Revolution in the Classroom
Sometimes teachers are too comfortable in the four walls of their classroom.
Students are used to the flow of a classroom and normal routines.
But change can be a good thing.
And so can incorporating change.
Consistent differences to keep students on their toes.
Giving them more than one chance to express what they've learned.
Create in Me
"Understanding how students learn science provokes us to find teaching strategies that honor students' ideas and create safe, open spaces in which they can create their own meanings," (Koch 91).
Giving students the ability to experience and learn information on their own allows students to expand their ideas on a subject as well as tap into their creative side.
Using science journals in the classroom ensures that students take notes and observations about what they are discovering, but it also doesn't discriminate against drawing their conclusions either.
"Teaching science requires both information and guidance from the teacher in order to help students learn," (Koch 91).
Handing the students a science journal is a wonderful way to record their notes, but how will a student know what is important to write down?
Using prompting questions on the board or vocally guides students in the direction of what they should be taking notes of. These questions also open doors for inquiry and other intriguing questions.
Science blogs are also a wonderful tool.
Not only do they ensure a student is exploring the technology world,
but they allow a student to express themselves and their thoughts.
This could also be a way to track their progress as well as a live version of a science portfolio.
Walk it Out
Walk it Out
Due to some unfortunate circumstances I was unable to make it to class today. I heard that we did a "walk around museum" and I really like that idea, but it has inspired me to do something a little bit more flashy. Museum to me presents a connotation of quiet and reserved, but in past classes we have discovered that science is something extremely social. In my classroom, I would like to do a walk of fame. I would move the classroom into two sides, so that there would be a walkway down the middle. The group would be given time to think of their three main points that would sell us to inquire more about their project. The group would be able to strut their stuff and give us a quick overview of their points and pictures. From there the rest of the audience would be allowed to discuss with their side anything that they were inquiring about. Each side of the "red carpet walkway" would be allowed to ask two questions to find out more about the stars' presentations. Each groups' presentations would be viewed and discussed.
This Place About to Blow
Alka-Seltzer
Water
and
a Film Canister.
Add them all together and get ready for an exploding good time!
Watch!:
Fill up the canister 1/2 way with water.
Add the tablet(s).
Turn the canister upside down.
STAND BACK!
The alka seltzer tablets contain two types of ingredients:
sodium bicarbonate (a base)
and
citric acid (an acid).
When the two are in the tablet, they do not react.
Once water is added,
the two ingredients react with one another.
This reaction causes the product of carbon dioxide, a gas.
The amount of gas in the canister grows as the reaction of the two dry (now wet) continues to fizz.
Once the canister reaches a certain amount of gas and the pressure becomes too strong,
the lid shoots off the canister and propels the rest of it high into the air.
The spots left on the ground show that there was an exploding canister,
and the contents of that canister are present on the floor.
I think that this experiment is really fun and can show students exactly how fun science can be!
Come back next week as we take a walk in the park!
-Ms. V
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