Crime Scene Classroom

 Some rights reserved by Anoush 

This past week my students have been working on a 3 day long crime scene scenario.  The students had a blast doing it.  I wish I could share the kit with you but it seems that the website is no longer active (I've made some inquiries to see if it's still be offered).  It was a kit called Crime Scene Kids - Anatomy of a Death.  What I like about it is that makes students think critically.  There are some red herrings in there too to throw them off.  This scenario has students reading and analyzing witness testimony, listing to answering machine message, shoe print, fingerprint and handwriting analysis and some "chemical" analyses.

I hope to be able to update this post with a link to the fun activity.  Maybe this is an opportunity for me to create my own crime scene activity to share with all of you!

Do your students enjoy crime scene activities?  Do you have a fun one to share?

Density Labs

Density is a topic that always shows up on our state test and one that students seem to always have trouble with.  These labs were developed to help students understand density as well as practice their skills determining mass and volume.  Students will have the chance to use a balance to determine mass as well as determine volume with a ruler, graduated cylinder and an overflow can.  As with everything I have created I wanted to share it with you! (it's free for the next 24 hours).

I hope you find this helpful.  If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to e-mail me.

This product is listed for sale at Teachers Pay Teachers, Teachers Notebook and Syllabuy.

Shelf Life - videos from AMNH

Shelf Life is a new monthly video series from the American Museum of Natural History.  The AMNH is sharing its vast resources with everyone, and you don't even have to go to New York to see them.  Most of the videos are on rarely-seen items from their collection.

"Dive deep inside the Museum's collection to discover the past, present, and future of its approximately 33 million artifacts and specimens in this new series with original monthly videos." - AMNH

Right now there are 3 episodes out, with a new one being posted each month.  Episode One is entitled 33 Million Things and gives you a glimpse at all AMNH has to offer.  Episode Two, Turtles and Taxonomy, talks about the science of classification.  Six Ways to Prepare a Coelacanth is the third episode.  This one focuses on prehistoric fish.  Episodes to come include: Skull of the Olinguito and How to Time Travel to a Star.

This post is cross posted on my technology blog, The Tech Savvy Science Teacher

How to Create a More Effective Lab Safety Program - Webinar

The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI) was founded to provide safety training for secondary school science teachers. 

LSI is hosting a webinar entitled "How to Create a More Effective Lab Safety Program."  It will be held on Febrarary 10th from 7-8pm EST.  To register go to: 

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3731515229433160961

BrainPop meets primary sources

Take a look at this post from BrainPop about how they are connecting primary sources to their movies.  Right now about 20 of their videos have primary sources attached to them, but more are being added.  To access the primary sources simply click on the activities icon from the main topic page and then you'll see a tab for primary sources.  Once you are on that page there is a worksheet that you can print out and then a link to the primary source.  If you take a look at the images below you will see the link on the Galileo page to the primary source, which in this case happens to be another quick video to watch.  I think this is a great way to connect subject areas.  Many students associate primary source documents with Social Studies, but now they can see that primary sources are in all subject areas

This post is crossposted on my technology blog The Tech Savvy Science Teacher

EdTechLens is looking for pilot testers for its new program, Rainforest Journey!

While not for secondary teachers, you might know someone who can benefit from this.

EdTechLens is looking for teachers of grades K-5 to pilot their new program. In exchange for participation you will receive a license to use Rainforest Journey for a full year. This online program engages students with the life science portion of the science curriculum through a trip to the rainforest. Vibrant images and video combined with leveled text in this standards-aligned program can be used with a range of learners. Rainforest Journey contains lessons, assessments, hands-on activities, 3 types of primary sources, and a student blog. Teachers can track student usage and grades. Students can learn in teacher-led group lessons at a digital whiteboard; individually or in small groups at a computer; or individually on a tablet.

Visit them to learn more.

Ravenous - a game to teach animal behavior

Excited about games and STEM education? The Educational Gaming Environments group (EdGE) at TERC and New Knowledge Organization invite you to participate in a National Science Foundation study to measure how free-choice video games can support STEM learning.

They are looking for high school biology teachers to use their new game Ravenous. Are you a high school biology teacher who is planning to cover animal behavior in 2015? If so, please apply using the link below.  Don’t let this opportunity (and its handsome rewards) pass you by!

Click here to learn more and apply today.