First, free access to my new products if you sign up for my email list

I would like to give a little bonus to those of you who sign up for my newsletter.  I will send you an email each time a post a product that matches what you are teaching.  It will include a link that will be good for 24 hours to get the product for free.  :-)   Don't worry, you won't be overwhelmed with emails from me; they'll be one or two a month.

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Short videos on the science topics you teach

I have always liked showing videos as part of my science classes, but I don't want to spend a whole period showing a video.  Plus, we know that the kids won't pay attention to a video that long anyway.  Check123 is a great site for finding short videos.  All areas are represented, but of course we all care about the science section. ;-)

The videos are all less than 4 minutes long.  You can do a search for what you are looking for and even narrow down the results based on the length of the video you are looking for.  For the most part these videos are hosted on YouTube, so if this is blocked in your school it won't work.  (On a side note, if it's blocked in your school you should really talk to the powers that be because it's a valuable teaching tool!)

What's one of your go to site for find videos for your classroom?

USGS Water Science School - Website for water education for students and adults

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has recently revised its web-based water-science education tool, The USGS Water Science School, where students can learn all about water, from what it is, to where and how much there is, to the most in-depth discussions of the natural water cycle anywhere. 

The Water Science School offers several main topic areas: 

• Water Basics
• Water Properties
• Natural Water Cycle (Posters and information in over 60 languages!)
• Surface Water
• Groundwater
• Water Quality
• Water Use
• Activity Center
• Photo Galleries
• Water Q&A
• Teacher Resources
• Water Dictionary

If you have questions or comments, please contact:

Tara Gross, tgross@usgs.gov or Howard Perlman, hperlman@usgs.gov

Chemical & Physical Reaction GIFs to make your lessons pop

Buzzfeed is usually know for its silly quizzes to find out which candy bar you are most like or what state you should really live in.  I came across this post that shows they can actually do something useful. :-)  It's a collection of 23 chemical and physical reaction GIFs that I can't wait to add into my lessons.

Of of my favorites is below; it's a match burning.



https://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/extremely-freaky-chemical-physical-reaction-gifs

Life Science Learning Center

The University of Rochester Medical Center has created the Life Science Learning Center for high school teachers.  It's a collection of lessons that have been tested by real teachers and students.  These are not your typical lessons, but rather ones that push students to really think and analyse the topics.  Some of these will be difficult for a 9th grade Biology class, but would be great for an upper level class like an AP or IB course.

Lesson topics include: Neuroscience, Cancer Biology, Biology of Drug Abuse and Addiction, AIDS Vaccine Case Study, Environmental Health, Kidney Crisis, Cholera, Nano Particles, Making tools of the Trade, Stem Cells and many more!

Video Tutorial on how to use Zygote Body

You have read my walk through
of Zygote Body.  It's a great tool to use in both Biology and Anatomy classes.  I have created a short video to walk you through it visually for those of you who find that more helpful.

Introducing students to the scientific method

One thing I love and hate to do with my students is to teach them to create their own experiments.  I love doing it because the students come up with the craziest ideas and they get to get a sense of what scientists really do.  I hate it because it it's difficult for the students and they resist it.  In the end I am happy with the work that most of my students put into the assignment (you can't get them all, lol)  I try to have a collection of ideas to provide an example for my students and also for those groups who are not able to come up with their own.  Scientific American has a great article that outlines an experiment just as how I would like my student to.  I like to share this with students before we begin so that they can get an idea about what I am expecting.

Where do you get ideas from?