kindle from Amazon.

Authentic Project Ideas – Acid Rain

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Project Ideas, Blog, Uncategorized

I remember constantly hearing stories about acid rain when I was in school. It seems that you really don’t hear much about acid rain anymore. What is acid rain exactly?  Is it still a problem?  Has it been “absorbed” by other categories of pollution problems? What causes it?  What can we do to help prevent it? Has the problem been solved?

This is a topic that can easily be used from preschool (a discussion of clean versus dirty water) through high school and beyond (what is the chemical composition of acid rain).

However, if the teaching is really authentic, then this needs to be more than just a discussion/study of acid rain, the causes and effects, etc.  Authenticity means it is real and counts for each student.  Is there something that is currently happening in your community that is causing acid rain?  Is there something in your community causing pollution? How does this impact your students? What can they do to authentically make a difference?

If a discussion about acid rain becomes an authentic project about pollution and cleaning up a local baseball field so that softball can be played on it…that is authentic teaching and learning.

Total Immersion

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Uncategorized
Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

My husband and I just returned from a fantastic trip to Disney World. We went specifically to visit Galaxy’s Edge, the new Star Wars Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Even with the entire population of Earth and at least one other planet in the park, it was a super experience. (It was great to see everyone out and about after the isolation of the last two years.) We waited in line for two hours for Rise of the Resistance, and it was totally worth it. I still have a smile on my face.

What Disney is now doing is the total immersion experience and it reminded me so much of authentic learning. We even found out that the University of Central Florida (near Disney World) is offering a degree in Total Immersion Design. How cool is that!

So teaching authentically, which is teaching using as much immersion as possible, has now entered the entertainment industry as total immersion. The theory being that total immersion is the way to engage the audience as much as possible. Engaged audiences retain the experience and want to return for more. Engaged students retain what they have learned and want to learn more…

Authentic Teaching

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Uncategorized

On a recent road trip my husband and I spent the night in a little town just off the highway in Virginia.  We ate dinner next to the hotel at one of the best Mexican restaurants we’ve ever been to…thank goodness we live six hours away or I would gain a ton of weight.

After dinner we decided to drive ten miles up the road to a memorial commemorating the birthplace of Stephen F. Austin, who is considered the father of the State of Texas.  It was just a simple stone marker with three flags; Virginia, Texas, and the United States.

When we returned to the hotel, both my husband and I read about Stephen F. Austin.  We also read about the history of iron mining in this area of the country, as the memorial explained that the Austins moved to Virginia to mine iron.  We both learned a great deal about Stephen F. Austin, Texas, and iron mining.  

So what is the point of this blog, besides the fact that I have zero control when it comes to Mexican food…

It’s the authentic experience that spurs real learning.  Stopping at a simple memorial marker opened up several lines of conversation for us.  Yes, we are adults (not according to our adult children, who think we have regressed back to being teenagers). But, the same kind of simple stops engage children as well (and adults who have regressed).  Make it real, make it count.

Authentic Project Ideas – Standing Stones

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Project Ideas, Blog, Uncategorized

Standing stones have always inspired interest and speculation.  From the real world of Stonehenge to the fantasy world of time travel, stones have fascinated people.

How did they get there?  What did they represent? So much authentic history to learn about!

Research, write a story, create a legend, build a model…

Be authentic and have fun! And I am going back to my favorite activity regarding standing stones – reading Outlander!

Authentic Project Ideas – Changes in a Sport

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Project Ideas, Blog, Uncategorized

Ok, so excuse me while I sound like my grandparents (who I adored), but in my day, ski jumpers skied down a snowy hill and then jumped off of it. I have no idea what this jumper is skiing on – or how this sport works now.

So, how has ski jumping – or any sport – changed over the years? Why were the changes made? Do you feel these were changes for the better?

So many authentic projects possible. (Lots of authentic projects on safety in sports waiting to be explored.) And if anyone would like to explain to me how ski jumping now works, I would appreciate it. Oh – and in case you are wondering, I am highly unlikely to take up the sport!

Authentic Project Ideas – Doors and Counterweights

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Project Ideas, Blog, Uncategorized

This is a door in a restaurant in an old colonial era tavern in Pennsylvania.  I think the counter-weight is such a cool way to close the door after people open it. (The large wood block hanging to the left of the door, with the rope leading up and over, tied to the top of the door.) It also puts some weight on the door so that it doesn’t fly open.

I was sitting and watching the door for a while – waiting for our table to be ready – and counted five people commenting on the door in fifteen minutes.  So, I obviously wasn’t the only one intrigued.

So many authentic projects could be inspired by this photo.  How do counter-weights work?  What are other examples of counter-weights?  (Check out the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland).  What is the mathematical formula for this door to work?  What if you put a lot more weight on the door?  What if you put less weight? 

And if this evolves into projects designing better doors, that’s authentic learning.  (I need a door with a package door that can be opened with an electronic code to slip my packages through – I believe Amazon is already working on something like this…)

Authentic Project Ideas – Bird Houses

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Teaching, Blog, Uncategorized

This is a photo of a birdhouse that recently caught my eye. It was very simple, with holes on each side. I don’t know a lot about birdhouses, but the holes seemed very small. I am assuming that this house was built for a particular type/size of bird. Are there bird houses built for larger birds? What is the purpose of a birdhouse?

Why do people put up birdhouses versus bird feeders?

Ideas – Do authentic research about birdhouses and bird feeders. What are the different types of birdhouses/bird feeders? Build a better birdhouse. Build a better bird feeder.