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Home/ Bridge12/ Contents contributed and discussions participated by Mary Jo Mack

Contents contributed and discussions participated by Mary Jo Mack

Mary Jo Mack

Muddy Waters - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      3.4.2 "Define the uses and types of simple machines and utilize simple machines in the solution to a ―real world problem."
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      Extension: Our water needs to be clean for so many reasons- not just taking a bath! Students could brainstorm in groups reasons why we need clean, filtered water (i.e. cooking, cleaning, etc.)  Extension: Social Studies- What an eye opening experience it could be for students to learn about third world countries and how lucky we are to not have to worry about having clean water to clean, cook, and bathe with.
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    In the book Dirt Boy, Fister Farnello loved dirt so much that he ate it, played in it and refused get rid of it. He finally takes a bath. Children will design, build a water filter and use it to clean muddy water.
Mary Jo Mack

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin' - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      6.4.1 "Understand how to apply potential or kinetic energy to power a simple device"
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      This activity could be differentiated for gifted students by challenging them to use materials they can find around the classroom other than those provided once they have determined how to successfully build the wheel and axle devices out of the provided materials.
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    Children will use and describe processes of science and design technology to build and test simple wheel and axle devices made of disposable cups.
Mary Jo Mack

The Marshmallow Machine - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      6.4.2. "Construct a simple device that uses potential or kinetic energy to perform work"
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      This is a great activity that takes this standard to a whole new level- using the body to make a model of a machine.  Once the students have completed the activity, I would challenge them to think of what we use in our every day life that is made out of machines like the "marshmallow-smashing machine." Sixth grade students will love coming up with silly noises and motions- awesome learning tool/visual for kinesthetic students!
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    Children are formed into groups to 'invent' a pretend machine that smashes marshmallows. Each child plays the role of a cog or part of the machine to move the marshmallow along. Children then read the story Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, a machine that digs its way to a happy ending, and recognize how technological devices affect our lives.
Mary Jo Mack

Work: Force through a Distance | Education.com - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      4.4.3 "Investigate how changes in speed or direction are caused by forces: the greater the force exerted on an object, the greater the change."
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      This would be a great inclusion activity for special needs students. Students could work in groups to calculate the work. Even though this is listed as a middle school activity, with thorough explanation, 4th grade students would be able to complete this activity to meet standard 4.4.3.
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    In this project, you will learn how to measure the work done on an object. You will determine the effect that a simple machine has on work. You will also determine the effect of the direction of the force on work.
Mary Jo Mack

Physical Weathering Of Rocks: Sugar Cube Breakdown | Education.com - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      4.2.1 "Demonstrate and describe how smaller rocks come from the breakage and weathering of larger rocks in a process that occurs over a long period of time."
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      This would be a great language development activity for ELL students- they could be challenged to use adjectives to describe what they are seeing during the weathering process. 
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    The rocks that compose the Earth's crust are subjected to a variety of forces. Depending on the environmental factors at work, the rocks can be altered in size or in composition. Factors such as wind, water, plants, and animals cause weathering, physical changes in rocks that affect their size. However, physical changes do not affect the composition of rock. In this activity you will see the effect of physical weathering on rocks.
Mary Jo Mack

Create a Shoebox Habitat | Education.com - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      1.3.4 "Describe how animals' habitats, including plants, meet their needs for food, water, shelter and an environment in which they can live."
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      Extension: This is a great way to open up conversation between the students and increase communication skills as they work together to determine what they need in their habitat in order for their living organisms to survive. This could also be a fun language arts cross-curricular activity- students could answer the question "What would your shoebox habitat look like?"
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    First graders love to create stories. Their especially imaginative brains are always coming up with plots and characters for even the simplest of things. This knack for creative story building is something that can help your child in any subject. In first grade, part of your child's science unit will be learning about the characteristics of different habitats. He'll discuss geography, learn about different kinds of environments, and talk about what kinds of animals live where. By creating a shoebox habitat with your child, you will expand on what he is learning in school and allow him to put those budding creative instincts to good use!
Mary Jo Mack

Layering Liquids: Explore Density Science | Education.com - 2 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      5.1.2 "Describe the difference between weight and mass. Understand that weight is dependent on gravity and mass is the amount of matter in a given substance or material."
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      Extension: After completing the experiment with oil and water, students could experiment with other liquids and make a hypothesis whether or not the density of the two liquids will be the same or different.
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    Density - or mass per volume - of a liquid is an important scientific concept that can be viewed with the naked eye. We see it all the time with oil and water. Oil has a different density than water so the two liquids do not mix. In this experiment your child will look at a number of liquids with different densities and compare them all to water. She'll build her science skills and learn one of the most fundamental scientific concepts she'll use for years to come.
Mary Jo Mack

Explore Buoyancy: Make a Soy Sauce Cartesian Diver | Education.com - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      5.1.3 "Demonstrate that regardless of how parts of an object are assembled the weight of the whole object is identical to the sum of the weight of the parts; however, the volume can differ from the sum of the volumes."
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      Extension: Incorporate social studies and language arts- The Cartesian diver is named after Rene Descartes, a French philosopher and physicist. Students can do a research report on scientists that have made significant contributions to the world of science throughout history.
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    Ever wondered how a submarine can control when it rises and sinks in the water? Build a Cartesian diver to find out! Named after French philosopher and physicist René Descartes, this classic science experiment is a great way for kids to see the principle of buoyancy at work. And with such a simple set-up, it's a fun and inexpensive way to dive into physics!
Mary Jo Mack

