The End of Science Methods (Final Blog Entry)

Wow, we learned so much this semester in Science Methods! It's so weird that the semester ended so quickly-- I feel like we just begun!


Throughout the course of the semester, I read our textbook weekly. One of my favorite chapters was the chapter on the balloon experiment that we did in class. I loved that we implemented this chapter into the classroom through this activity, and it was such a fun one! I also liked learning about the constructivist view of education.


There were so many memorable activities that we did this semester, but the two that stood out to me the most were the science circus and the jigsaw activity. I liked the science circus because I enjoyed designing an experiment with my group, and participating in all the other group's activities. This class was so much fun, and I would definitely use this in my future classroom. The students would learn so much from this activity and have fun at the same time. Another activity that stood out to me was the Jigsaw activity. I gained so much from this activity, especially because I was able to teach others. Standing up in front of a whole class of my peers still intimidates me, so I really enjoyed doing this in smaller groups. I would definitely use this activity in my classroom in the future because I feel that students would gain so much knowledge from teaching each other.


I was able to grow professionally through so many aspects of this course, and I can't thank my professor enough for these opportunities. The main activities that enabled me to grow as a professional I believe were microteaching and fieldwork. I was able to teach an entire group of my peers a lesson about space sense, and it was great to get their positive feedback-- especially because of how nervous I was. I also grew professionally through fieldwork this semester. I love fieldwork because it allows me to get a feel for what grade I would like to teach in the future, and I get my first feel for how students learn. I really enjoyed working with the 5th grade class and I would love to teach 4th or 5th grade in the future, it's such a great age group. My favorite part of fieldwork was teaching the 5th grade class in its entirety, rather than just teaching my student alone. This was my first experience teaching an entire elementary school class, and it brought nothing but positive feedback. I was so nervous at first, but I loved working with the students and seeing them so excited about learning. It's so sad to see a student not interested in learning, so it's important to integrate fun experiments into the learning environment. 


I loved the school environment that we were placed in this semester. I love that Bishop Dunn is such a small school because it allows for the students to get to know their teachers and administration more personally, and vice versa. A school like Bishop Dunn is definitely my ideal placement for where I would like to teach in the future. 


I gained so much knowledge from observing and working with Mrs. Benfer's 5th graders this semester. When I was in elementary school, science was definitely not my strong point and it really intimidated me. I was very quiet in class, and did not like participating. My entire class acted pretty much the same way. But when I first stepped into Mrs. Benfer's classroom, I noticed right off the bat that her students were the exact opposite of how I was in 5th grade. They were all really outgoing, and the majority of the class participated when she would ask questions. It was great to see the students so excited about science.


When working with the 5th graders, my group created a chemical reaction lesson based on inquiry. Before beginning the lesson, we asked the students some basic questions on inquiry, and they didn't seem to have much knowledge on the topic. But once we mentioned the Scientific Method, they knew everything! I think it's important that I teach these topics hand-in-hand in the future, because they are somewhat similar.


Even though the E-folio was very time consuming, I would much rather complete an E-folio than take a long, comprehensive, cumulative final. The e-folio seemed a little overwhelming at first, but as long as you stay on task throughout the semester (like I did), they shouldn't be bad at all. I compiled all of my information together, and made changes to what my professor asked that I made changes to. It wasn't like I had to completely re-do an assignment. I believe we still gained the same knowledge that we would have from taking a final exam, but we were able to do so in a much more unique and modern format. I didn't particularly like any student's e-folio over another student's because I truly enjoyed everyones. There were so many cool ways that we could have formatted our e-folio, and everyone took up that opportunity. I learned that everyone is creative in their own unique way, and I enjoyed designing my e-folio, as well as seeing all of my peers' e-folios.

Oodles of Oobleck!

Some people may see the green stuff on my hand in this picture and think it's gross slime-- but it's not. What is it, you ask? Oobleck, of course! Oobleck is a material that I experimented with in my Language Arts Methods class. We used this in Language Arts Methods because it allowed for us to go from speaking to writing in the classroom. In an actual elementary classroom setting, the lesson would go as followed:

1. Perform an Experiment

2. Introduce Key Vocabulary

3. Teacher Guided Reporting

4. Journal Writing

In my journal, I wrote that the oobleck is a really cool, unique, viscous substance. It's messy and slimy, because at some times its a solid and sometimes it's a liquid. The oobleck is solid when you apply pressure and it is liquid when it is in motion. I like that we experimented with this substance in class because I never really knew that something could act as both a solid and a liquid at the same time.

We did this activity a few weeks ago in class, and I thought it would go perfect with a science lesson. In the handout that our teacher gave us, it said "'Oobleck', named for the mysterious green substance described in the Dr. Seuss classic Bartholomew and the Oobleck, is a non-newtonian fluid meaning it doesn't follow Newton's laws of motion. A non-newtonian fluid (like oobleck or silly putty) has a different viscosity depending on the force applied. By contrast, newtonian fluid (like water) have a constant viscosity at a given temperature. No matter how fast you stir them they never get thicker or thinner".

