|
MARCIA'S
EARTH SCIENCE
TEACHING TIPS
February, 2003
Issue No. 1-1
Hello, Earth Science Teachers!
I'm a veteran teacher--over 30 years and counting. I currently teach
ninth grade Earth Science. This is a monthly collection of teaching
tips, mostly related to Earth Science, but I'll include general tips as
well.
Feel free to pass these ideas around to all your friends. Teachers need
to stick together and help each other!
TEACHING TIP #1: PASSING PAPERS OUT
Park a table near your door and pile it high with the
papers
you plan to pass out that day. Train your students to pick up the
papers as they enter the classroom. My students gather their papers,
sit down, and number them by glancing at a big white board I use for
Notebook Order. Works great! I rarely pass out papers anymore!
QUOTE #1:
One hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I
drove, what kind of house I lived in, or how much money I had in the
bank, but the world may be a better place because I made a difference
in a child's life.
-- Author unknown
ACTIVE LEARNING INSPIRES ME, TOO!
I've seen it time and time again. Put a puzzle of some sort in front of
a team of students and they will all learn more! They work hard to beat
out the competition, but along the way, they learn something!
Example: I ran a PERIODIC TABLE through the Poster Machine in four
different colors and cut it apart by Groups. I gave each team (I have
four teams at all times) the scrambled strips of a complete Periodic
Table. It's something to see a bunch of ninth graders put their heads
together to figure out how the strips fit together. Even the groups
that needed the hint about the Fourth Period being the first one where
the atomic numbers go straight across, jumped on the tip with gusto,
and finished with pride. I still get a charge out of seeing kids
working together, listening to each other, learning together. NOTE: One
year our state test included a Periodic Table without the Transition
Elements which confused many of our students. With this puzzle I can
teach my students different forms for the Table. For example, I have
the students pull out the B strips and push the A's together. Then
return the B's to the correct position. Then we folded our paper
Periodic Table Worksheets to see how this might look. Gave them a good
idea how Periodic Tables can take on different forms.
Click here for a
Periodic Table.
Click here for Color
Coding the
Periodic Table.
Click here for
Periodic Patterns
Worksheet.
Click here for
Periodic Patterns List.
TEACHING TIP #2: ACTIVE LEARNING H-R DIAGRAM
Enlarge a nice sketch of the H-R DIAGRAM using the Poster Machine (or
sketch one yourself) and attach to the chalkboard at the front of the
room. Give each team of students several colored construction paper
discs, representing stars in various stages. My students have already
plotted on the H-R Diagram all the stars they found on the
Constellation Lab and know the colors and various sizes. Each team is
asked by the teacher to put up a particular star. For instance: ask
Team 1 to put Betelgeuse on the H-R DIAGRAM. (using Sticky Tack) They
have 10 seconds to put a big red disk in the upper right hand corner.
If correct, they receive a point. If incorrect, the next team gets a
chance to put Betelgeuse up. If correct, this team gets another turn.
Bonus if a team can tell what the star's position on the Diagram means
as far as age of star, life cycle stage, or what temperature the star
is and how they know. Great fun!
For more H-R Diagram
Tips, click here.
QUOTE #2:
The most deadly of all sins is the mutilation of a child's spirit.
--Erika H. Erikson
TEACHING TIP #3: STUDENT OF THE WEEK/MONTH
My own mentor in the early 70's, Carol Tierney from Hopkins MN School
District, had a Student of the Week in her 4th-5th grade classes. They
got the usual privileges: front of the line, eraser duty, etc. She also
did a Student of the Month, who got an entire bulletin board to share
their treasures: ribbons, photos, favorite books, etc. I wonder: would
this work for older students? I think I'm going to try this myself!
Thanks, Carol! Your advice still works!
QUOTE #3:
Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are endless.
--Mother Teresa
TEACHING TIP #4: WAX ON, WANE OFF
Having trouble teaching kids the difference between a waxing crescent
and a waning crescent? Find a copy of the original Karate Kid movie.
Cue it up to where the boy is being taught to wax the floor. Wax on,
wax off. Wax on is a motion with the right hand that mimics a waxing
crescent. Wax off (teach the kids to say wane off) mimics a waning
crescent. I ask my students to stand up and actually wave their hands
in the air, like the Karate Kid! Since I've taught this pneumonic, my
students correctly identify a waxing or waning crescent and gibbous
every time! Works like a charm!
