THE OBSERVATION OF EXOTIC COCKROACHES IN THE CLASSROOM – EDUCATIONAL METHOD FOR TEACHING THE “INSECT DEVELOPMENT” SUBJECT

Abstract

How to make Z generation children be interested in educational material? Which methods and means to employ, for educational process to be fluid and education material to be exiting and interesting? While teaching primary school students the world cognition subject, I’ve noticed, that children get exited on these days when “something interesting and new goes in school besides regular classes”. To make educational process interesting and useful – that was my goal, when we started studying “Insect development” subject. I’ve relied on the proposition of many psychologists and pedagogues, which states that Z generation children are most interested and motivated by exploration. I’ve made a proposition for students – to keep and observe the life and development of exotic cockroaches in our classroom. The intriguing proposal caught the attention of the children and made them motivated to take action. With the help of children’s parents we made a “home” for the cockroaches in the classroom and started the observation. The exotic cockroaches successfully live, feed and multiply for few years now and make the “education material” for several generations of preschoolers. In my report I would like to present the process of the observation of exotic cockroaches and the making of the methodical medium – educational video film. Also, I will present the findings that I have made while applying these practical methods: experiment, observation, “press conference”, “game-test” in teaching of “Insect development” subject during world cognition class in 4th grade. Keywords: observation, exotic cockroaches, educational method, insect development