Welcome to TechKNOW Associates' Circles of Change page. This project was developed through a partnership between TechKNOW Associates and Steck-Vaughn Inc.To download a copy of the project, you will need a userid and password. Please go to the Terms of Use page for more information.

TechKNOW Associates Corporation can provide expert, onsite staff development to insure that teachers and children fully implement this and other projects at a reasonable cost. We will train teachers in the classroom with their students, model lessons, and help them integrate technology into their curriculum through a project-based approach.

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Circles of Change

For Early Childhood

It is center time in Mrs. Vaughn’s bridge K-1 class. She is working with some children in the math center. Rodrigo and Sarah are working on the computer. Above the computer you can see a bright yellow sign that says Mini-Researchers Computer Station. Tamika is at the window with a clipboard and a pencil. She is looking outside and checking off items on a list.

“The outside thermometer says it’s 35º. Check! I do not see the sun. Check. It’s very cloudy. Check. It looks like it’s going to rain. Check.”, Tamika says as she works.

“35º” repeats Sarah at the computer as she slides thermometer on the screen to 35º. She remarks, “I will put in some clouds!”.

“Don’t forget to add some rain.”, reminds Rodrigo.

“Can I be in charge of making the graph?”, asks Tamika as she joins the others at the computer. “I’m really good at graphs. Besides, I will be presenting the graph to the class on Friday.”

“Can we just finish doing today’s weather, or our group will not be presenting anything!”, Rodrigo says impatiently. “ Now, where were we?”

For the rest of center time, Sarah, Tamika and Rodrigo, mini-researchers on the weather, continue to independently record their observations of the day!

Is this what you classroom looks like? It can be. Young students can combine learning with real life situations as they gain more experience and confidence in using the computer as a tool. The Circles of Change project introduces your students to project-based learning. Your computer center will be transformed into a dynamic informational center where children can research, prepare and deliver reports to other members of the class. They will become researchers as they delve into more sophisticated topics involving factors of changes that occur in nature: from the cyclical changes of the seasons to how living things grow and change. Before long, your mini-researchers will also be able to plan and present information using power of technology. It's the scientific method in action!

The Circles of Change project focuses on the first four inquiry science standards designed to develop critical thinking skills. The project takes into account content in mathematics as well as process skills. It introduces young minds to interdisciplinary problem-solving skills that can be applied across the curriculum. The project fosters early literacy skills while building necessary communication skills.

To download a copy of this project, you will need a userid and password. Please go to the Terms of Use page for more information. If you have a userid and password, click here.