QUOTE #4
One must learn by doing the thing; for though you think you know it,
you have no certainty, until you try.
--Sophocles
TEACHING TIP #5: ACTIVE LEARNING MOON PHASES
Make construction paper pictures of the eight moon phases, as large as
a piece of construction paper. Don't label. Example: the full moon
would be a yellow disc, new moon, a black disc, etc. Make a sun (could
be large yellow ball) and an Earth (could be smaller blue ball). Give
the Earth and sun to two students. Have them stand in the center of the
room, at least six feet apart. Then hand out the eight different Moon
Phase pictures. Have the students go to the correct part of the room
for their sketch. This teaches the important objective of relating the
shape of each moon phase to the moon's position in the sky in relation
to the Earth and sun. Have each student trade with someone, or give to
a student sitting down. Have them march around the room, scrambling
them up, then ask them to go back to the correct position. Good
activity after doing a Moon Models Lab and several moon phases
worksheets.
For more Moon Phases
Teaching Ideas,
click here.
LAST QUOTE:
To me the sole hope of human salvation lies in teaching.
--George Bernard Shaw
See: Science Teaching Ideas
Website for more proven teaching ideas! I
don't put anything on my site that hasn't worked well for me!
Email me with your own ideas!
Let's help each other!
Happy Teaching!
Copyright 2002-2003
You are encouraged to use anything here for the good of yourself and
your students!
|
|
|
|
MARCIA'S
EARTH SCIENCE
TEACHING TIPS
March, 2003
Issue No. 1-2
Hello, Earth Science Teachers!
Thanks to all of you who responded so kindly to my first newsletter! My
objective is to share my discoveries and delights about the art and
craft of teaching Earth Science.
Please let me know if there is anything you really need in terms of
topics or methods. I would be more than willing to tailor this
Newsletter to your needs!
TEACHING TIP #1: PROCEDURES ARE IMPORTANT!
I am still amazed how much students crave order and discipline in their
school lives! Quite frankly, I think they "read" us as more caring as
teachers when we demand order and kindness in our classrooms. I teach
simple procedures starting on the first day of school. Students
appreciate knowing what to do; such as how to sharpen pencils, pass in
papers, do bellwork, etc. I teach each procedure when the need comes
up. Eventually all have been taught. I post them in class, quiz over
the procedures, and gently remind my students of the correct procedure.
This is the easiest way I know to make a classroom virtually hum with
on-task and learning students!
NOTE: In my opinion, not following the procedure should NOT be
punished! They are NOT rules with consequences! Just cheerfully remind
your students, "What's the procedure for ... ?" when they are not
following the right procedure!
Click here for a
complete list of my
classroom procedures.
QUOTE #1:
In early childhood you may lay the foundation of poverty or riches,
industry or idleness, good or evil, by the habits to which you train
your children. Teach them right habits then, and their future life is
safe.
--Unknown
ACTIVE LEARNING CONTINUES TO INSPIRES ME!!
One method that works like a charm is the Mylar-7
Compass.
When teaching orienteering compasses, introduce Mylar-7 Compasses
first. One of my coworkers, Amanda, brings in a huge stack of Mylar-7
orienteering compasses for practice and passes one out to each of her
students. She makes a big deal out of picking one up. They are three
feet long, one foot wide, and very heavy. Have you figured out yet that
they are "pretend!" Yup! You'd be amazed how easy it is to teach
compasses with nothing but air. Amanda picks up a giant VIRTUAL compass
and teaches all the necessary steps: Point the arrow at the object,
turn the dial until the line matches the needle, take the reading at
the top. Only after each student can demonstrate they can use the
Mylar-7 compass, do they get a real one! And most students can use the
real compass right off! What fun! What learning takes place!
For more ideas related
to Virtual
Astronomy, click here.
TEACHING TIP #2: TEACHING EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
I've attended two 40-hour training sessions with the
Queen of
Experimental Design herself, Julia Cothron. It is the accepted standard
in the state of Missouri, tested in our annual 10th grade Mastery Test.
