ERIC Number: EJ1195321
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Nov
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-8148
EISSN: N/A
Absorbing Visual Literacy
Pace, Tiffany
Science and Children, v56 n4 p40-47 Nov 2018
Research has shown that visual literacy is an important element to use within a classroom (Tillmann 2012). One way to incorporate visual literacy into the science classroom is with the use of advertisements. In this article, Tiffany Pace describes how she and her students began their visual literacy quest while studying mixtures and solutions, including exploring a variety of polymers by making jelly, pudding, and polymer worms. Polymers are everywhere--including diapers. Diapers? That's right, and how do these polymers affect diapers? Pace's students investigated this question by working in pairs to compare diaper absorbency in regards to companies' absorbency claims of their products. The complete investigation took approximately two hours but could also be completed over several days, with each part of the investigation (tap water versus salt water; print and digital advertisement examination; diaper brand investigation; and assessment) being completed on separate days. They were able to analyze their data from their investigation and then determine whether the claims being made were factual based upon their evidence. They then communicated a diaper recommendation based upon their findings. Through this investigation Pace's students learned the importance of why one should not quickly accept claims made by advertisers, but rather take a moment to question and investigate those claims.
Descriptors: Visual Literacy, Science Instruction, Plastics, Science Experiments, Advertising, Elementary School Science, Scientific Concepts, Concept Formation
National Science Teachers Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: http://www.nsta.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A