Category Archives: Science

May 22, 2014 · 7:46 PM

Summer Resources for Learning

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Summertime is not a time to halt learning but a time to look at learning through a new and creative lens. learning occurs all around us in and out of the house, in grandma’s back yard, while on a long road trip etc.

Children will rise to whatever learning expectation you set for them.

Have some fun and check out some of the ideas below. If you have a great summer learning activity for children, we would love to hear about it and share it here at Unlock the Teacher!

Summer Learning Day-June 20th

http://www.summerlearning.org/?page=summer_learning_day

Summer Learning Day Activities

http://www.summerlearning.org/?page=SLDCelebrate

National Parks Lesson Plans and Teacher Resources

Click Here to Access Free Curriculum Materials

Click Here to Request Free Curriculum Kit

Education Closet

http://educationcloset.com/arts-integration-lessons/

Great Science App for Children who LOVE Science

Chemist is one of the only virtual chemistry labs for tablets that enables users to conduct chemistry investigations and explore chemistry reactions with different lab tools. Students can try mixing chemicals by pouring them into beakers or test tubes. They can heat the chemicals with a Bunsen burner or put a piece of cesium into water. The 3-D stage enables the parallax effect from different angles. Chemist has a built-in database with more than 200 chemical reagents, and additional reagents will be offered periodically through the online CloudLab database for testing more chemical reactions. Developed by Thix, the app is available for iPad and Android tablets. Cost: $4.99

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chemist/id440666387

Paper the Web

Teens who love to sketch can sketch away using FiftyThree’s Paper, a free sketching app for the iPad. Known for its simplicity as well as its sharing functionality, the app provides built-in tools that let students share their sketches on Twitter, tumbler and Facebook as well as connect with others who sketch using the #MadeWithPaper hashtag. Students can also submit their sketches to FiftyThree’s website and see what others are creating with the app. Cost: Free

http://www.fiftythree.com/paper

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things~

Denise

 

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September 17, 2012 · 1:57 AM

Some Great Science Sites just Discovered to Utilize in the Classroom or at Home

Science News for Kids

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/

Explore: Atoms and Forces, Earth and Sky, Humans and Health, Life, Tech and Math

On this site, they also provide great problem-solving tips too under the “extra” button.

Science for Kids

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/

Science topics: Animals, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Space and Weather

This site also lists many fun science experiment ideas.

ACS Chemistry for Life

Science for Kids…Explore student activity books and science teaching guides for grades K–8

USDA Agricultural Research Service~SCI4Kids

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/

Offers news about plants, animals, and other life science issues. Also includes pop quizzes, and pictures. Site is available in Spanish.

 

As teachers, administrators, students and parents are all working on finding the 2012-13 school year groove, we would love to hear about some great sites you have discovered.

When we all come together for the common good, amazing things can happen!

May we all continue to seek knowledge in all things~

Denise

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December 15, 2011 · 4:18 PM

Making Science Fun with Science Competitions that Promote “Out-of-the-Box” Thinking

Science is FUN!

It is almost January, and educators and parents start the “Science Fair” discussion with children and students.  This year, there are some cool science contests out there and Google Science tops my list.

Regardless if Science was your thing or not, if asked, we all could probably pull forward one science fair memory from the recesses of our minds. Volcano eruptions, eye ball blinks, inertia, plant growth with various musical tunes you name it, science fair time can be an exciting time of discovery or a mad dash to finish a deadline imposed by the ominous science teacher.

The Important Role of the Science Teacher
Given the teacher and they way material is presented, science can be fun! The world of science can open many doors for children. Doors to worlds that can increase awareness of saving our planet, living a healthy life, or even saving a life one day, by creating a cancer-saving cure…imagine. Many children in this country have limitations on travel and are limited to specific environments and economic resources. However, science is that one area where it is “cool” to recycle, utilize imagination and create! Memories of utilizing paper towel and toilet roll holders to demonstrate magnetic pull, keeps bubbling up to remind me that in science, the sky is the limit on creativity and ingenuity.

Science Fair Contests

*Google Science Fair 2012

  1. Children must be 13-18 years old
  2. Individual or groups allowed; groups can consist of two or three teams only
  3. Children “Scientists” must create a Google account and submit a Sign-Up form online
  4. Once confirmation is given, plan, execute and cite results, remembering to follow directions given and complete all sections outlined on the Google Section Submission Site
  5. A two minute video or 20 page slide presentation giving an overview of project are required to enter contest…entries are due by April 4th with submission form

This is a great contest that can allow educators to collaborate from various schools to come together with “Science Teams”, churches and or youth groups to utilize science as a way to spark the imagination of our children and enhancing team building while instilling (hopefully) a love of science.

*International Online Science Contest

The International Online Science Contest website has a wealth of resources for teachers and parents. This site offers a variety of science contest that run all year. Students can visit this site to view other science projects and read judging tips to get an overall appreciation for the “Science Fair” process. Parents can visit site to read and download a Parent Guide that provides step-by-step instructions, parent testimonials and defines the roles of parents throughout the “Science Fair” process. This is a one-stop shop for learning all about Science Fairs and a great resource for classroom teachers as well.

Science Buddies

Science Buddies website is an all encompassing site that provides its reader with a list of various science competitions. Competitions are broken down by grade levels, format, eligibility and if teams are allowed. This is a great site for young people who might be interested at ages eight or nine in science and can watch some “advanced” science fair project videos on various projects to plant a seed for the future. For schools who do not have a “gifted” or advanced science program, this might be the site for you.

