Science Education Idea Exchange

  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

 I finished my products for the MS-PS2 series on Forces and Motion : MS-PS2 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions Activity Bundle MS-PS2-4 Measuring Impacts (Relationship between Gravity and Mass) :  Students test out how impact craters change with objects of different masses. This can be as a class demonstration or a lab. At the end, students reflect on the relationship between gravity, mass, and the force of the different objects in a CER and conclusion questions. MS-PS2-5 Magnetic Field Activity :  Students look at magnet interactions when the poles are the same and different. Afterward, they apply their understanding in a CER over Maglev trains or toys. Newer materials for Forces and Motion are my vocabulary game,   note sheet , and a review game bundle . And, finally, I added more resources on one of my favorite topics: genetics. Genetics Review Game Bundle Who Am I? Game- Genetics

Before winter break is a hard time of year with classroom management, so I wanted to highlight a technique I learned in some of my school's PBiS professional development. The strategy uses "ICE" statements to redirect student behaviors. I- state your observation of the student's feelings as "I see that you are . . ." C- state the desired behavior as a " Can you . . ." E- acknowledge the challenge for the student by completing an " even though  . . ." Example: I see Trevor tearing his assignment into small pieces. "I see that you are frustrated. Can you tell me how I can help you complete it instead, even though it's challenging?" The benefit is you help acknowledge how a student feels and how their behavior is exhibiting it while offering a replacement. Photo by  Xia Yang  on  Unsplash

  Looking for something festive?  This resource  contains links to three different  holiday decorations: ornaments, a tree topper, and a garland of DNA! They are  absolutely cute   and  most  of the  items  are created  by  Evolution of a Science Teacher .   This  is another new store. Download your free copy  here ! Photo by  Josh Harrison  on  Unsplash

Here are the latest and greatest wrapping up the cells activities for MS-LS1 and the new activities for MS-PS2 activities. Cells MS-LS1-7 Fermentation Class Demonstration Lab : The fermentation demonstration lab uses yeast to demonstrate how the organism releases energy from sugar and creating carbon dioxide, similar to cellular respiration. The lab will be completed in one class period. Background in cellular respiration is best for the completion of the lab. MS-LS1-8 Five Senses Project : Students will take the role of teacher as they research how one of the five senses works with the nervous system and what happens when there is a disease. They will create a lesson with a worksheet and activity for their classmates to complete. Forces MS-PS2-1 Egg Carton Redesign using Newton's Third Law :  This eggcellent activity uses eggs to demonstrate Newton's Third Law of Motion. Students design an egg carton to protect the egg from a collision with the floor. After testing their desig...

I have seen a couple of parents and teachers using this online tool. It's a wheel of names for random selection. Type the names in the text box, and off you go!

 I found this note sheet   from Scientific Notation , another new and impressive store. They created a note sheet on chemical formulas and notation for compounds. What I love: Spots for students to doodle Eye-appealing Answer key included Easy to follow Needless to say, I cannot wait to see what other materials they create as their store grows. Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

Maybe this is one of the few times you will see cells and mountains associated. Either way, I have put out products on both. Cells Who Am I? Cells Vocabulary Review Game All About Cells Lesson Plans and Review Games Bundle MS-LS1-1 Characteristics of Life Forensic Activity MS-LS1-2 Cells: Structure and Function Activities MS-LS1-3 Body System and Disease Project MS-LS1-4 Plant and Their Pollinators Activity for Adaptations MS-LS1-5 Plant Growth Factors Experiment (Acquired Traits) MS-LS1-6 Photosynthesis in Freshwater Plant Lab Mountains and Earth Science MS-ESS1-4: Mountain Range History Activity Students will look at three pieces of information on their mountain range (Himalayas, Rocky Mountains, and Andes) to try to guess the age of the mountains. Background information on Pangea and more recent plate movements is provided. Next, students sketch the location of their mountain range. Finally, students examine evidence and interpret its meaning. The evidence includes isotopes, fossils...