Edgewood_Science and Environmental Education Methods

Katie- I was trained in JASON for several years. As a teacher I purchased 6 or 7 years of modules.

The Jason Project is a wonderful resource for teachers. There are lesson plans made for mineral studies, energy studies, ecosystem studies, and weather studies. For this reason, the science strands include: physical science, earth and space science, life and environmental science, and science applications. This website and the accompanying lessons are directed towards older-aged middle school students, about 8th graders. The information that is covered is covered in depth and is dependent upon students having a relatively vast prior understanding. For example, for the resilient planet lesson, students must know what an herbivore and carnivore are and how the food web works before they can begin the unit. For the energy lesson, students must be able to work with complex mathematical equations to calculate energy changes. The lessons each connect with standards in multiple ways but following are some examples of how each lesson could connect to one standard (and there are many more that the lessons do connect to!): Mineral studies: E.8.1 Using the science themes, explain and predict changes in major features of land, water, and atmospheric systems. Energy studies: D.8.9 Explain the behaviors of various forms of energy by using the models of energy transmission, both in the laboratory and in real-life situations in the outside world. Ecosystem studies: F.8.8 Show through investigations how organisms both depend on and contribute to the balance or imbalance of populations and/or ecosystems, which in turn contribute to the total system of life on the planet. Weather studies: E.8.3 Using the science themes during the process of investigation, describe climate, weather, ocean currents, soil movements and changes in the forces acting on the earth. The lessons can be used as part of a math lesson as many of the projects involve calculating energies, measuring and recording observations and calculating changes in measurements over time, and converting measurements.

A collection of amazing resources for teachers.

This resource supports all areas of science and environmental education. ECB is a state agency that supports technology in the classroom. Staff, mostly former teachers, put together "Surf Reports" which are collections of effective web sites on different subject areas. Climate Wisconsin is a new project with short (4 min) videos sharing stories of life in Wisconsin tied to our natural resources. It allows middle and high school students to stop and think "what would happen if the climate changed?" WiStem.org provides a link to another ECB web site that supports Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Use these maps to help guide you on grade levels appropriate depth of content in science

Use this site to help you determine appropriate topics for different grade levels. This information is helping to inform the new science standards. 

Check out this compilation of lesson plans and resources to use water as a topic for study in your classroom. 

This whole site is great, but I chose a simple machines activities because that is what the kids in my practicum are learning about right now. 1. This particular part of the website is physical science, and it is an activity that is used to teach kids about simple machines 2.The website says that it is used for grades 2-6, but I think I would use it with 3rd and 4th graders and two standards that are used in this activity are: D.4.6 Observe and describe physical events in objects at rest or in motion D.4.7 Observe and describe physical events involving objects and develop record-keeping systems to follow these events by measuring and describing changes in their properties, including: * position relative to another object * motion over time * and position due to forces 3. I would integrate this with another class by talking about the history of the machines. I would talk about how and why the machines were invented and who invented them. I would then have them discuss why these machines were helpful. So this could be both a science and social studies lesson. 4. I would adapt this for people with disabilities or people who are struggling by having them work with someone who would be able to and willing to help them. I would also give them a sheet with definitions and pictures of each machine to help them to identify and figure out the function of each simple machine.

For the research sharing I concentrated on the Sun, Moon, and Stars unit for Grades 3-6. The Strand for this would be Standard E:Earth and Space Science and the standard would be E4.4 Identify celestial objects (stars, sun, moon, planets) in the sky, noting changes in patterns of those objects over time Some ideas for integration would be to do a social studies project on the history of astronomy. For instance, in Greek mythology the Big Dipper was identified with a legend. The Native Americans also had stories that identified the stars and named lunar years. The students could each do a research project to find such a story or legend. In English the students could write their own story of how a group of stars got its name. For math, you can use the distance of stars and planets to calculate units of measurement. For differentation, I would have students who are struggling use a pre-printed piece of paper that has objects in the sky on in with dots, and then trace the dots to form the objects in the sky. I would also pair up students who are struggling with students who really get the concept and have them buddy together to study the unit. Another extension of this unit would be to go on a filed trip to the planetarium at Memorial High School.