Oobleck is a mixture of cornstarch and water. Because it's a mixture of a solid and a liquid, it takes on the properties of both, and winds up behaving in unpredictable ways.  In liquids, the bonding between molecules is weak, which allows the molecules to easily flow past one another and rearrange, giving liquids their characteristic properties. In solids, the bonding between molecules is much stronger. The molecules cannot be easily rearranged, so the solid keeps its shape. 

In oobleck, the cornstarch molecules are very large, allowing for them to form long chains. The water molecules are much smaller, so they flow past each other and between the cornstarch molecules so that the chains slide and flow around each other. This explains why oobleck behaves like a liquid when it's not under pressure. When you squeeze or press on the oobleck, the water is temporarily forced out of the mixture and the starch molecules are pressing against each other, causing the mixture to behave like a solid.

I really enjoyed playing with Oobleck in class, and I think that I would definitely use it in my future science classroom. Even though it made a mess, it explains a great science theory that would be beneficial for the students to learn, and they would have fun at the same time. 

Here is a video that we watched in class. Even though the video isn't in English, it shows a really cool way of playing with Oobleck. Enjoy! :)

 

 

Micro Teaching Comes to an End

Throughout the semester, our class was given the task of Micro Teaching the students in our class. We were to choose from topics that would be covered in class, and present giving the "anticipatory set" of the lesson. After each student completed their micro teaching presentation, we were all asked to give professional feedback in the form of "3 Pluses and a Wish". Here is my feedback for each student's presentation.


Kira:
+ the wordle that you used was a creative and unique idea. I really liked it!
+ I liked how you had each student pick out a word, it was a good way of getting the entire class to actively participate.
+ I also liked how you used words that we've already learned about so far, it was a great review.
wish: no wish, great job!


Katharine:
+ You were very enthusiastic about the topic, you already sound just like a teacher!
+ I like how you had each table do a different activity involving the rocks.
+ Great conclusion, I like how you summarized what the point of the lesson was.
wish: no wish, great job! 


Amanda G and Alicia:
+ you were both comfortable and confident
+ you both spoke at a good volume
+ you both maintained eye contact with the class throughout your presentation.
wish: no wish, great job!


Veronica:
+ This was such a great idea! I love that you brought a live animal into class
+ You encouraged students to ask questions
+ This was an engaging activity.
wish: no wish


Jessica and Catherine:
+ great way of introducing this week's topic to the class

+ I loved that you prepared the lesson on the smart board, great use of technology!
+ you were both comfortable and confident with talking in front of the class.
wish: no wish 

Dana and Nicole:

+ I loved that technology was incorporated so the lesson was more interesting
+ I also really liked the vortex activity on the SmartBoard, I think that elementary students would really enjoy it.
+ Great wrap-up at the end. I liked that you asked if anyone had questions or further explanations of anything.
wish: no wish, great job!

Stephanie and Clarisa:

+ good knowledge of the topic and great way of introducing what we were doing for the day.
+ kept eye contact with the students the whole time
+ great use of technology with the SmartBoard
wish: more confidence! you both seemed a little nervous but still did a great job!

Alyssa and Amanda B:

+ Great enthusiasm
+ You projected your voices really well
+ Concept cartoons were a really cute idea and attention grabber
no wish

Jess and Jackie:

+ great use of the puzzle.. it served as a good problem for the students to solve
+ I liked how the puzzle was interactive
+ cute way of introducing life science
no wish

Amy and Ashley:

+ good eye contact and volume
+ I liked the games that were provided, especially jeopardy. Students would really enjoy this!
+ good use of smart board
no wish

Joyce & Stephanie:

+ I like how you had the students partake in a class discussion
+ Really liked the video.
+ You provided good questions
No wish, great job!

Kaitlin:

+ I loved the video!
+ You kept the class engaged throughout the length of your presentation through asking questions
+ I liked that your presentation served as a review.
No wish


Sandra & Jennifer:
+ Very informative presentation!
+You were both very knowledgeable of the topic
+ You had the class engaged and paying attention the entire time.
wish: I wish the powerpoint worked for you guys =/


Nicole & Kathryn:
+Great way of tying everything from the course together
+ I like how you incorporated a prezi, they're so much more interesting than just a regular PowerPoint
+ Kept the class engaged through questioning
wish: I wish you could have spoken a little bit louder and confidently at times, but overall great presentation!



Overall, I really enjoyed the micro teaching experience. I learned so much this semester from just micro teaching alone. I can't wait to use all of the tools that my classmates showed me throughout the semester in my classroom in the future! :) 

Seeds & Earthworms!

What experiences, if any, did you have with planting seeds, indoors or outside? 

