WA: Earth Science PBL Dynamic Earth Projects

The Earth Science class is working on specific PBLs: Tornadoes, Earthquakes, Glaciers, Avalanches, Hurricanes, Tsunamis, and Flooding.  Our goal is for my class plans to teach using PBLs.  The kids have been instructed to use their text books for key terms and key concepts germane to their topics. Each student is creating a blog with an introduction, a webquest, videos, slideshows, questions, and quizzes.  They are creating models and researching activities for class.  The kids will be teaching the class their topics. Additionally, my objective is to inject some technology, such as IHMC cmaps and Blogger.  Here is an image from this project, a glacier.

Apologia and WA: Physical Science More Motion

The kids are gaining ground on the Algebra in the problem sets.  There are several labs the kids are going to do after their quiz: Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration Lab, Acceleration Mini-Lab, Run!, and acceleration mini-labs in the textbook.  We are doing the ball drop fro Apologia again, too.  Sounds like overkill?  My experience indicates that if I hit Motion hard, forces are easier.  The kids have had some more lab experience and can tackle the Algebra.  When I teach Physical Science, I teach the Chemistry half first semester to allow students in eighth grade to catch up in Algebra before tacking the math in the Physics portion.

Apologia and WA: Physical Science Problem Sets

Once the kids have had an introduction with a bunch of activities, it is time to add the math.  Speed and Velocity problems allow kids to ease into the math and reinforce the difference between speed and velocity, get the basic terms sorted.  Speed and Velocity Answer Key

Next, I am using These Speed and Velocity plans and problem sets.  I re typed the problems to add my students' names in the word problems, a trick math teachers often use to engage kids.  It takes time to work through these problems because kids have trouble with units and like terms.  In despair, I had my class write the concept, formula, and possible units in a chart.

We are having a quiz next to see if the kids can perform these types of calculations. (Speed and Velocity Problems) before doing more labs.  I like to test vocabulary apart from problem sets because kids will study terms and neglect to practice problems.

WA and Apologia: Physical Science Motion Introduction

My Physical Science classes began with a series of activities from the McDougall-Littell text and Apologia's Physical Science book.  McDougal-Littell Motion and Forces Resource Page has visualizations and simulations.  This text has a mini-lab called 'Off the Wall', in which student mark a distance from the wall and time the ball as it hits the wall and changing the relative distances while maintaining the elapsed time.  Super simple, yet helps kids see the relationships among distance, time, and speed.  Next, kids roll balls, or in the case of Apologia, eggs, down ramps.  They are encouraged to test different types of balls and to experiment with potential energy changes by stacking books for the ramp.  This Potential Energy Lab has the idea.  It is important to elicit the underlying concepts from the kids after they do the labs.  Now is a good time to insert a Ball Drop Lab and repeat with different types of balls.  I have a bag with bouncy balls, ping pong balls, marbles, golf balls, even a rubber ball.

My kids did several labs and activities using Pasco Scientific equipment.  I downloaded the Sparkvue app for my IPad to connect to a Sparklink Air interface with bluetooth.  Pasco's Airlink 2 is $159; my device is older and runs $229.  I scored a Pasco Pasport motion detector on Ebay for $30 and downloaded free Sparkvue labs from Pasco's website.  The kids at both WA and the Co-op spent an hour with Exploring Motion Graphs.  Once they completed this activity, I set them loose to play with the motion detector with balls, cars, and ramps.  The kids were not getting good results until they attached the motion detector to a ring stand and clamp to steady the detector.  The Sparkvue labs are complete lessons with background information and quizzes.  I instruct the kids to complete the lab as written and then allow the kids to play with the detector after answering the questions and taking the quiz.

When I first began to incorporate Pasco labs into my classes, I had had some instruction; honestly, a lot of instruction!  Little of this instruction seemed to take, leaving me reluctant to add this technology to my classes and exposing me as an idiot.  My colleague had a set of Spark Science 
Learning systems she lent to me.  I set them up in stations, showed the kids how to turn on their devices, connect the sensors, and locate the experiments.  Once I launched the lab, I told them to read and figure out the interfaces.  My only tip was if they got hung up to hit the home button, a house icon.  This worked!  Kids like new technology and helped me become better acquainted with the equipment and comfortable trouble-shooting the sensors.

My last school had adopted Sparkvue app and Airlink 2 interfaces for iPads.  A used iPad, about $150, an Airlink 2 is $159, new, a used motion sensor at $30, $20 for a used thermometer probe, and used pH probe for $30 comprise the basic equipment for a host of labs.  It also afford small private schools and Co-ops the type of technology offered in public and larger private schools.  Vernier has similar equipment; Pasco's free labs are easy for anyone to follow.  The only issue I have had with Airlink or Sparklink is getting the Bluetooth connection.  We sometimes have to turn the interface on and off and the Bluetooth tab on the IPad to make the connection.  One of the kids figured it out.