“Out of the Box” Teaching

A school, with a very creative, “out of the box” science teacher, could utilize the contest found here or at any of the mentioned websites, and take students who demonstrate an aptitude for science to the next level. Teachers who are looking to collaborate or parents who want to take more of an active role in this process can find science community blogs as well at http://www.sciencebuddies.org to glean insight and support throughout the Science Fair process or to even supplement or increase the love of science in the life of a child.

Science Fair Project Ideas

Happy creating and for additional science fair project ideas, check out the following sites to ignite the imagination:

Imagine if we could ignite the imagination, plant a love of learning for science via writing, creating, utilizing music, labs, nature and utilize all the other multiple intelligences, there is nothing we could not accomplish or overcome.

May we seek knowledge in all things,

Denise

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November 17, 2011 · 8:39 PM

6th Grade Teacher Makes Science Fun with Cell Process Cartoons

Who said science wasn’t fun?
While in a school today (St. Mary School Royal Oak, Michigan), I stopped to look at these fabulous displays of creativity.  Not only was this hallway display colorful and creative, it was educational and funny!
 

 
We would love to share your classroom Best Practices with our readers. It is in this collaborative process, that we all grow as educators…as parents…as a society!  Good ideas are meant to be shared.  We try to share them as often as we can!
 

 

May we continue to seek knowledge in all things,
Denise
 
 

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September 21, 2011 · 8:36 PM

Odyssey of the Mind and Team Building Lessons for the Classroom and Home

As the school year has just begun and we are busy in schools, I thought I would share a couple of great sites that offer “team building” lessons for students.   We are excited to hear from and meet new teachers this year.  I think that these sites provide  great problem-solving scenarios for students to work through and can enhance any lesson in any discipline and be modified for any age to meet the needs of all students.  Enjoy and have a super school year full of many new discoveries!

Odyssey of the Mind

http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/

Computer Science Unplugged

http://csunplugged.org/

Computer Science Unplugged  is a great site to utilize in the classroom because it offers creative scenarios to solve or work through without utilizing a computer.  This site has various activities for both teachers and parents to utilize with students to enhance team building and higher-order thinking.

I love to know your thoughts, ideas or lessons found successful in enhancing these skills. Together we can make a difference!

May we seek knowledge in all things,

Denise

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June 27, 2011 · 8:30 PM

Teacher Resource Websites~Great Tool for Parents too this Summer

 

Parents are the first responders in regards to education.  The following sites can be viewed by parent(s) and or caregiver and lessons or objectives can be giving for children ages 6 to 18 each day to enhance learning over the summer. Many of these sites have free educational webinars or videos where parent and child can learn together and have some educational fun! 20 minutes on computer at one of these sites can help your child explore and learn.  Great ideas can be extrapolated from these sites, in regards to family outings, educational vacations, field trips and fun summertime projects at home.

 

Great Learning Games~ www.funbrain.com

Large Resource for Language Arts, Reading and Writing~ www.mrsgoldsclass.com

Great Science and Math Activities~ www.edheads.com

Create Puzzles ~ www.edhelper.com

Educational Webinars~ www.pbs.org

Everything Jan Brett~ www.janbrett.com/

Great Science Site~ www.chem4kids.com

A Typing Site for Kids~ www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing

Everything Eric Carle~ www.eric-carle.com

A Variety of Activites~ www.apples4theteacher.com/

May we seek knowledge in all things,

Denise

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June 15, 2011 · 12:32 AM

USA Today Education a Great Resource for Parents and Teachers

While in Virginia for some training, I have been reading USA Today every morning thanks to Hilton hotels.  I forget what great resource of information it is.  Given this, I wanted to check out USA Today online to see if there was any educational resources that could be shared here on our blog.  Not to my surprise, the following information was given and is such a great resource for educators, that I decided to share:

High Schools That Work (HSTW) is an effort-based school improvement
initiative founded on the conviction that most students can master rigorous
academic and career/technical studies if school leaders and teachers create an
environment that motivates students to make the effort to succeed.

USA TODAY Education sessions at High Schools
That Work are designed to help school leaders and teachers find new ways to
implement school and classroom practices that improve student motivation and
achievement ~ so that more students graduate from high school ready for college,
advanced training and careers in the 21st-century economy.

If this bit of information is not tailored to your classroom, this site also offers a Classroom Newspaper Grant funded by Marriott Hotels.  Newspapers are a great reading resource for students of all ages…

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam~ I’ll either find a way or make one!

May we seek knowledge in all things,

Denise

PS I almost forgot USA Today Education is also sponsoring a Space Shuttle Art contest now for grades 4-12.  Check it out!

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January 12, 2011 · 4:14 PM

“Google Science Fair” Super Idea to Ignite the Imagination of our Youth

It is that time of year that reminds us just how cool science is.  I researched some great sites on various science projects ideas and global science project contests.  Most of the sites listed have teacher/parent resources and blogs for dialogue about science…how cool is that?  If your child or student has created a wonderful science fair project, Jennifer and I would love to post it and share.
 
Knowledge is meant to be shared and collaboration will become a necessity if we are going to raise our level of education for all and compete with a stronger foot hold in global arenas.
 
Check out article on Science Fair Projects @
http://www.suite101.com/content/science-fair-projects-and-competitions-to-ignite-the-imagination-a331534
To submit pics and explanations of your child/student science projects, please email us at unlocktheteacher@gmail.com
We look forward to hearing from you and may your Wednesday be backwards today!
Denise 😉
*Shout out to “birddroppings” for subscribing to our blog…thanks and we look forward to the collaboration!

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