Today was another presentation day. There were lots of good demonstrations today.
One of the labs I really enjoyed was the taste lab. We all got a chance to guess where the different tastes were found on our tongues and then given jelly beans to try to figure what kinds of tastes we all enjoyed. My favorite part of the lesson was when the teachers made a graph of our favorite tastes. I thought this was a great visual and way to have everyone participate.
Another lab we watched was the ooblac. We had actually already seen this demonstration done the day before, but it was good to review.
Another demonstration was done with bottles and making water tornadoes in them. I thought this lab went smoothly and I was happy the teachers had already made the wholes in the water jugs for us. I thought they were well prepared with their materials also.
The last demonstration was done short on time. It was one with heat and light sources for first graders. The PowerPoint was well made and they got everyone involved by having volunteers feel the heat coming from the lamp. They also had lots of great examples and visuals. The worksheet was also an easy way to assess students and the candy at the end was a great way to close the lesson. I also enjoyed how they tied trick-or-treating into using a flashlight or light source.
Overall today was a lot of fun! And beneficial.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
October 28th
Today was quite an interesting day! We had more presentations to watch and do. Today, however, I had trouble concentrating. The first presentation to start took awhile to get the technology started. It seemed that today's lessons weren't as prepared as they should have been. We didn't get through to many demonstrations today because of the lack of technology and time.
The first demonstration I remember seeing was the bottle rockets. I thought their safety video for this was great and I loved the demonstration. It really stood out and I think, if done properly, the kids or students would really enjoy it.
The other demonstration I remember was the one on elephant toothpaste. This was done well and I thought it was well organized. The materials were already measure and laid out and this made the lab go smoothly.
Overall, I don't remember to much from today's presentations, but I do remember how great the bottle rocket was! It went super high!
The first demonstration I remember seeing was the bottle rockets. I thought their safety video for this was great and I loved the demonstration. It really stood out and I think, if done properly, the kids or students would really enjoy it.
The other demonstration I remember was the one on elephant toothpaste. This was done well and I thought it was well organized. The materials were already measure and laid out and this made the lab go smoothly.
Overall, I don't remember to much from today's presentations, but I do remember how great the bottle rocket was! It went super high!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
October 23rd
Today was presentation day. My group went first and I thought we did a good job. We ran a lab of making Jell-O and learning about mixtures. After we were done we watched other group go and do their presentations. The group that did the habitat activity did a great job of sharing information and I thought their activity was fun. Then we watched an activity regarding oil, water, and food coloring. This activity was great! I actually enjoyed it and really thought kids could get into it and found it very interesting. There was also an activity on floating and sinking objects. I think this activity was also fun, but the students could have created a worksheet that would have made the lab go a little smoother. The last activity we did not have time to do.
I think this class overall, was beneficial but felt really rushed. I also found that this room was really hard to work in. There wasn't a lot of room to walk around and I hope when I teach that I have a better workable space. I also would have hoped that there would have been more time so we could have seen the last activity. I am looking forward to the rest of the presentations the following class period.
I think this class overall, was beneficial but felt really rushed. I also found that this room was really hard to work in. There wasn't a lot of room to walk around and I hope when I teach that I have a better workable space. I also would have hoped that there would have been more time so we could have seen the last activity. I am looking forward to the rest of the presentations the following class period.
October 21st
Today we started the day, once again, by answering questions. This was helpful, because our midterm project was due the next class period. Then we went through the Chapter 5 and 6 study guide. This was helpful also. We went through it and discussed it together in order to hear about other's ideas. It is due in a week, which also gives us a good chance to reflect on what we talked about in class and figure out our answers.
After the reading guide we did a short little lab. This was fun and entertaining. It also took the perfect amount of time so that we still had time to reflect together as a class. The lab was basically blowing air on a ping pong ball and watching it jump from the glass and land in another one. The air was what made the ping pong ball jump out of the first glass. We also found that the air created a current. I also learned that the harder we blew on the ball, the further it would go. We also made a graph to portray this finding. This lab was fun and entertaining along with benficial and informational!
After the reading guide we did a short little lab. This was fun and entertaining. It also took the perfect amount of time so that we still had time to reflect together as a class. The lab was basically blowing air on a ping pong ball and watching it jump from the glass and land in another one. The air was what made the ping pong ball jump out of the first glass. We also found that the air created a current. I also learned that the harder we blew on the ball, the further it would go. We also made a graph to portray this finding. This lab was fun and entertaining along with benficial and informational!