We start teaching in my school district in the 6th grade. By 10th
grade, most of our students can design, research, run and report on a
basic topic with great results. I like how it transforms the illogical
mind of a child into a more logical adult mind that thinks through a
problem and runs a thoughtful experiment with results that can be
analyzed. Hopefully this filters into other areas of life: the value of
thinking through actions to consequences! Many young people today need
exactly this kind of instruction, I think. Over the years we've come up
with many worksheets to reinforce the basic concepts. Visit my site for
some of these and make more of your own! I know of no other method that
gets kids to design their own experiments with such good results! A
good way to add another BIG Experimental Design project is to assign an
out-of-classroom project such as the one we do in my building. This
reinforces the concept and puts it squarely on their shoulders, getting
YOU out of the picture, which is a goal of teachers, isn't it!
Click
here for our Freshman Science
Project page.
Click
here for Teaching Experimental Design Ideas.
QUOTE #2:
A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary.
- Thomas Carruthers
TEACHING TIP #3: THE ART OF NOT ANSWERING
QUESTIONS
I'm famous for not answering a student's questions. They get really
frustrated. I stand my ground. But that alone is not enough. I also ask
pointed questions in response to lead the student to his/her own
answer. I believe the way to develop an inquiring mind in our young
people, using science as the vehicle, is to use the Socratic Method.
NOT ANSWERING QUESTIONS is an art. It tells the students you know they
can figure it out for themselves! If a student expresses irritation
with me, I calmly explain what I'm doing. How the easy way of just
answering their questions is NOT a favor to them! How learning to see a
question through to an answer all alone makes them strong. Most
students end up liking this method. Students really want us to push
them to think on their own. Being successful at something that's hard
is wonderful! Give your students that gift!
QUOTE #3:
It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the
minds of students with facts... it is to teach them to think, if that
is possible, and always to think for themselves.
-- Robert Hutchins
TEACHING TIP #4: TEACHING THE WATER CYCLE
At the late middle school-early high school level, an Earth Science
class should cover more than the Big Three of the Water Cycle.
(evaporation, condensation, precipitation) We should also be teaching
the rest of the story. (runoff, transpiration, groundwater,
infiltration, water table) This doesn't mean we can't have fun! There's
more to the Water Cycle than labeling a diagram, although that, too, is
part of it.
You can develop stations for each of the part of the Water Cycle. You
can do a Groundwater Pollution Lab. You can do a Water Table Lab or
Water Cycle Simulation. There are several nice Water Cycle Games
online. (HINT: If you are surfing the web for high school level ideas,
type in Hydrologic Cycle!)
Check out the following sites for good ideas:
THE WATER CYCLE GAME
THE WATER SOURCE BOOKS
FROM THE EPA -
MOST COMPLETE IDEA BOOK OUT THERE!
GREAT IDEAS FROM THE
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF AMERICA
THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
WATER, WATER,
EVERYWHERE
QUOTE #4:
A word of encouragement during a failure is worth more
than
an hour of praise after success.
--Anonymous
TEACHING TIP #5: TEACHING READING IN SCIENCE
Once in a while, we hand out small packets with
questions at
the end. We don't let the students turn to the questions first. Instead
we give them a yellow highlighter and five minutes on the timer. The #1
rule: Highlight only single words or short phrases. I put up a
transparency of the page with my own yellow highlighting. Only after
they've checked their highlighting against mine, do I let them at the
questions. By then they do a much better job of quickly finding the
answers. Powerful lesson!
LAST QUOTE:
It is not so much what is poured into the student, but
what
is planted that really counts.
--Unknown
See: Science Teaching Ideas
Website for more proven teaching ideas! I
don't put anything on my site that hasn't worked well for me!
Email me with your own ideas!
Let's help each other!
Happy Teaching!
Copyright 2002-2003
You are encouraged to use anything here for the good of yourself and
your students!
|
|
|
|
MARCIA'S
EARTH SCIENCE
TEACHING TIPS
April, 2003
Issue No. 1-3
Hello, Earth Science Teachers!
It's
spring! (At least in
the Northern Hemisphere!) I love to find ways to take my students
outside for a few minutes each day or week. Teaching clouds at this
time of year makes for great excursions outside to look up and marvel
at the sky, so I've included several tips for teaching clouds. Be sure
to visit the FOR YOUR EYES ONLY! page to get the details and pdfs of
each suggested worksheet or labsheet.
Happy Teaching!
TEACHING TIP #1: TEACHER NOTEBOOKS
I'm a great believer in teacher notebooks! I used to
cram
papers and answer sheets in manilla folders labeled "Weather" or
"Geologic History" and be lucky to find anything. Now, I make up a new
notebook for each subject. I organize each notebook in chronological
order, first day to last. I start with the objectives and study guide.
