Science Education Idea Exchange

With the holidays, more time was spent with family, but the first MS-ESS2 activity is active, and the next is underway. Over two class periods, students learn about the movement of salt on Earth's surface. They start with a small demonstration of saltwater evaporation, complete research on the cycle, and create a model. The final assessment is a CER over how salt moves from one location to another.

 Another idea I received from my PLC: student reflection on progress. What a perfect topic for a New Year and a great skill for all! We would have students graph their pretest scores and activities along the way and finish with the post-assessment. The idea was for students to see how the percentage rose from the beginning to the end. On the bottom of the sheet was a spot for setting a goal for being successful with the unit and a reflection on how well the strategy worked at the end. Photo by  Алекс Арцибашев  on  Unsplash

DUCKY SCI  is the store behind the freebie  Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration worksheet  on Teachers Pay Teachers. They have many cute resources for a newer store and this one caught my eye. The worksheet reviews the processes and shows how they form a cycle. There is a black-and-white version to print and a color version  that can  be filled out digitally. What I like: easy-to-read font and layout background information to connect to actual scenarios answer key two different student versions This could be used as a summary worksheet or check for understanding for middle and high school students. Photo by  Sharon Pittaway  on  Unsplash

Note Sheets 1.  Atoms, Structures, and Bonds Vocabulary Note Sheet 2.  Parts of a Cell Vocabulary Note Sheet Reviewing Lab Safety: Who Am I? Game- Lab Tools The classic "Who Am I?" game has 18 cards that cover common laboratory tools to review at the beginning of the year or midyear (see list below). Simply print the secured PDF with cards and instructions and play! (Definitions are not included and the game assumes students have learned the terms already.) This has been bundled  with one of my older resources on lab safety in a "Choose Your Own Story" format. It can be found here . Earth's Atmosphere  1. Escape Puzzle Room This puzzle escape room would be great as a review or a day there is a sub in the classroom. Topics covered are ayers of the atmosphere, air masses, weather, types of fronts, the Goldilocks Principle, greenhouse gases, and convection currents. 2. Who Am I? Game 3. Bundle of Above Review Games Coming soon. . . more Earth Science resources!

  I have conducted many project-based lessons that last days to a few weeks. I implemented a couple of strategies to help manage the flow. Break-Down of Deadlines : The most important thing is to know the big checkpoints in the project. Start with the end in mind. When does everything need to be completed? Then, work backward based on the pace of your average students. Share these deadlines with students as a roadmap of their project and daily their goal for the end of the class. Even better still, share the deadlines with parents and guardians so they can help check in with their students. Roster of Progress : Write the deadlines you created into a spreadsheet or roster with all the students' names. If they have partners, group them on the progress monitoring sheet. When students complete each deadline, mark it on the sheet. Now, you see what students need additional support and how the class is doing with the progress. Photo by  Alexis Brown  on  Unsplash

This week's resource is on cellular respiration. The author  Ms.  J  Classroom  created a PDF with a claim-evidence-reasoning question about the relationship between exercise and cellular respiration. They follow the activity with a few review questions. What I like: A quick way to assess understanding of cellular respiration Answer key included Provides a practical application of what students are learning about in class Easy for a sub plan Download your copy today! Photo by  Clique Images  on  Unsplash