A few weeks ago at a library book sale I picked up a book of lesson plans from Project Wild. After Jeff's presentation last night, I looked through it more thoroughly and found some really awesome lessons and ideas. I thought I would post the site up here as well. Although it does look like the only way to get materials is to attend a workshop or buy them.

Yep - Project Wild was one that costs $25 for a workshop through DNR - visit their workshop page: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/teacher/calendar.htm Scroll down and you will see you could go to a PLT workshop for early childhood this weekend in Madison. Or, if you want to wait until June there is one in Necedah for $40 tha combines Projects Wet and Wild. If there are enough of you want a separate workshop for WILD and will pay the $25, I can schedule one to be done at Edgewood. I would even be willing to see if we could do it on the last night - since i have to leave early... or maybe on another Saturday at Edgewood?

Free video streaming, lesson plans, and other resources from ECB and PBS. Use this web site to find video resources and lessons to support your big ideas. For all grade levels and all science strands.

http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations/comets/lesson/lab.html (the link to the lesson I studied further) The resource I chose to explore and research focuses on the subject of Astronomy. The website is appropriate for a range of ages but I focused on comets specifically and which is appropriate for grades 6-8. It covers standard E and C. Specifically, performance standards E.4.4; C.4.1., and C.4.2. Integration: This website can be integrated into many different subject areas. The facts, myths, and legends can easily be worked into a history lesson in social studies. It could also be used to accompany an English lesson if the students are reading material that involves different myths in our history and how we can sort through different narratives through time. There is also a chemistry portion in the website which can be used in that area of science or incorporated into a math lesson. Differentiation: I would pick out key vocabulary terms that I want the students to know and make large posters with the term, a short description and a visual. I would post these at the front of the classroom so they were easily accessible for all students. I could also do this activity as a group or partner activity and pair the students that I think would work to help one another.

Click on a state, find a park, go to photos and multimedia, find a webcam and enjoy!!

This web site (sponsored by a text-book company) provides links to a variety of resources about teaching methods and science sites. - Click on Science to go directly to those links.

This website is great to help create a lesson or a whole unit. It has tons of worksheets, tests, individual activities, arts and crafts and classroom activities that can be used for any subject and topic you decide. It covers grades K-12. As a teacher or a student doing a lesson plan you can go on the website choose your subject and content you want to cover and it gives you all sorts of ideas to help you out. I really liked how each subject has tests offered and activities for students to do to make it fun and hands on and games that can be played. This is a resource for all subjects but for this class I will stick to the science section. I choose to do a lesson on butterflies. I looked up the butterflies section on the website. All the information was there. Posters that students can create labeling butterfly parts, worksheets they can fill out on the process a caterpillar goes through in order to become a butterfly, quizzes and games students can do to check for understanding. I love that the website is not only interactive itself but it also has tons of printouts for the kids to use in the classroom. C.4.5 Use data they have collected to develop explanations and answer questions generated by investigations LIFE CYCLES OF ORGANISMS F.4.3 Illustrate* the different ways that organisms grow through life stages and survive to produce new members of their type B.4.1 Use encyclopedias, source books, texts, computers, teachers, parents, other adults, journals, popular press, and various other sources, to help answer science-related questions and plan investigations Integration: This website integrates all other subjects for the many different lessons you can choose from. For my butterfly lesson I can integrate reading and we as a class can read the very hungry caterpillar. We can integrate history and writing by writing research papers on the different kinds of butterflies, each student choosing their own butterfly to research. Differentiation: I can have the

Hey you should really read this. It would be great as a part of your mid-term!

53 videos of teaching math and science in various countries. Part of a 1999 TIMMS study of teaching methods. You do not need to create a login to watch the videos.