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
This classic Newbery winner by Scott O'Dell was based on a true story--and the island involved is now a National Park. (Well, the exact island is not, but the one next to it is!) The National Park Service has put together a rich collection of material related to the book and the true story--including historical … Continue reading Island of the Blue Dolphins
I LOVE the work of the Reading Apprenticeship group (Schoenbach, et. al.). I was delighted to discover that they are now producing content modules, which are available online for free. These modules are similar to what I'm trying to do in my Once Upon a Science Books--they provide all the resources you need, with step-by-step … Continue reading GREAT resource for teaching reading for academic texts
One of the most thoughtful current writers of science for kids is Melissa Stewart. She has done a lot of analysis of changes taking place in nonfiction and how those changes affect readers and teachers. She has an excellent piece in the School Library Journal on types of nonfiction, and on connecting kids with the … Continue reading Nonfiction for Everyone
Once Upon a Science Book 