Then follow with each subsequent activity or worksheet in the order
taught. The trick to these notebooks is using CLEAR PLASTIC SHEET
PROTECTORS. Inside each protector, I include transparencies with
answers written in permanent marker. I also include original copies and
any other materials I use to teach the concept. This system WORKS! I
have the current topic's notebook with me while I teach. I can pull
transparencies out for students to check their answers. I can refer to
lecture notes. I take the notebook with me to the copier and run off
papers in sequence. Every teacher in my department has switched over to
this system! We assemble science teacher notebooks for new staff. They
even get the answer sheets! All in notebooks with district-purchased
sheet protectors! Give it a try! Being organized makes the life of a
teacher just a bit easier!
QUOTE #1:
By learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn.
-- Latin Proverb
ACTIVE LEARNING HELPS "US" TEACH AND "THEM"
LEARN!!
I'm currently teaching Geologic History to my ninth
graders.
This is the second time for me this year because I teach on a 4x4
block. I'm sooo glad I worked out so many active learning games last
semester! Getting the layers and geologic events in order is a tough
concept. Last semester my students did better on their test than in
previous years because they'd engaged their minds in active learning
and LEARNED! And best of all: once the game is constructed, it's there
for you the next time you teach the topic!
I hope you've all discovered the joy of teaching this way! I've learned
by experience that putting a team of kids to work on a problem is a
powerful way to reinforce a new concept. Using an active learning
activity teaches the material more effectively than the same ole boring
lecture or review session.
TEACHING TIP #2: TEACHING CLOUDS
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY has many tried-and-true activities
for
teaching clouds at the middle school/high school level. You will want
to move way beyond learning to identify the different clouds. Try
teaching your students to connect each cloud with a specific type of
weather. This is learning for life, which truly engages your students.
Try giving a PRE-QUIZ. Do a CLOUD IN A BOTTLE Lab. Included on the site
are CLOUD worksheets, and an OBSERVED WEATHER CHART. Also consider
assigning a CLOUD BOOKLET PROJECT.
Click here for lots of
Cloud Goodies. Note: You may have to manually jump to
the bottom of the page.
QUOTE #2:
Treat the students the way you would want to be treated.
--Unknown
TEACHING TIP #3: ACTIVE LEARNING CLOUD GAMES
To reinforce Cloud Sky Position, make one cloud sketch
per
card. Enlarge a sky chart using a Poster Machine with low, medium, and
high cloud labels plus names of the clouds that belong in each area.
The team that correctly places the cloud cards next to the correct
names on the sky diagram wins first place. This game reviews the high,
medium and low areas along with the cloud names.
Several years ago, I came up with a CLOUD GAME where each cloud had
four different cards to make a book: the cloud sketch, the cloud name,
the symbol/abbreviation, and the weather associated. I allow students
to use their Cloud Worksheet to help assemble the books. Use "Go Fish"
rules. BTW, I recently ran into a student from 10 years ago who spoke
quite fondly of this Cloud Game. She still remembers her cloud types!
Most students love to do skits, so do CLOUD SKITS! Assign each pair of
students a different cloud. They must act out the cloud using their
bodies only, no props, but may use sounds! The rest of the class tries
to guess. You could make up a worksheet for the guesses to be recorded,
or just have students sound out when they think they know. One guess
per student per round. Most students stand high or stoop low when
attempting to show high, middle, or low clouds. Great fun!
QUOTE #3:
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I
do and I
understand.
--Unknown
TEACHING TIP #4: SCIENCE BELLWORK
One of the most common search words that brings
teachers to
my site is, "Bellwork." I began doing a bell at the beginning of each
class several years ago. Bells can be quick reviews of the day before
or introductions to the coming day's material. My students know bells
are a hint of what's on Friday's quiz. I collect and give a completion
grade for 20 bells at a time. This involves your students in a
meaningful activity while you take roll and get papers to those who've
just returned from an absence.
Click
here for bellwork ideas.
QUOTE #4:
Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.
--William Yeats
TEACHING TIP #5: WHERE IN THE SCHOOL AM I?
A bulletin board that encourages observation skills!
