Students often struggle to understand what aquifers are and how they work. Since they are located underground we can’t see them, so it can be hard to visualize in our minds what they look like. In this quick video you can see how I built a model of an aquifer.
Are you a podcast lover? Once I find one I like, I get hooked (cough, cough… Serial). You may have students who have never listened to a podcast before, and given the opportunity would really enjoy them! Especially for your kiddos who love to learn but don’t love to read.
Getting to use microscopes is the highlight of the school year for many biology students. They love to learn how to use them and explore the microscopic world. But purchasing a class set of microscopes can be pricey. Also, as many schools are currently doing distance learning, microscopes aren’t an
Writing out CLEAR and DESCRIPTIVE scientific procedures is hard for students. It takes practice! Many teachers start off with a fun activity like how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Students will likely forget some important steps! This Youtube version made me smile: Anywho, it’s important for students
As teachers we want our students to increase their reading comprehension skills. I’ve found that most of my students don’t mind reading when you give them an interesting piece of text. If you assign textbook reading the moans will follow (and honestly, as adults we don’t love to read textbooks
Want a new way to review the scientific method and variables at the beginning of the school year? Try having students conduct a consumer science experiment! In this lab students will chose two products that they use in their everyday life and design an experiment to test it’s effectiveness. What’s
We all would love a picture-perfect-pinterest-designed classroom. But if you start adding up the cost of new posters, paint, flexible seating… you will break the bank. I remember as a first year teacher I felt like I had to spend a fortune on posters to fill up wall space (and
Most of US schools are preparing to go back virtually in a couple weeks. Going virtual in the spring was definitely a transition, but since we already knew our students and had existing relationships with them, it wasn’t as hard to call home and stay on top of them with
Ecological succession can seem like a simple process… grass, shrubs, small trees, big trees. But how does an ecosystem evolve from nothing? I always begin this lesson by showing students a picture of earth as it was first developing and a picture of the earth today. Next I ask students-
Diffusion is a topic that is covered in biology (when we introduce cell membranes) and chemistry (particle movement and kinetic theory). I came across this “smelly balloons” activity on Flinn’s website and thought it was such a fun way to introduce diffusion. In this activity, students will smell balloons that have
You’ve made it to the end of the school year! The last month can be tough to get through, and students start checking out mentally. It can be tough to find assignments that a) keep them engaged, b) aren’t too big of projects (because half of them won’t complete it…)
WHAT IS CITIZEN SCIENCE?Citizen science is when the public participates in scientific research. Every-day citizens share and contribute data with the goal of increasing scientific knowledge. You do not have to be a trained scientist in order to participate. WHY YOU SHOULD TRY ITCitizen science is great to do with