I don't really have many experiences with planting seeds recently, but I do remember planting seeds in styrofoam cups in elementary school! (Just like in the picture below). I have also planted seeds in a few of my mom's gardens over the years but nothing ever turned out to be too exciting.

What do you think it means to be “ alive”? 

In order for something to be alive, I think it has to be able to breathe. A lot of living things also move, but I think the true basis for something to be living would be the ability to breathe.

What is the point of a class science exploration that takes days or weeks to complete?

I believe that the point of a science class exploration that takes day or weeks to complete is to allow the students to observe how things change over time. I used to love doing experiments like these in elementary school! 

How does working with a partner or small group affect your learning experience? 

I really enjoy working with partners or small groups. Working with others enables the group to come up with a whole wealth of information, rather than just one person's opinions or observations. Its a great way of seeing other people's points of view.

What is your reaction when you encounter earthworms? 

When I was younger, I was actually quite fascinated by earthworms. Well, not by the earthworms themselves-- but the fact that they would show up right after rain! Now, if I see them on the sidewalk or in the street while I'm walking, it doesn't really bother me but I suppose if I were to get real close to one I would be pretty grossed out. I wouldn't want to touch one either, ew !

Have you ever handled a worm? what was your reaction?

To my knowledge, I have never handled a worm. I might have when I was really young, but I can't remember. In 7th or 8th grade I remember having to dissect worms, but the smell was really grossing me out and I was afraid so I let my lab partner do all the dirty work.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

The popular saying, "April showers bring May flowers", definitely came into play this month. As we're nearing the end of the month, I noticed that although it is still raining a bit, it's not raining all day every day like it had been earlier in the month. Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous! I spent my Easter Sunday at my Aunt's house in Long Beach, New York, and it was so nice out that we were able to walk the boardwalk along the beach. It did rain at night, but it was nice to not have it raining all day like it had been all month! It's been really nice out all day today too, and is definitely starting to look a lot like May with the warmer weather and some flowers blooming a bit early. I love days like these :)

21 Things That Will Be Obsolete by 2020

Read the Article Here!

This article was so interesting! Dr. Smirnova posted a link to it on our Science Teacher Lounge Forum, and it caught my attention right away. The article listed 21 things that will no longer be used 9 years from now.


Of the things that are going to be obsolete by 2020, there were a few things listed in the article that didn't really surprise me. A few of these things are desks, the role of standardized tests in college admissions, paperback books, education schools that fail to integrate technology, paper, and differentiated instruction as a sign of a distinguished teacher. These aspects didn't really come as a shock to me because a lot of classrooms that I have observed have tables rather than desks, and if they do have desks they're never really in the traditional row set up. Standardized tests like the SAT aren't as important anymore, paperbacks aren't being used as much anymore due to E-readers, and differentiated instruction is extremely important so it makes sense that teachers who do not differentiate their instruction to meet the needs of individual learners will not have jobs. The part about paper becoming obsolete didn't surprise me either because getting rid of paper is an essential way of "going green". Everything that's integrated in our Science Methods class that would normally be on paper is all integrated online through technology. Although it was a lot to get used to, I definitely like this method because its a great way of "going green" and helping the environment.

One part that particularly stood out to me was the section on homework. The article said that by 2020 homework will not exist! I truly can't imagine a world without homework. I also found the section on computers to be interesting. It said that because computing has gone mobile , most computing will be via handhelds in the future. I never really thought of that before or put that into perspective, but its truly amazing how far technology has come!

Astronauts For The Day!

On Wednesday, April 20th I was given the task to micro teach the class with Bridget. Even though it was only a short presentation, I still always get nervous when I have to get up and talk in front of the whole class. We decided to base our presentation on space, and we found some really cool websites to go along with our presentation!


Before we showed the class the websites, I asked the students a few questions about space to pre-assess their knowledge! Some of these questions included:

• "Who are astronauts and what do they do?"
• "Who are some famous astronauts?"
• "Who was the first man on the moon?"
• "What is space?"
• "Can you name all or any of the planets?"

After I heard the students discussions about these questions, Bridget led the students by playing a game ! This was a game all about space sense, and the object was to get the rocket to blast off by answering the given questions correctly. Judging by the students' peer feedback, I think they really enjoyed the game! All the students actively participated, and it was a lot of fun. Sadly, we couldn't get the rocket to blast off because every time we got a wrong answer the game would restart. One thing Bridget and I could have done differently would be to get the correct answers prior to playing the game, that way we could enter the correct answers and get the rocket to blast off.

We also showed the students a website of a 3-D view of the solar system. This website was awesome! I really enjoyed it because you could see all different views of what the solar system looks like, and you could fast forward the time to see what the solar system would look like at a specific date and time. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the micro teaching experience. Thanks to each student's feedback in the form of Three Pluses and a Wish, we were able to see what they liked about the lesson, and what we could have done differently. Everyone seemed to really like our resources and how we delivered the lesson. This is something I will definitely use in my future classroom to get my students excited for learning about space!