Using TPACK in a Science Lesson

In our Science lesson, the content that we focused on was observing and identifying leaves of plants and their different parts. The children are asked to observe the many different types of leaves and explore different parts of the leaves. They looked at them in detail and were asked to identify one of them and draw it. This helped them to be able to identify many different types of leaves and how they come from different plants.

Pedagogical knowledge within the lesson would be to the ability to discuss the differences in plants and leaves. These differences would include the different parts of a leaf, a proper way to identify and observe the leaf, and the numerous plants that it could come from. This discussion would have to be in terms that the children would be able to understand so that they could be involved in the conversation and participate. It is important to include the students in the discussion so maybe by asking questions or having them lead different parts of the discussion would help to get everyone involved.

Our lesson used two different technologies to help teach. The first one was the leaf identification website which helped the children find what type of plant leaf they had and what plant it came from. This technology allowed the students to answer questions which enhanced their observational skills. The second type of technology we used was a microscope. This allowed the students to find details in the leaves that they might have missed otherwise and to further their understanding of the different parts of a leaf.

Investigating Leaves of Plants

First grade students are required to learn about and explore various plants from their environment. It is important for children to understand that not all plants are the same and, therefore, be able to identify the differences between them. For this activity, I worked with Diane Hanks to plan an activity that involves technology in carrying out a science lesson. The objective we focused our lesson on was that students should investigate plants through observing and drawing pictures of plants. Further, we extended the lesson to explore identification of plant leaves.
To start off our science activity, we would have the students get into groups and gather various leaves from outside. Once the students bring these leaves inside, we would have them draw pictures of the leaves they collected. The picture below show our drawings of our leaves.


After the students have drawn their pictures, we would have them go to a leaf identification website, www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/forsite/key/intro.htm, where they would use this technology and their observation skills to identify the type of plant their leaves came from. One of the leaves we identified as we did this activity was a leaf from a sumac plant. In the picture below, you can see the image of our leaf next to the plant it came from on the identification site.

Once the leaves have been identified by the children, they would put their leaves under a microscope to observe in more detail. The children will notice that the leaves are not just one solid color, but have speckles and different colored veins. Also, there are often holes and blemishes in the leaves. Below is shown how our leaf is actually many different shades of green, unlike the dark green color that is seen without the microscope.

Additionally, each leaf contains veins, blemishes, and even tiny hairs, which are hard to examine without the help of a microscope. Below, you can see the veins of a dried leaf that we observed while doing this activity.

After the children have observed the leaves carefully under the microscope, we would have the children make new drawings of their leaves, making sure to show the new details that the learned about and observed.