Post
numbered odd-angled photos of various places in the school building or
grounds. Don't make it easy! Tilt your camera or take a close-up of
something common. Looking at the school from a different vantage point
is fun! Add labels as they are correctly identified by students. Give a
second copy of the photo to the winning student. You could post one at
a time or put up a bunch. This never ceases to pull them in and get
them looking at their surroundings with a closer eye.
LAST QUOTE:
A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring
the
pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on a cold iron.
--Horace Mann
See: Science Teaching Ideas
Website for more proven teaching ideas! I
don't put anything on my site that hasn't worked well for me!
Email me with your own ideas!
Let's help each other!
Happy Teaching!
Copyright 2002-2003
You are encouraged to use anything here for the good of yourself and
your students!
|
|
|
|
MARCIA'S
EARTH SCIENCE
TEACHING TIPS
May, 2003
Issue No. 1-4
Hello, Earth Science Teachers!
This is the last issue until September. I hope this issue contains fun
end-of-the-year (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere!)
activities for you. It's always more fun to have your students happy to
come to your class right up to the last day! Having activities that
interest your students is a good way to make everybody happy!
Happy Teaching!
TEACHING TIP #1: BELL BONUS
I have a small white board in the front of my room where I put a
separate bell question along with the day's date and any special
announcements. It must be turned in BEFORE the bell for a bonus point.
It's usually a review question of the previous day's topic. You'd be
surprised how many students rush in each day before the bell to get
that one extra point! We teachers are so deviously clever sometimes!
QUOTE #1:
If the student fails to learn, the teacher fails to
teach.
--Unknown
ACTIVE LEARNING: FORMULA FOR HAPPY TEACHERS
AND STUDENTS
The end of the year brings restless students--and let's
face
it! restless teachers! We are all looking forward to the summer/winter
break. I always notice an increase of pencil tapping, chatting,
teasing, etc. How do we continue to teach the curriculum when students
are increasingly unable to process new information, learn new things? I
would venture to say the answer is simple: ACTIVE LEARNING! I try to
schedule ACTIVE LEARNING every single day. Your students will
appreciate the chance to get out of their chairs and move around the
room, to interact with their peers and not just listen to their
teacher. Even if it's just a white board team game reviewing recent
concepts, that's enough to get the kinks out of you and your students.
If you manage Active Learning correctly you will notice a renewed
concentration when your students return to more traditional labs and
worksheets. By managed correctly, I mean, not allowing students to opt
out of the game, requiring each group to pass the white board to a new
person for writing each question, saying the question only once which
demands all students are quiet and listening. If you set the standard
for how the game is played, you can achieve some good learning, set a
happy climate with respect for each other, and get your kids up and
moving and interacting with each other. Sounds like an end-of-the-year
winner to me!
TEACHING TIP #2: MANAGING GAMES AND
ACTIVITIES
Games and Active Learning Activities are great. But
what
about how WILD the kids get? What about all the NOISE?? What about how
all the teams are doing their own thing and I'M NOT TEACHING??
As to the WILD question, it all depends on how you manage the activity.
If you establish four teams with some highs, lows, and middles in each
group and announce there is a candy prize at the end of this round (4
weeks or so), your kids will stay on task. They want to win that candy!
If you give 1st place 4 pieces (Jolly Ranchers or something cheaper),
2nd place 3 candies, etc. this will keep all teams on task even if the
first place team is way ahead. I also use other "rules" designed to
keep all students on task. If any team member is not actively involved,
I threaten to take a point away from that team for that game. I also
expect to see body language that "tells" me all are involved: all
facing game pieces, all bent over the table, no voices raised so high
they draw my attention, etc. The first team done gets four points, 2nd
gets 3 etc. So it matters that all heads are put to the task so they
have a good chance of finishing first.
As to the NOISE Question, you have to learn to differentiate between
NOISE-NOISE and BUSY-NOISE. NOISE-NOISE is to be discouraged. See above
paragraph. BUSY-NOISE can be measured by how distractable they are if
someone comes into the room or if you walk over to the group. If no one
notices, then it's BUSY-NOISE. A room full of BUSY-NOISE is exactly
what you want!! It means they are all (for the most part) busy
discussing the lesson, busy searching for a winning answer, busy
learning! Learn to hear that wonderful BUSY-NOISE and be happy that you
are hearing it in your classroom
As to the I'M NOT TEACHING Question, Yes, you are!!! You are
facilitating, which is a legitimate kind of teaching. Maybe you aren't
working as hard as they are, but that's the point of ACTIVE LEARNING!!
