Laughing and Learning Together: Intersections of Socioemotional Activity with Science Talk

Culturally sustaining and science education theorists advocate that children need to have opportunities use personal experiences background knowledge in dialogue with peers as they make sense of phenomena the natural world. Practically, this is a challenge orchestrate—both classrooms out-of-school learning spaces—as teachers learners navigate personal, interpersonal, structural components talk. What not well understood, are multitudes social interactions support rigorous responsive In paper, I examine how group nineteen middle school young women fell into naturally occurring forms friendship-talk learned concepts take stand against toxic lake next door their school. This multiple case study examined moment-to-moment discourse between students including facial expressions body movements explore connection everyday human activity productive science. Analysis revealed patterns strangely familiar friendship were instrumental constructing nature walk an animated film about saving local for community members. research indicates structured share ideas also linked student emotional connections.