I'm seeing more and more schools with Glowforge (or other) laser cutters in their makerspaces. If your school has one, put your students to work assembling materials for your science class! I've been experimenting with some designs of my own, and thought I'd share some photosynthesis and respiration materials here.
I have shared before that the Georgia Department of Education has prepared a variety of free literacy learning cycles for elementary school. While these are tied to the Georgia Standards, many of these will be useful in any location. Each one contains science activities, followed by a related article with a specific reading skill, and … Continue reading Literacy Learning Cycles for Elementary Classes
I've written before about the excellent materials and staff development put out by the Library of Congress for teaching with primary sources. I'm excited to report that they have had a science teacher on fellowship this year pulling together resources and activities to support science standards. They are offering 3 upcoming online seminars on using … Continue reading Teaching SCIENCE with primary sources
Last summer, the Georgia Department of Education put together a team to write a series of literacy learning cycles in the style of my Once Upon a Science Book series. These fantastic resources include a science activity, a science article with a related reading skill, a specific writing skill, and a writing assignment. They truly … Continue reading Free, Print-Ready Science/Reading/Writing Lesson Plans from the Georgia DOE
National Geographic has a ton of resources for educators. I am working on getting their educator certification, so I will highlight more of them later. But one that caught my eye was the ability to have your class chat with a Nat Geo explorer. Each month, National Geographic picks a theme and highlights the work … Continue reading Chat with a National Geographic Explorer
It’s time to answer the age-old question of who would win between an Olympic sprinter, tortoise, car, you, and a volcano. Science Friday, Explosion Math Science Friday launched an educational division last year, in which they have classroom educators build classroom activities around content from the show. Explosion Math is one of my favorites: definitely … Continue reading Science Friday Boards the School Bus
Start the new year with some new tools for building a culture of "argumentation" (meaningful discussions of claims and evidence) in your classroom!
In my first school, another new teacher and I inherited back rooms stuffed with 25 years of dissection specimens that were older than my students, random chemicals, unmarked bottles, etc.
This month's book list over at STEM Tuesday highlights excellent science comics. For this month's classroom tips, I talk about tips for building visual literacy. Images are fantastic stepping-stones into complex science ideas!
I have joined the STEM Tuesday team over at the From the Mixed Up Files of Middle Grade Authors blog. I'll be posting every other month (alternating with the delightful Carolyn DeCristofano) on using STEM books in the classroom. My first post is up today, on using Botany Books for Bellringers! Also, don't forget their … Continue reading STEM Tuesday
Once Upon a Science Book 