I have been researching and looking for some news about invasive species.  Here are some articles I have found!

DNR is Fighting for Time!

Enriching the Curriculum

 Ensuring students receive the 21st Century skills needed to succeed in a global economy is not always easy.  There is a lot of work to be done, as well as, barriers to break down.  In recent years there are a few things I have done to help make sure I am impacting my students and my district.  First I began attending Walden to increase my content knowledge and professional practices.  Second, I participated in a PLC funded by a grant.  There were a handful of science teachers from my district involved and we grew close while increasing our knowledge and digging deep into Problem-Based Learning.  Finally, I recently met with personnel from the Public Works Department of our city.  We are going to implement a unit on water quality.  We are also partnering with them for facility usage at the end of the year for a science fair.  These items are a start and with a continued pursuit could make a difference.  Implementing anything, however, at the elementary level that is not reading or math can seem impossible.  I will continue to work towards preparing my students for a future sure to be rich in STEM even though there will continue to be challenges!

Lesson on Plate Tectonics

The lesson I did this week focused on plate tectonic theory.  I wanted to use a model that would accomplish two learning targets: 

One: Students would understand that plates are not definite shapes and can be part of a continent while extending under an ocean.
Two: Students would be able to recognize that plates are in constant movement due to the unstable mantel beneath the crust.

To represent these two ideas, I had students take pieces of sponge (that had been torn into irregular shapes and thicknesses) that they floated in a container of water.  I then asked students to record their observations of how the sponge behaved in the water.  Students then worked to cover the entire surface with sponge.  While you could see the sponge filling the container, some was above the water line, while some was below (oceans).  Students then exerted a force on the container and recorded their observations.  This was to represent how the plates are in place, but do have the ability to move slightly.

Students had fun with the activity and I believe were able to develop an understanding of plate tectonic theory.  In the future, however, I think I would use a different model.  While this was able to get the point across, I think there would be something more realistic out there.  Also, I felt like students needed more background knowledge to understand that while the plates are separate, they also fit together neatly.  I thought about using the hard boiled egg model to begin the lesson.  That way, students would start with some background knowledge of how the plates might look.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/tectonics/

I think the use of models can be highly effective in helping students visualize a new concept or idea. 

Natural Disasters!

With an ever-increasing, interconnected, global community, our students know when natural disasters strike. They do not, however, always understand the geographical and political influences of such events. When natural disasters take place, one of the first things I do, is pull out a map to help students visualize where the catastrophe took place. We then look at possible reasons for the event, such as plate tectonics. For example, after the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan 2011, we discussed the movement of plates and the “ring of fire.” http://www.kids-fun-science.com/pacific-ring-of-fire.html

I also think it is important to discuss issues such as governmental policies. I remember talking with my students about building codes in the U.S. compared to those in Haiti, as well as, access to medical facilities. Much of the tragedy in Haiti could have been prevented without the economic limitations the country faced. I believe our students live in the best country in the World, and understanding this information will help them develop an appreciation for what they have.

One area I need to get better in, is community outreach. It would be easy to contact the local Red Cross and invite someone from the organization to speak to the class. The Red Cross works, locally, nationally, and globally. Knowing about this organization could inspire students to organize a donation drive that would directly connect them to a natural disaster. http://www.ifrc.org/

Ask a Scientist!

Ask a scientist is a great resource for the classroom.  Although the response can be delayed (I have not heard back), it certainly has its place.  I was wondering about cells, such as stem cells, that can be put in any role within the body.  I wanted to know what told them what to become.  I see using this site as a way for students to answer their wonderings.  Many times in the classroom, students ask questions that they have to have the answer to, and questions they really don't care about.  As a teacher it's hard to distinquish between these types of questions.  Having an option to send them to this website allows us to put the decision in their hands.  I see it being questions that might not match up with a particular lab, but happen to come up from an experience.  An answer does not have to be urgent for understanding, but the students are still curious about the answer.  If they can use this website, it takes care of this issue.  I think it is a great resource.

Web 2.0 Tool Review

In my quest to find a new presentation tool, I took part in the Prezi tutorial and checked out Viddix.  I was impressed with Viddix, which is where I began my search.  The program allows video, with side by side captioning.  The example I watched included tables in the captioning.  It worked great as a presentation tool.  The students recorded their video, and then, "showed" their thinking through the captions as they worked through a problem.  I thought it was a cool and different way of presenting material.

I then tried the Prezi tutorial.  I thought it was awesome!  I like the way it follows a path while zooming in on important objects.  It reminded me of a commercial because it looked professionally done.  The thing I liked about it, was that it seemed simple to navigate and anyone could produce a quality presentation.  I also liked the feature that allowed the user to embed YouTube videos in the Prezi.

I plan to use Prezi for my project, but will continue to explore other programs provided because I enjoy learning new technology resources.

Cooperative Learning

I think problem based learning helps engage students while giving them a purpose for learning.  I also think the best method for solving these problems in the classroom is through cooperative learning.  Cooperative learning can be used for any "big" idea, so I just chose how it might help students understand motion.  The focus question would be: What makes things move?  The big idea would be that energy imbalances cause motion.  This could be investigated through experiments such as the marble activity displayed in our resources this week.  Cooperative learning should be at the core of our instruction.  It is not, however, easy to implement in the classroom.  It takes careful planning and oogles of frontloading to help students succeed in a cooperative setting.  Used correctly, students will develop a better understanding, take ownership, reflect more, and gain necessary workplace skills for the future.  Some helpful resources I found were at:

http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/cooperative/techniques.html

http://www.jigsaw.org/steps.htm

http://www.hepg.org/hel/article/465#home