Is Science Really For All?

An article on the NSTA website written by Jo Ellen Roseman PhD on Science for All.

Science Inquiry

Teach Science and Math blog's post on science inquiry.

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!!

Teacher Tube

The YouTube for teachers: http://www.teachertube.com

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!

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/

Shoutout: Science Junkies

I found the website ScienceJunkies.com. All sorts of fun resources.

I especially liked this page.

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.

How To Create A Rubric in 5 Minutes

Teach Science and Math Rubrics

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!!

Physics Games: Bubble Quod

I was browsing some internet games this evening and found this game. Great for discussions on momentum, center of mass, and basic mechanics!! The object of the game is to move your bubble up and over obstacles, ramps, and levers to the rusty nail in order to pop the balloon!

Bubble Quod

Reasonably Priced Laser Pointers

I was browsing the internet dreaming of getting a shiny laser pointer :o)

What I stumbled upon made me think about getting one now!!!

Amazon.com's listing of laser pointers is incredible (can be found HERE). I was most impressed that the green lasers, which are usually priced in the hundreds of dollars range due to the expense of manufacturing them, were between $30 and $50!!!

If you're in the market for a laser pointer, check out Amazon.com!!

**Lesson ideas for laser pointers coming soon!

National Science Teachers Association

Here's the link for the National Science Teachers Association.

This website is great for resources. They have up to date articles on science and education in the U.S. as well as a comprehensive bookstore which includes some free resources!

Roller Coaster Physics

I found this website awhile back and can't believe I forgot to share it!

Amusement Park Physics: What Are The Forces Behind The Fun?

The Roller Coaster activity is a lot of fun. I used this first with some of my peers in Graduate School and they loved it :o)

The gist of the activity is your students (or your whole class) choose from different selections for the different parts of the roller coaster: hills, drops, loops, etc.

Try it out!

U. of Alabama Interactive Science Games

The University of Alabama has a site full of Physical Science related games. They are mostly classification related, but could be a great tool to supplement learning!

University of Alabama Arcade of Science Games

Challenger Center for Space Science Education

Last fall I had the opportunity to visit New York City's Challenger Center. It was an amazing experience. Students grades 4-12 get the chance to be involved in a simulation space mission as part of mission control as well as in the Space Station. Each student gets to play a role: commander/communicator, researchers, navigators, explorers, medics, etc. Every student in the space station has a counterpart in mission control who helps in completing their tasks. Teams of students are faced with emergencies and problems to solve. An excellent way to educate students about space.

The link for the Challenger Center for Space Science Education

The Center's Mission:

Our vision is to create a scientifically literate population that can thrive in a world increasingly driven by information and technology. Our vision for the future is a global community where students command their own destinies by developing skills in decision making, teamwork, problem solving, and communication. This vision is based on a realistic assessment of the skills needed for success in the 21st century.

Challenges

Perhaps at no other time in our nation's history has the need for continuing excellence in education been as essential. A recent Gallup survey found that Americans overwhelmingly recognize the critical role science and technology play in our national security. And NASA has begun preparations for its ambitious return to manned missions to the Moon and possibly beyond.

However, research indicates that the United States is losing its worldwide dominance in critical areas of science and innovation. The National Science Foundation finds that there is a decrease in the number of students enrolling in undergraduate and graduate studies in engineering, physical sciences, and mathematics. The National Assessment of Educational Progress reports that 47 percent of twelfth graders scored "below basic" in science skills.

Offering Solutions

Throughout our history, Challenger Center has developed a kaleidoscope of education innovations that serve as a launch pad to learning. Our network of Challenger Learning Centers, diverse classroom programming, and community outreach programs, excite students' natural curiosities and encourage them to learn.

Innovative teacher training workshops give instructors a deeper understanding of how to teach the subjects of science and mathematics, as well as confidence that the programs they are using are content-rich and consistent with current scientific understanding. All Challenger Center programs are developed by staff educators and space scientists to ensure accuracy in content and methods of instruction.