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HPU school of education students recently engaged in a distinctive interactive session, actively contributing to the development of a captivating lesson plan tailored for elementary students. Collaborating with HPU Professor Kathryn Vaughn, Ed.D., students delved into the imaginative world by crafting wizard hats, glow-in-the-dark wands, and concocting creative solutions in the form of potions and spells. Vaughn emphasized that the central theme of this innovative lesson plan was centered around the concept of “measurement and properties of matter.”

“This lesson is one that I did often with my elementary and middle school students and decided to bring it to my university classroom as a modified version of how to teach properties of matter,” said Vaughn. “The reason being is that there are many steps to the lesson, starting with creating wizard hats, and then moving onto creating potions and spells.”

HPU students filled glass bottles sealed with corks, inscribing enchanting recipes in their science journals. The concoctions, bearing whimsical names such as "Dragon Breath," "Sorcerer’s Secret Potion," and "Witch's Brew," added a magical touch to the creative process.

“Our lessons began with students creating their own wizard names and providing the meanings of the names, potion names, and mythical creature puppets, to help set the stage for experiential learning. Our program focuses on the integration of the arts in curriculum development to enrich interdisciplinary learning,” said Vaughn.

The culmination of the lesson reached its peak when the potions and wizard hats, crafted with care and imagination, radiantly glowed in the dark. This hands-on experience exemplified the essence of experiential learning within the classroom, fostering collaborative efforts among students to craft a lesson plan that holds practical value for their future professional teaching careers.

To learn more about the HPU school of education, click here.

  

All photos by Colin Lorntson.