Some people might think that teachers should only teach content within those core classes- appropriate topics generally associated with those core classes. I think that content within all classes are connected in some way. I taught about art when discussing fractal science and geography when talking about biomes. And of course literacy across all disciplines. What are some ways you could incorporate science into some of your disciplines?
Example: Sound waves created when strumming a guitar (standing wave). The study of acoustics can be incorporated into both science and music.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Children's books for science
I love to read aloud. I've been told, I am good at it. I also like to use books as an opener for my lessons. I've used The Hot Zone by Richard Preston to introduce a unit on viruses and how they attack. The detailed description of the characters guts liquifying and spilling onto the floor really gets high school-aged kids attention. I also have used The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman as an introduction to the theory of parallel worlds considered to be a part of quantum mechanics idealized by Hugh Everett in 1957. The idea is a basis for many science fiction stories.
My purpose for this post is find some children's books with scientific content to use as an opener (or closure). They do not have to be chapter books. Any grade level or genre would suffice as long as it had to do with the sciences. If you know of some, please post the titles and/or authors here!
My purpose for this post is find some children's books with scientific content to use as an opener (or closure). They do not have to be chapter books. Any grade level or genre would suffice as long as it had to do with the sciences. If you know of some, please post the titles and/or authors here!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Intelligent design
It's not creationism. Then what is it? The theory of intelligent design holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection. There is controversy whether this theory should be taught in schools along with evolution. Do you agree or disagree?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Math experiences?
Little Zachary was doing very badly in math. His parents had tried everything...tutors, mentors, flash cards, special learning centers.
In short, everything they could think of to help his math. Finally, in a last ditch effort, they took Zachary down and enrolled him In the local Catholic school. After the first day, little Zachary came home with a very serious look on his face. He didn't even kiss his mother hello. Instead, he went straight to his room and started studying.
Books and papers were spread out all over the room and little Zachary was hard at work. His mother was amazed. She called him down to dinner. To her shock, the minute he was done, he marched back to his room without a word, and in no time, he was back hitting the books as hard as before.
This went on For some time, day after day, while the mother tried to understand what made all the difference.
Finally, little Zachary brought home his report Card. He quietly laid it on the table, went up to his room and hit the books. With great trepidation, His Mom looked at it and to her great surprise, Little Zachary got an 'A' in math.
She could no longer hold her curiosity. She went to his room and said, 'Son, what was it? Was it the nuns?' Little Zachary looked at her and shook his head, no. 'Well, then,' she replied, Was it the books, the discipline, the structure, the uniforms? WHAT WAS IT?' Little Zachary looked at her and said, 'Well, on the first day of school when I saw that guy nailed to the plus sign, I knew they weren't fooling around.'
In short, everything they could think of to help his math. Finally, in a last ditch effort, they took Zachary down and enrolled him In the local Catholic school. After the first day, little Zachary came home with a very serious look on his face. He didn't even kiss his mother hello. Instead, he went straight to his room and started studying.
Books and papers were spread out all over the room and little Zachary was hard at work. His mother was amazed. She called him down to dinner. To her shock, the minute he was done, he marched back to his room without a word, and in no time, he was back hitting the books as hard as before.
This went on For some time, day after day, while the mother tried to understand what made all the difference.
Finally, little Zachary brought home his report Card. He quietly laid it on the table, went up to his room and hit the books. With great trepidation, His Mom looked at it and to her great surprise, Little Zachary got an 'A' in math.
She could no longer hold her curiosity. She went to his room and said, 'Son, what was it? Was it the nuns?' Little Zachary looked at her and shook his head, no. 'Well, then,' she replied, Was it the books, the discipline, the structure, the uniforms? WHAT WAS IT?' Little Zachary looked at her and said, 'Well, on the first day of school when I saw that guy nailed to the plus sign, I knew they weren't fooling around.'
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Labs for Learning and Demonstration
Do you have an exciting lab you do with middle or high school kids you would like to share? Or maybe favorite websites you go to find these great labs? Share them here!
Creation vs. Evolution
This is a hot topic. How do you address this in a classroom? What do you believe? What happens when the "boat gets rocked"? Tell me what you think!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Entering an exciting new site!
This is the first blog on this site. I must say a new endeavor for me. The purpose of this site is to share science teaching strategies from teachers from all over. So please feel free to contribute to this site. This is to help me as well as others.
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