Science Education Idea Exchange

MS-ESS3-2: Natural Disaster Forecasting Activity Students make predictions about natural disasters. They will research the one they choose, gather data points, and forecast the next likely location. If possible, they will connect with a professional of their chosen natural disaster as they engineer solutions and map predictions. I have been taking some time to make my products more user friendly and add resources to make them helpful, so a little slower on the new products. :)

I love using stations to provide background knowledge and breaking large readings into smaller ones. If done well, it is a powerful tool. Here's what I have found to help my stations be successful: Don't allow more than three students at a station. It increases the likelihood of off-task behavior and visibility issues for the students. Set a timer: on the board, have a timer running. Students will move to their next station when they hear it go off. Have an extra station. By this, I mean that you should have questions or an activity a student can work on no matter where they are. Some stations will go quickly, and some will take the whole time. Consider using something that would summarize the learning from all the stations or allow for creative thinking about an issue related to the learning materials. I have been creating some stations in my Teachers Pay Teachers store that involve a brief reading and a check-for-understanding question at the end. The answer to the question ...

Here's another great resource for the emergency absence.  Kristin Consorti  created a lesson plan on creating a  Natural Disaster Survival Kit . They are an ELA teacher, so it encourages writing and lists the standards covered by the lesson.  The lesson plans are easy to follow and are print-and-go. Not to mention, the topic is engaging for students. Included is a way to score the project and clear guidelines for students.  Download your copy today! Photo by  Raychel Sanner  on  Unsplash

I have had fun making note sheets and decided to build stations to provide the background information necessary to complete the note sheets. Atoms Background Stations & Note Sheet Bundle The  atoms background stations  provide a kinesthetic way for students to gain a brief background on the structure of atoms (protons, neutrons, electrons, valence electrons, nucleus, and orbits), types of bonds (ionic and covalent), atomic mass, atomic numbers, the periodic table of elements, types of molecules (compounds and elements). 12 stations can be printed for the classroom or shared digitally with students. Each station includes a check for understanding questions to lead to the next station. A student worksheet has a spot to record the station answers. The teacher's guide has the answer key and the order of the stations. (Stations, teacher’s guide, and student worksheet are secured PDFs.) This  note sheet  is a single secured PDF that includes a black-and-white and a col...

 I stumbled upon these free simulations from ASU while looking for another activity I had used in the past. I am so glad! The simulation demonstrates how natural selection leads to the evolution of peppered moths. Students can choose to have a light-colored or dark-colored tree. They take on the role of birds hunting for the moths. The simulation has a timer and graphs the outcomes of the moths the students find. It is simple and easy to use and requires no prep work. I would use it alongside a worksheet, or have students generate questions to kickoff a unit on evolution.

In time for Valentine's Day, I found these STEM-themed cards on Teachers Pay Teachers from a new store called  Curious Shenanigans .  The free template has six different versions in color and black and white. Download your free copy  here  in time to celebrate! Image by  Alexa  from  Pixabay

ESS2-6 Coriolis Effect Activity In this Coriolis Effect activity, students go through three stations to simulate the impact of uneven heating and the Earth's rotation. They create a map to synthesize their learning. At the end, students complete a claim-evidence-reasoning over ocean currents. ( Included in the  ESS2 Bundle ) Ecology and Biome Note Sheet The cell parts note sheet has key terms for a unit on ecology. Topics include levels of organization in an ecosystem, abiotic versus biotic factors, representations of energy flow (trophic pyramid, food web, and food chain), and biomes. Pair this with your favorite reading, presentation, or video for students to summarize the key terms and concepts. (Background information is not included.) Who Am I? Ecology and Biome Vocabulary Review Game The classic "Who Am I?" game has 28 cards that cover common terms in ecology and biomes (see list below). Simply print the secured PDF with cards and instructions and play! (Definitions...

I heard another educator say we are teaching the YouTube generation, so why not embrace it? Videos are truly powerful resources for teachers. Early in teaching middle school, I had a mentor who used Eureka! videos to teach concepts. They are a little bit dated, but they are short, easy to follow, and provide silly examples to walk students through scientific principles. The only way I have found them is on YouTube, but I am sure there are better ways that don't infringe on the rights of the creator.