WA and Apologia: Physical Science Motion and Kiddie Physics

The second half of Physical Science is Physics, beginning with Motion, then Classic Newtonian Physics.  My classes both at WA and with the home-school Co-op are both entrenched in the Physics portion the past few weeks.  So, it is high time to map out the first few units. Considerable time was invested doing several preliminary labs for students to understand motion, speed, velocity, and acceleration.  It takes patience to run through the Algebra, too.  Kids struggle with units.  It pays to reinforce this concept.  In despair the other day, I had the kids create a chart with the concept, formula, and possible units.  When I asked how to measure time, they kept saying mL.  Arghh!  Another trick is to rewrite word problems with the kids' names in them.  For example, Ashley walked ten blocks to Hot Topics in seven minutes....which will prompt Skye to say she wants to go to Hot Topics, too.  So, I will start a series of posts with links to help with this unit.

Watershed Dynamics Project: IHMC Sample Cmap

My students are working on concept maps using IHMC's concept map or cmap software.  This is far from finished!

Soar: PBL Organization

PBLs require a considerable commitment, particularly when the resources are unfamiliar.  There are a number of watershed PBLs.  Are you new to PBLs and the watershed concept?  Buck Institute for Education is the gold standard for PBLs and has videos documenting the process using watersheds as a theme.

My approach is to walk my kids through specific exercises using new resources as an introduction to tools.  My kids are using project planning forms for PBLs; they are using IHMC cmap tools to create concept maps for their questions.  In class, the kids work through games and slideshows on Cacapon's eschool website.  Using Fieldscope is another activity the kids will do in class before tackling GLOBE's Watershed Dynamics modules.  Exploring Chesapeake Bay is the place to start.

A few years ago, I took part in the WVU Watershed Dynamics Project.  We spent countless hours developing the program.  Then a book landed in my box for review, Inside-Out, practically everything we wanted to include in our program!

Soar: GLOBE Watershed Dynamics

Soar is a grant program usingGLOBE, which has a watershed project,mad a resource,  The Watershed Dynamics Module 2 has Some structured activities for the project.  My Earth Science class is working through a PBL, right now.  Soar is an environmental program.  The class plans to teach lessons, do field assays, collect some baseline data, and add to the School's green infrastructure.  Next week, the kids will start working through the background education materials, set goals, deadlines, and deliverables before the April planting day scheduled just before Earth Day.

Soar! PBL Resources: Fieldscope

Soar is an environmental project.  One aspect is Watershed Dynamics.  Soar is using GLOBE's Watershed Dynamics program with Fieldscope.  Start at this module for an overview.  The first exercise uses cmap tools with IHMC.  Chesapeake Watershed Project is another Fieldscope project.  The link has an introduction to Fieldscope, a GIS program, a bit similar to My World-but, free!  Fieldscope is sponsored by National Geographic.  I have had some training in Arcview and My World.  The solfware is astounding, but had to be loaded on to computers in a lab; the lab then had to be reserved for instruction, which was frequently a pain.  Fieldscope accommodates anyone with an Internet connection and does not require groveling on your belly to the IT department to load software every time the computers are updated or exchanged.

Soar! PBL Planning and Resources

One way to teach kids is with Project Based Learning or PBLs.  Why not start with a great model?  Cacapon Institute has an eschool and eforums.  Students start by reviewing the slideshows and activities to become acquainted with water quality issues.  Cacapon has sponsored an eforum called Stream Cleaner.  The eforums are archived.  Students can work through the forum any time of year.  Additionally, the site has virtual stream assays to help train kids before doing field work outside.  Here is an idea for "snow homework" or flu season.  Do some of the activities at home!  My kids work through the activities and record the date, name of the activity, and an artifact such as their score or interesting fact on a spreadsheet to document their participation.  The kids can copy and paste the worksheets on the eforum, answer questions, and submit their work electronically.  Cacapon Institute's website has a host of resources and is my first stop to introduce my kids to the concept of watersheds and PBLs.

Soar! Watershed Dynamics PBL

My school was recently awarded a Toshiba America grant for a comprehensive environmental project, Soar!  Now, the real work begins integrating the project into the curriculum.  The first step took place in the fall: laying the groundwork.  Last November, the day before Thanksgiving Break, I held a half-day seminar on Watershed Dynamics for the students in Grades 6-12: an Enviroscape model with instruction, Project Wet activities, such as The Incredible Journey and Color Me a Watershed, graphing exercises, and an introduction to Cacapon Institute's e-school.

My Earth Science class is leading the Soar grant program and will provide lessons, guide fieldwork and field trips.  Presently, these kids are learning about the Project-Based Learning or PBLs.  The students selected topics germane to Natural Disasters and are researching their topics, locating videos, we quests, games, models, and activities.  The students are organizing their projects in wikispaces or on blogs to present to the class.  The idea is to use Buck Institute for Education and introduce PBLs simultaneously.  This way the kids will have a chance to better understand how to plan a unit with loads of varying resources.  The Earth Science class needs to be ready to work with other kids in all grades.  The next step is an introduction to the resources available.