I was a student for 32 years. This time was spent in silent classrooms, laboratories, hospitals and offices. Countless hours spent learning the language of medicine and the mysteries of the mind. Such was the journey of a psychiatrist who became a psychoanalyst. But I was not introduced to psychology until my second year of medicine, 19 years after the start of my studies.

I had not been taught about child psychological development before. Not where feelings come from, and how they lead to thoughts. Or how difficulties in communicating feelings lead to relationship problems. I was not taught the commitment between baby and mother, and how this pattern affects later relationships. I have not been taught how a child feels in conflict between his desires and his fears. And I was not taught how a child’s development is derailed by trauma, ranging from severe punishment by parents to death or abandonment by one of them.

Amazingly, I was not taught the science of learning. Why some children struggle with the traditional approach. What variables make it easier or harder. How feelings of social acceptance affect the ability to learn. We were also not taught to question the sources we relied on for facts – mostly textbooks. It wasn’t until college that I was encouraged to think critically about the sometimes unconscious author’s point of view. How the narrator tells the story, what is omitted or emphasized, shapes the reader’s picture of the story. It turns out that the subject of bias is vital.

I also didn’t learn group behavior. Even though there were groups around me – cliques of kids taunting or bullying other kids – no one explained how a nice boy could turn mean when he was in a hostile crowd. The role of group membership in consolidating personal identity, group contagion, and causes of group regression have never been on the agenda.

Fast forward a generation. Our children graduated from public school in our hometown five years ago. The schools are considered excellent; they are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and led by average to excellent faculty. Unless a child is an unorthodox learner who has not been diagnosed, they can expect to receive a solid education at least, and a superb one if they harness the resources.

But our children haven’t learned healthy ways to communicate their feelings. Nor about child development, the science of learning, or group dynamics. A little about the power of bias. Only now, this little bit is clearly not enough. Because they walk around with computers in their hands, connected by social networks. They received no lesson on how Instagram can hurt self-esteemno lesson on how multitasking reduces efficiency in all tasks, little guidance on analyzing data sources to determine what is true, no warnings about anger and how it turns hateful when it escalates online, and no education on drivers research and their goal of creating dependency in the user.

I have dealt with many teenagers during this emergence of social media. I showed them how the buzzing of their cell phones during sessions interferes with their concentration and disrupts the continuity of our relationship. When they report slights suffered on Facebook, and I wonder why they stick around, their typical response is FOMO. After our conversation, they realize that what they will be spared from leaving Facebook is their unhealthy relationship pattern – usually tied to past patterns and almost never resolved virtually.

In a recent talk given in Philadelphia, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa explained that lying generates more activity on social media than telling the truth. And because there are no penalties for spreading lies – in fact, there is a profit motive in spreading them – they inundate us. The the role of social media has been central in facilitating election interference, fomenting hatred, obscuring real reality and encouraging violence. Ressa advises that for now, we organize opposition to this roadblock and enact laws to regulate the airways of the internet, and in the long term, educate our children so that they can protect themselves from this mode of transmission of feelings. and information.

We have not, in my lifetime, been so divided. There are several reasons for this crack, including the destructive influence of social media. We should not underestimate the impact of additional existential threats, such as mass immigration, climate change and the recent pandemic. Under such pressures, people seek out others who look like them – noticing shared ethnicity, skin color or religion. They tend to create hierarchies: my group is the best and we are entitled to more than yours. Sometimes they dehumanize members of the other group. The best way to immunize people against fragmentation is to teach them what leads to it and to help them deal with their mixed feelings.

The starting point is where 90% of children meet: public school. And they can’t afford to wait 19 years to learn these principles.

Andrew Smolar, MD, is a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Temple University School of Medicine.

For anyone interested in teaching as a career, the Get Into Teaching service has experienced teacher training advisors available to provide free support and advice.

Earth science lessons are fun for kids! They can ask and answer questions about our beautiful planet through hands-on activities. But, these lessons aren’t complete without some earth-focused activities, to be exact. Elementary school kids apparently like to get dirty, so why not let them get down to business and discover one of Earth’s amazing and underrated resources? Follow us for an amazing list of 20 interesting and practical floor activity ideas.

1. Plant growth activity

This favorite soil science project works for STEM fairs or can be used to form a long term survey! Students can test soil nutrients to see whether or not plants grow better in one type of soil than another. You can even test multiple soil types.

