ERIC Number: EJ1163830
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Feb
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1089-9995
EISSN: N/A
An Exploration of Hybrid Spaces for Place-Based Geomorphology with Latino Bilingual Children
Martínez-Álvarez, Patricia; Bannan, Brenda
Journal of Geoscience Education, v62 n1 p104-117 Feb 2014
Latino bilingual children hold rich understandings, which are underexplored and underutilized in the geoscience classroom. Oftentimes, young Latinos possess unique cultural land experiences shaping their place identities. We consider science as language and culture, and propose place-based geoscience hybrid space explorations that are culturally and linguistically relevant. We explore the different elements that help bilingual children learn geoscience using pre- and postsurvey of their understanding of the processes of erosion, transportation, and deposition; children's marks, drawing, and writing on a photograph; and graphic organizers with children's notes. Several different instructional elements for working with Latino bilinguals, organized around five tenets of culture, arise from our analysis: (1) Utilizing multiple linguistic resources, (2) making explicit connections to alternative interpretations of words, (3) using culturally relevant examples, (4) using alternative and creative ways of operationalizing hybrid spaces, and (5) learning in a community of practice.
Descriptors: Bilingual Students, Cultural Influences, Language Usage, Culturally Relevant Education, Creative Teaching, Communities of Practice, Pretests Posttests, Student Surveys, Earth Science, Science Instruction, Foreign Countries, Indigenous Knowledge, Spanish Speaking, English, Bilingual Education, Language of Instruction, Elementary School Students, Learning Activities, Photography, Qualitative Research
National Association of Geoscience Teachers. Carleton College W-SERC, One North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057. Tel: 540-568-6675; Fax: 540-568-8058; e-mail: jge@jmu.edu; Website: http://nagt-jge.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Peru
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A