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Reminder!
14 years ago
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Is Science Really For All?
An article on the NSTA website written by Jo Ellen Roseman PhD on Science for All.
Innovative Science Teachers
An NSTA recognition of innovative science teachers: Read the Article Here.
Teachers in Space!
The NSTA published an article on two teachers that travelled to space.
Read it HERE.
MORE Physics Games
There's a whole website dedicated to Physics games online: http://www.physicsgames.net
Science Textbook Review
The Teach Science and Math blog has published a review of some science textbooks here.
Magic School Bus Website
I am so excited to share The Magic School Bus Website with everyone!!
There are simple science experiments, games, and activities for young children. So fun - and educational!!
Collisions Video
Excellent video that clearly shows the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions.
DNA solves Russian mystery
I was reading the article about Czar Nicholas' family (found HERE) and thought it would be a great topic for a forensic or DNA unit!
Cool Telescope Stuff
I found two really neat resources about telescopes.
The World Wide Telescope was developed by Microsoft and allows you to see into space with a simple, downloadable computer program.
A recent article in the English newspaper The Independent describes how the world's largest telescope can see so far into the past, Einstein's theories will be tested! Check out the article HERE.
Great Java Simulations for Science Class!
The University of Colorado Boulder has a fabulous site for interactive science simulations.
In one of my favorite simulations, you can create a circuit using light bulbs, wires, resistors, batteries, etc. as well as household items such as a dollar bill and a paper clip. When the circuit works, the light bulbs light...the more resistance, the dimmer the lights.
Loads of other great simulations HERE!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Optics Resources
In writing a unit plan for optics (coming soon) I stumbled upon this website: http://library.thinkquest.org/C003776/ingles/fun/index.htm
The site is full of activities geared towards optics as well as java applets and other media resources. Enjoy!
Rutherford Gold Foil Experiment
A friend showed me a fabulous lesson plan to teach about Ernest Rutherford, his atomic model, and his gold foil experiment.
She began the lesson by playing a game to help students estimate the size of something they can't see. Inside a large box (the cave), she placed a can (the monster) and cut slits out of the bottom of the box so students could slide checker pieces through. Analogous with Rutherford's gold foil experiment, most checker pieces slide straight through while some bounce off the "monster" at small angles and others bounce backwards. This is to help students understand how Rutherford determined the nucleus of an atom must me massive and dense.
Then, she showed the animation found on this website that explains Rutherford's experiment. A great way to discuss the atomic models!!
Physical Sciences Resource Center
Great website for teacher resources relating to the Physical Sciences: http://www.compadre.org/psrc/
Solar Power
Really cool article about solar panel technology: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/05/solar.roof.atlantic.city/index.html
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Ms Frizzle is MOVING!!!
Just wanted to let everyone know the blog is moving to:
http://justcallmemsfrizzle.wordpress.com
the new RSS feed will be: http://justcallmemsfrizzle.wordpress.com/feed
Physics Teaching Jobs
Since I'm anticipating applying for Physics Teaching positions come next May, I frequently search online for the current opennings. Usually I'm annoyed with monster.com or careerbuilder.com since they give about 12 results and most of them tutoring or teacher placement companies.
However...today I used simplyhired.com and had 24 pages worth of results! The majority of them were actually physics jobs! I searched nationwide since I don't know where I'll be living, but you can certainly limit the results!
However...today I used simplyhired.com and had 24 pages worth of results! The majority of them were actually physics jobs! I searched nationwide since I don't know where I'll be living, but you can certainly limit the results!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Shoutout: Science Junkies
I found the website ScienceJunkies.com. All sorts of fun resources.
I especially liked this page.
Influential Women in Science
I am confident it's imperative to share with students a description of "who" scientists are. Mostly, these conversations destroy the misconceptions that science is done by old, white males.
Here's an article published by the National Science Teacher Association on women in science.
Read it HERE!
Monday, March 2, 2009
What I'm Watching Online: The Magic School Bus!
A friend just referred me to this website: watchhomeschooltv.com where you can watch all the Magic School Bus episodes for free!!
Right now I'm watching "Magic School Bus #31: Gets a Bright Idea" for a unit plan based on light and optics!
More Science Games
Just found a great website with all sorts of online science games and "adventures". The site also includes online and offline science experiments!!!
Check it out HERE!
Rubrics
I found a blog entry on science and math rubrics this morning (link at bottom of page). While I like the descriptive nature of the rubrics, I tend to not like using number scales. I much prefer setting up a table with the descriptions across the top.
For example, for a lab report, I might say "Student explained procedure in a clear and repeatable manner." There would be a column for each section of the report I am looking to assess. Along the left hand column would be my assessment milestones. "Goal not achieved and writing unclear," "Goal not achieved and writing clear," "Goal achieved and writing unclear," and "Goal achieved and writing clear" might be sample scoring if I were most concerned with my students writing clearly and achieving the goals I gave them in the assessment descriptions along the top of the rubric.
It is always helpful for students to see a rubric before they're graded by one!
I like rubrics similar to THIS, but would have replaced the number categories with their descriptions to avoid using numbers since students can get hung up on what number they got and whether or not that's an 'A'. This way you are using more constructivist methods to help your students gain understanding and necessary skills.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Field Trips: Bodies Exhibit
It was quite a coincidence when I read the article about the Bodies Exhibition in Poland the other day, since I was already planning on visiting the New York Exhibition. I went with my husband (medical student who could tour us through the human body), sister (future occupational therapist or other medical occupation), and my parents.
Husband and sister thoroughly enjoyed the journey through the human body. The rest of us were a bit queasy. It started with bones and skeletons and progressed through muscles, nervous system, circulatory system, respiration, other organs, reproductive system, and fetal development.
The exhibits were incredible. The attention to detail was like a drawing in Grey's Anatomy and every body part was labeled well. The plaques explaining what we were looking at were straight forward and satisfies those of us that weren't looking for the gory details, as well as others who wanted to know everything!!
My favorite part was the circulatory system room. They painted the arteries red and veins blue and displayed them for various body parts and organs. I had no idea how complex and numerous the arteries were - there were so many arteries, you could tell exactly what body part you were looking at since it took the exact shape of a leg, arm, colon, etc.
There was also an intact nervous system (brain and eyes included) that was laid out on a table - a great way to understand more about nerves. Rooms such as respiration and reproduction (and others) held many specimens with interesting pathology: lung cancer, kidney stones, breast cancer, and goiters. There was even a box for smokers to trash their cigarettes after seeing the effects of their smoking!
However, I must add that things got very difficult for me once we hit the fetal development exhibit. My husband and I haven't had children yet, but even still, the sight of fetuses from only a few weeks was almost too much to handle. One part even had a pregnant mother with a 24 week old baby. At this point, it was very hard to forget all of the exhibits were once alive.
If you're teaching a biology or anatomy class, I would highly recommend taking a trip to the Bodies Exhibit. However, think carefully about who your students are. Sensitive students may not be able to handle the exhibit, especially considering each part once was alive (or part of a living human). This was undeniable when we notice finger and toe nails, lips, and hairy skin.
I am certainly glad I went to the Bodies Exhibition, but for me, that will probably my only trip there!!
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