Websites for the Earth Science Classroom

If you have computers in your classroom or access to a computer cart I'm sure that you are always looking for new websites to use with the kids (I know that I am). Here are some sites for you to try out.

Earthquake Monitor - this is a website that allows you to monitor where earthquakes are occurring and what magnitude each is

Visible Geology - this website allows you to visualize various geologic formations such as folding and tilting as well as topographic features. Some of this site might be a bit advanced for middle school students but it's worth a look.

3D Solar System - this site allows you to visit each of the planets and at each planet, you'll find a list of facts and a short blurb about the planet, there is also a narration that can go along with each if you think that will be helpful

If the Moon Were Only 1 Pixel? - this a cool site that shows the scale of the universe from the perspective of the moon being one pixel large

NASA--Planets - this site would be great to use in a science/literacy activity. It's a reading about what makes a planet a planet and could provide a good start for a discussion.

Nasa--Climate Change - this site provides a lot of information about climate change and would be good for students who are doing a research project.

Human Body System video clips

I have always loved showing short video clips to my students.  I find that it breaks up the class and also gives students a different perspective on the material.  While the human body can seem like something that students can relate to, there is much to it that they often don't understand.  At the middle school level, it can be hard for students to visualize what is happening inside their body.  Scholastic has a collection of short videos (around 3 minutes long) to introduce students to the major points of each body system as well as the five senses.  There is also a video on heredity (one of my favorite topics to teach).

Which one of these videos will you use in your class? 

Reading Techniques to help students understand science

Reading is such an important part of learning.  While we often take it for granted that our students know how to read, reading to learn is so much more.  It's not just reading words on a page, but it's things like picking out main ideas, processing the information and understanding what is written.  I came across an article from Scientific American that talks about a study done to understand what can help students read more efficiently.

One study found that having students read a passage and then type or write out everything they remembered allowed students to recall more information than students who made concept maps or simply reread the passage several times.

A few other strategies were mentioned in the article as well, so take a read (don't worry it's a short article).

What reading strategies do you use in your classroom? 

Are you a K-12 teacher teaching topics in Earth and Space Science this school year? Do you use media in your classroom? Oregon State University seeking K-12 teachers who will be teaching any of the following topics in Earth, Space or Physical Science in their science instruction in the 2018-2019 school year: Weather and climate (K-12)  Space Science, specifically solar system (K-12) and Kepler’s Laws (9-12)  Earth’s Systems, specifically land and water features, earthquakes, and volcanoes (K-8)  Waves: Light (K-2) ​  ​​Participating teachers will help them gain insights into how these online resources translate to classroom instruction. Teachers who participate in this effort will simply report back to these after they use these resources during the 2018-2019 school year through online questionnaires and focus groups, and in doing so would help them understand whether the resources were helpful in teaching and effective for student engagement and learning. Being a teacher research participant would be accompanied with a formal Certificate of Participation and a small thank you gift. For the past few years, WGBH (Boston’s PBS), in collaboration with NASA*, has been developing educational resources for K-12 teachers that address topics in Earth, Space, and Physical Science and are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. These digital media resources are free and available on PBS LearningMedia. If you believe you will use these resources and are interested in participating in the study, please follow the link below to find more information and the application for participation.

More information

TPT for Schools

I want to make sure you know about TpT for Schools! Many of you already turn to Teachers Pay Teachers to get resources to meet the needs of all types of learners — and now your school can support you in purchasing these resources! TpT for Schools is an easy, centralized way for your administrator to use school funds to buy the resources you need from TpT. Learn more here about how your administrator can sign up: bit.ly/tpt4schools

Images from inside the Womb

While reproduction and development wasn't my favorite topic to talk about with 14 year olds (I mean they laugh at everything), I always enjoyed seeing their amazement when I showed images of fetal development.  They were truely amazed by what fetuses look like and how they start off resembing the newborn very little.  While students enjoyed the comparisons between humans and other animals, I found that they were most interested in what they once looked like.  I came across a website that provides 10 images of human gestation along with some facts of what the baby can do at that stage.  I particually like that they facts accompany the images as students are often amazed at what a fetus can do at such an early age.

The Science Book - a collection of Interactives for Middle and Elementary students

Science can be hard for younger student to understand I love that this website brings it to like.  While it accompanies a physical book it can completely be used on it's own.  It has video clips and interactive animations that all your students to go inside plants, around the body, deep into the earth and to the depths of space.

Just pick the area of science you want to learn more about, and which type of item you want to try:

• Apply It! – Investigate and research key scientific concepts, just like any real scientist
• Art In Motion – Watch scientific processes come to life with fantastic animations
• Interactive Art – Click on the diagrams to interact with scientific processes
• Real-World Enquiry – See how science is used to help us in the real world
• Untamed Science – Join the Untamed Science crew in these high-energy videos
• Visual Analogy – Understand tricky scientific concepts by comparing them to everyday objects or scenarios

Teaching Students how to Read to Learn in Science

Do you remember when MOOCs (massive open online courses) were all the rage? They are still around and I came across one from Stanford University called Reading to Learn in Science. This course is running now and goes until the end of May. The great things about MOOCs is that you get from it what you put and you don't have to feel guilty about not completing the whole thing because they are free! The course is designed to address such concerns, giving teachers the tools to help students read for understanding in science. With NGSS, CCLS and any other new standards you state or district might be adopting, reading in science is key. Students must know how to do things like cite evidence or support/critique an argument.

If you think that this course is for you, I suggest you check it and get registered. Even if you aren't sure, I would still register so that you have access to the information and can always go back to it later.

Teaching a new subject - Study.com

When I first started teaching Chemistry after a number of years teaching Biology I was worried that I would remember everything.  I spent the summer reading through the textbooks and review books so that I could bring my skills up to date.  Youtube was another place that I looked for explanations.  I recently learned about Study.com and had I have known about it when I first started teaching Chemistry I'm sure I would have checked it out.

There are a number of different ways to use Study.com, but for this purpose, I would choose to use it as a student because I am looking to learn myself.  There were so many different courses offered at so many different levels.  It ranges from middle school to college and includes everything and every subject in between.

Depending on the subscription level you choose, you will get access to videos, quizzes, personalized support and even college credit.  There is a free trial if you want to check it out for a few days (or try to cram a bunch of videos into those days, lol).  I suggest checking it out if you are curious about what it's like.  Study.com is also offering my readers 20% their first month if you join via this link.

Do you think this is something that would be helpful to you? 

Collection of Science Teaching Resources

A while back I came across this website with a collection of science teaching resources.  It's a little old and I don't think it's being updated, but it's still a great resource.  Take a look at it and let me know what you found to be helpful or what you were hoping to find.

http://scido.wikispaces.com/Share+Folders

Teaching Rocks, Minerals, and Landforms

I will be honest with you, I don't love Earth Science the same way I do with Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  Don't get me wrong, there are topics that I enjoy, but others I am not so thrilled about.  This being said Earth Science is my weakest area and I sometimes worry I will shortchange the kids when I have to teach these topics   When I can find quality video clips that present these topics I like to incorporate them into my lessons.  It provides a new perspective for my students and also gives them a change of pace in the lesson.  This collection includes videos on landforms, earthquakes, volcanoes, weathering and erosion, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, minerals, rocks, rock cycle, soil and fossil.

Which ones will you use in your class?