Encourage your students to learn on their own. Make them independent of
you, at least for part of the class period. There are many
opportunities for you to provide input in the standard lecture form,
but then your students need to process that information and active
games are how! I believe
students learn as much by
being active as they do by sitting in a chair listening to you! (It's
also easier on the teacher if they do some of the work each hour!)
QUOTE #2:
They may forget what you said, but they will never
forget how
you made them feel.
--Unknown
TEACHING TIP #3: BRAIN TEASERS
I'm always putting out bonus puzzle sheets for my
students.
They think I'm off-task as a teacher when I give them color sheets. I
figure both sides of their brain are being challenged when I ask them
to color a pattern on a page full of escher drawings. Of course, I
include crosswords and find-a-words, and simple review pages, too. But
many are simply puzzles for exercising the gray matter!
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN
BRAINTEASERS
A new brainteaser every Wednesday!
BILL'S GAMES -
BRAINTEASERS
These brain-plexing words and shapes, and their positions, can be used
to derive a word or saying.
BRAINTEASERS, PUZZLES
& RIDDLES
National Institute of Environmental Health
MYSTERYPHOTOS.COM
Identify mystery photos for a chance to win prizes!
The prize come-on might be a rip-off but the photos are great. Might
give you an idea for using your digital camera
FIGURE THIS!
National Institute of Environmental Health
Great challenges for kids, such as: roll tubes of paper and estimate
which one hold more popcorn.
Download pdfs of entire sets of
these beautiful
active
challenges!
GOOFY EYES
Be sure to check out the Tests! They are neat illusions!
Geometry Color Sheet
QUOTE #3:
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a
man to
fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
--Chinese Proverb
TEACHING TIP #4: SCIENCE BELLWORK
I love bellwork! I like how it settles kids right down,
switches their focus from the hallway to the classroom, and previews or
reviews important concepts! I like how I get time to take roll and
enter attendance on the computer. I like how I have time to hand out
work to just-returned absentees. I like how some days I can run around
and affix tiny stickers to anyone's page who is busy doing bellwork
right after the bell rings! (I count stickers as bonus points when I
take points for 20 bells.) All in all, I can't think of one reason NOT
to do bells! They make sense in how to begin each period with
purposeful activity for both you and your students! Have any great ones
of your own? Email to me and I'll include in my first issue of the fall
semester!
Click
here for bellwork ideas.
QUOTE #4:
He who dares to teach must never cease to learn.
--Anonymous
TEACHING TIP #5: TEACHING NEWTON'S LAWS OF
MOTION AND
KEPLER'S LAWS OF PLANETARY MOTION
Teachers of astronomy are often called upon to teach or
review Newton's Laws. They are tough concepts for young minds to grasp.
However, most of the fundamental physics covered in these laws are
understood instinctively by your students. We decided to design a lab
that would challenge our students to understand and "write" the laws by
predicting what would happen, and then writing down what actually DID
happen. We designed NEWTON'S CHALLENGE, a one or two period event that
uses Newton's Laws and leads students to an understanding of some
pretty cool physics!
NEWTON'S
CHALLENGE
includes the following:
1st Law - Flip a card off a beaker. What happens to the coin sitting on
the card?
2nd Law - Huff, Puff & Slide - Add pennies to small paper cup.
Blow
with same strength. What happens to cup? Increase strength of puffs.
What happens?
3rd Law - Jet Car Challenge - Build a "jet" car with balloon, wheels,
etc. Have a race at the end of the period. Why did the winner win?
I've also included several other worksheets/lab sheets that relate
Newton and Kepler to planetary motion. The most important being an
Ellipse Lab in which students draw ellipses and learn that the typical
drawing of the planets' orbits around the sun is exaggerated: the
orbits are actually almost perfect circles! Which makes the genius of
Kepler even more remarkable!
Click here for the
Newton/Kepler
Activities.
LAST QUOTE:
No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy,
kindness, and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The
effort of every true educator should be to unlock that treasure.
--Emma Golmam
See: Science Teaching Ideas
Website for more proven teaching ideas! I
don't put anything on my site that hasn't worked well for me!
Email me with your own ideas!
Let's help each other!
Happy Teaching!
Copyright 2002-2003
You are encouraged to use anything here for the good of yourself and
your students!
|
|
|