The Einstein Project > Rocks and Minerals - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      3.2.1. "Examine the physical properties of rock samples and sort them into categories based on size using simple tools such as sieves." 3.2.2 "Observe the detailed characteristics of rocks and minerals. Identify rocks as being composed of different combinations of minerals."
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      There are a ton of resources for extension activities with this unit on this site. This is a hands-on approach to rock and mineral exploration.
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    Students explore the differences and similarities between rocks and minerals by investigating samples of these earth materials, performing a series of tests similar to geologists' field tests, and reading about rocks and minerals and how they are used.
Mary Jo Mack

A to Z Teacher Stuff :: Forms of Water - 2 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      2.1.1. "Observe, describe and measure ways in which the properties of a sample of water (including volume) change or stay the same as the water is heated and cooled and then transformed into different states."
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      This activity can be used as a cross-curricular activity as well; the teacher can require the students to use a certain number of adjectives to describe the states of the water.
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    This is a great way to spice up a common simple experiment demonstrating the three forms of water.
Mary Jo Mack

Life Cycle of a Butterfly Pasta Activity | A to Z Teacher Stuff Lesson Plans - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      2.3.2 "Compare and contrast details of body plans and structures within the life cycles of plants and animals."
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      Extension: This activity could be a culminating activity to a unit on monarch butterflies, integrating Language Arts.
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    Students will learn to identify the four stages of a butterfly's life cycle.
Mary Jo Mack

A to Z Teacher Stuff :: The Great Kapok Tree - 2 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      1.3.4 "Describe how animals' habitats, including plants, meet their needs for food, water, shelter and an environment in which they can live."
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      Extension: Students can create mobiles to reveal their understanding of the rainforest ecosystem. Using coat hanger wire and string, students can construct a three-dimensional "dependence web" utilizing the animal and people-characters in The Great Kapok Tree.
Mary Jo Mack

Bug Sort File Folder Game - Kindergarten Kindergarten - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      K.1.1 "Use all senses as appropriate to observe, sort and describe objects according to their composition and physical properties, such as size, color and shape."
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      This would be a great cross- curricular activity to add to math/science stations. You could provide the classifications for the students, or challenge them to come up with the classifications themselves.
Mary Jo Mack

Growing Garden Pictograph | Education.com - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      K.3.3 "Describe and compare living plants in terms of growth, parts, shape, size, color and texture."
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      Giving each student a bean plant creates a sense of ownership and responsibility. The students will be able to watch the plant grow from a bean to a plant, watering and measuring it's growth each day. This would be a great activity for partnering- An ELL student could be paired with an English speaking student and they could work together as a team to take care of their plants and record plant growth.
Mary Jo Mack

Make a Winter Weather Pictograph - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      K.2.3 "Describe in words and pictures the changes in weather from month to month and season to season."
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      This is a great science activity that can be used every day during calendar time. This helps the students work on their vocabulary while learning weather terms, as well as incorporating math, using graphs. Providing visuals to describe the weather at the top of the graph is a great way to provide visual connections for ELL students.
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    Watching the winter snow pile up on a grassy yard is nice, but investigating it is even better! Boost your child's science and observation skills by guiding her through this winter weather-filled project. She'll chart the amount of snow or hours of rain that have fallen at your house this winter using a ruler, measuring tape, or even her hands! This ongoing seasonal graphing activity will even enlist her math skills and organization ability.
Mary Jo Mack

Make a Christmas Addition Tree - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      K.OA.5 "Fluently add and subtract within 5."
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    Make a festive tree that also encourages your child to practice her recall of addition facts. This holiday project makes learning fun through the magic of art! The Tree is a great way to keep math facts fresh in her mind during the holiday break or help a struggling student to improve during her time off. She'll get actively involved with learning math through making art first, with her personally decorated Christmas Addition Tree.
Mary Jo Mack

Go on a Math Treasure Hunt - 2 views

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    There's nothing like a treasure hunt to get kids excited. The good news is that all that pirate booty can be used to boost their math skills. Here's how to work the numbers as they sort their loot.
Mary Jo Mack

Take a Scavenger Hunt for Shapes! - 1 views

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    We live in a world of shapes. That window in the living room is also a square, that steaming bowl of chili is a circle, and the bed your son regularly refuses to sleep in at night is a rectangle. Learning to identify and categorize different geometric shapes is a big goal for early learners
Mary Jo Mack

Button Math: Have Fun with Buttons! - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      "K.MD.3" Classify objects into given categories; count the numbers of objects in each category and sort thecategories by count.3
    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      Easy activity to put into math tubs and provides a sensory counting experience for students!
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    Have a lot of loose buttons lying around the house? Put them to use! Leftover buttons make for great tactile math games and art projects to do with your kindergartner. Children are attracted to the bright colors and shapes of buttons, so they're perfect for teaching your child important concepts like sorting, counting, and patterning. Here are four ways to turn those loose buttons into an easy and positive learning experience. 
Mary Jo Mack

Make Milk Carton Counting Houses - 1 views

    • Mary Jo Mack
       
      This can be a fun project for the students to make their own "house" and "families." Teachers can make a social studies connection by trying to arrange the houses in two rows facing each other. Number the houses on the right with even numbers and the ones on the left with odd … just like the houses on a real-life street.
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    Most five-year-olds master counting out loud long before they walk into kindergarten. This is always exciting to watch, but it doesn't mean that kids truly understand what numbers mean. Kindergarten teachers want to make sure that kids can count objects, but also connect groups of things to abstract numbers. This whimsical craft helps kids do just that, and reuses empty milk cartons to boot.
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