AN EXPLORATION INTO SPACE

In various learning groups through the elementary years, students developed their explanations for space. Through an extensive dialogue, a listener, whether child or adult, comes to understand that space has an expansive meaning. An attentive studentcentered educator guides this development about space to its fullest potential, with all voices shaping its meaning.

Let’s ponder how they do it with this collection of Grade 2 perspectives and ideas:

Well, space is right here there is space between the two lines and there is space right in here and right here.

–Max

Space is something around you that space is also in between something and another thing.

–Lorenzo

Space — the measurements and distances from one object to another –Avery

Planets, stars, galaxies — is this material called air? It’s the greatest creation. –Sashi

So, like there is outer space and outer space is full of space, and there is also another kind of space.

–Robert

Space is something like when there is some space between us like air, and the space up in the sky is the space between planets.

–Kiana

Space: is it invisible? Heavy? It’s very soft.

–Jaxson

One kind of space is outer space, the space that the planets are in, the space that earth is in, basically the space that everything is in.

–Lian

Space is like what if people are like you’re squished, space is the opposite of that, when you have room to actually move around.

–Sienna

I observe that it is strong and it can never break no matter what you do to it. Yes, it is flexible, it can bend, bounce, and it can’t break.

–Dylan

Space is between water and air, and from a scientific standpoint that is space.

–Ellis

Space — do you mean outer space? Personal space, like a space bubble? Space is like, if someone says can you please move over and you don’t move over, or move closer, that is not respectful.

People can have too much space.

–Arianna