Exploring Apprenticeship in the School Setting: First Grade Mini Master Gardeners Teach Kindergartners About Terrariums

1. Exploring Apprenticeship in the School Setting:First Grade Mini Master Gardeners Teach Kindergartners About Terrariums

2. Abstract As a classroom teacher I regularly collected artifacts and data for documentation purposes. As a doctoral student I am looking at the artifacts and data from a new perspective. The data that I am analyzing comes from a program I created for primary school children called, Mini Master Gardeners. Central activities in this program resemble apprenticeship as described by Lave and Wenger (1991)

3. Research Focus Research questions concern teaching and learning a complex practice . . . in which children serve both as masters . . . and apprentices . . . ( making a terrarium and learning about plants ) ( the more experienced knowledgeable first graders ) ( the kindergartners ).

4. The Questions In what ways are the kindergartners apprenticing to the Mini Master Gardeners? How do the masters and the apprentices negotiate participation? What is taught and what is learned in this activity - -and by whom? How do the verbal and non-verbal behaviors of the Mini Master Gardeners reveal their learning?

5. Artifacts and Data Video clips of Mini Master Gardeners (MMG) conducting sessions in the kindergarten classrooms. MMG pre- and post- perceptions of scientists Letters to experts (scientists) Post experience reflections of the Mini Master Gardeners Kindergartner post experience writing

6. Mandated content area instruction was integrated and embedded in a training that included a series of activities where first graders became master gardeners. In their master role students returned to former K-classrooms to share their expertise. K training included two sessions: 1. terrarium information and discussion of living and non-living materials (35-40 min.) 2. K students were divided into two groups to each build a terrarium. (45-55 min.) All instruction and question/answer sessions were the exclusive responsibility of the first graders.