Learn more: Generation Genius

2. Analyze soil composition

Help kids become soil scientists by analyzing the quality and composition of organic matter, distinguishing various soil qualities as you go.

Learn more: Nature.org

3. Sid the Science Kid: Dirt on Dirt

Younger students will love this video series as a stand-alone lesson or as part of an on-floor unit. These videos save teachers time and are a great springboard for your on-the-floor STEM lessons.

Learn more: PBS learning material

4. Soil Composition Lesson

This is a great lesson starter for upper elementary students to teach learners how soil is made up of various things and is an important element in many aspects of daily life.

Learn more here: PBS learning material

5. Level Reading

Add these texts to your Earth and Soil Science lessons. Many people don’t realize that healthy soil is important for everyday life. These readings are a great way to start your soil exploration, as they outline the basis and importance of this often overlooked scientific subject.

Learn more: National geographic

6. Interactive map of soils by state

This soil digital resource describes the soil profile of each state. This online tool gives soil properties for all fifty states, including what is grown, proper names of soil samples, fun facts and more!

Learn more: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

7. Soil Vocabulary

Give kids the opportunity to learn about soil terms by learning root words with this easy-to-follow fact sheet for students. They must understand the vocabulary to understand the different layers of soil.

Learn more: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

8. What is our soil worth?

Perfect for whole-class teaching, this lesson plan features a variety of soil-type slides, a form for students, and a list of accompanying resources to help get their soil activity started while keeping kids engaged!

Learn more: National agriculture in the classroom

9. Study of the exterior ground

Using innovative soil experiments and a field log, this study tracks real-time student data to investigate this overlooked organic matter. They’ll learn about soil quality, soil types and more using these simple fun and interactive soil science tests.

Learn more: Field Museum

10. Take a virtual field trip

The Underground Adventure exhibit is a great introduction to the ground. Use this link as an option for students to take a virtual field trip to discover why this organic material is so important. Add it to a floor choice board where students can choose the activities they want to do.

Learn more: Field Museum

11. Celebrate World Soil Day

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has put together this short list of six sample soil activities to do with your students to celebrate World Soil Day. You can add these fun experiments to your science unit on the floor!

Learn more: Food and Agriculture Organization

12. Dirt Detectives

This simple and effective activity only requires a few tablespoons of soil from different locations and a lab worksheet for students to record their findings. You can even use it on a Soil Activity Choice Board where kids can become scientists studying the soil.

Learn more: PBS Kids

13. Soil bases

Have students use this website to do some preliminary soil research. From soil layers to quality and everything in between, this website offers a wide variety of background information to help students learn about this organic matter.

Learn more: Soil Science Society of America

14. Use Diagrams

This website shows a variety of useful diagrams for students to learn about and support all the layers of soil activity you might have to offer. Students can learn the components of soil simply by visiting this website before doing any soil experiment. To link content to memory, have them design their own diagrams in groups.

Learn more: Nature.com

15. Edible Soil Layers

This delicious and interactive lesson gives kids an “earth cup” that will really help them visualize (and taste) the layers of earth that make up the crust. Of all the dirt activities, this one will probably be the most memorable for students because, let’s face it, kids love to eat!

Learn more: Learning Resources

16. Soil sampling stations

Soil STEM activities work best when kids are able to move around to stay engaged, so why not get kids moving with in-room soil sampler stations? This soil lesson helps children understand the variety of soil types, and although it is labeled as middle school, it is suitable for upper primary just by changing the standards.

Learn more: GLAquarium.com

17. Ground Texture Shaker

As far as soil labs go, this one has to be on your list. Combine soil samples found around your area with the required liquids and watch the solution settle before analyzing the composition.

Learn more: Teagasc

18. Use soil test kits

Purchase soil test kits for another soil lab experiment and have students bring a soil sample from home. This will help them understand soil properties and tell them what types of soil are common in their area.

Learn more: AP Science Education

19. Soil Life Survey

Many soil lessons focus on the soil itself, but this one, in particular, focuses on the life (or lack of) that can be found in the soil. Introduce students to the vitality of the soil at school with an investigation into the life of the soil.

Learn more: ABC of Child’s Play

20. Create a dewormer

Whether you have 1st graders, 3rd graders, or anyone in between, engage ground-level learners by building a worm farm using a typical glass tank. Have your students observe the worms daily and record what they observe.

Learn more: ABC of Child’s Play

Child care proposal

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