October 16th
Today we were in the computer lab. We all got on the Internet and went to a site where we learned about Staying Safe Online. This site we went to had a worksheet, which we were given, to fill out. We went through each question and clicked on the different links in order to find the answers to the questions. The questions all related to how students can be safe online. The information we wrote down, I actually already knew, but it would be great for younger students to learn about.
After the worksheet we filled out some stars with what we think would be the most important tips for people to know before using the internet. Then we drew pictures and colored the stars. This was a good creative activity for the students used to culminate the information they learned.
The last activity we did, was look up a URL that had information we could use in order to stay safe in the lab. We did this in groups. It was an easy assignment which was nice because we were all a little hyper today.
After the worksheet we filled out some stars with what we think would be the most important tips for people to know before using the internet. Then we drew pictures and colored the stars. This was a good creative activity for the students used to culminate the information they learned.
The last activity we did, was look up a URL that had information we could use in order to stay safe in the lab. We did this in groups. It was an easy assignment which was nice because we were all a little hyper today.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
October 14th
Today we went through a PowerPoint regarding safety. The presentation shared considerations and information regarding safety. It also answered questions about our midterm project.
Before the presentation we opened with questions regarding the class. It seems we open with questions everyday which is helpful, so that we all are on the same page. However, I think we all seem to get confused from class to class on what is expected. So sometimes the questions are a little repetitive which can hinder our learning time.
After the presentation we read an example of a Science Story. We took turns reading, which helped to get us all engaged. Since a Science Story is part of our assignment for the midterm, I was happy we received an example of one.
Overall, class was productive today and my concerns on the midterm project were cleared up.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Amazing Food Detective
I thought this activity was great! I did a couple of the case studies. I did Emily and Althea. The thing I liked the most about this website and game was how interactive it was. It did a great job of showing me how to use the tools and it was very instructional and easy to do. I loved the colors and visuals as well. One thing that was also great was the print out of the activities we could do away from the computer and at home. This is helpful because not everyone has a computer or enjoys using one. I think it is also important to incorporate different activities into the same unit so children don't get bored to easily. I thought this was great because it also integrated parents into the information and knowledge being taught and learned. I think that it also did a good job of including boys and girls. I think both genders would like this website and detective solving. There were also mini-games that go along with each case. They are also fun and a great way to learn and use different areas of the brain. I also think the mini-games can be used more for fun then for learning so teachers could use them as a reward!
CyberBee
Wow! I loved this website. At first when I looked at it I really didn't see to much, but then I looked at the links on the right. The first one I clicked on was 'curriculum ideas'. This had a ton of information ranging all of the different ways to integrate Internet into the classroom curriculum. It included all of the subject areas and cross-curricular ideas, which was great because I won't be teaching just one subject area. Then I clicked on 'web projects'. There were only two but they seemed fun and beneficial to the students. There was also a link for 'research'. This link would help student dealing with web evaluation guides, citing electronic resources, and noodle tools (which is a quick cite area). The last link I clicked on was 'treasure hunts'. This link led me to a page full of other links that were super fun and helpful such as 'science on the web' and a treasure hunt where you answer trivia questions regarding your favorite authors. I think this website is completely beneficial and would be great to use in the classroom with every subject area. One of my favorite things about this website was it's integration of the different areas and ways that Internet and technology can be used in the classroom. I will definitely be visiting this website in the future!
October 7th
Today we opened class with a slew of questions that needed to be answered. This is important so that everyone starts off on the same page. After asking and answering questions we moved into the PowerPoint dealing with safety in the classroom.
This PowerPoint gave all of us a lot of information regarding the midterm project. It showed us the rules we should follow in the classroom and the rules we should follow with our project. One thing I remember Dr. E. saying is 'to never leave the classroom when doing a lab'. This is a great example of having a safe learning environment.
Then we looked at a list of judging a science fair fairly. This had a lot of good information on it. I think the steps will really help me to learn about judging. I also liked the fact that there was a rubric attached to it. This was a great example and showed me what I need to be prepared for.
The last thing in class we did was a mirror lab, regarding mirror writing. I liked this lab. It was quick but fun and interactive. This lab is great because there isn't a lot of preparation needed. It was funny to see others writing and to try and write your own. It showed me how difficult it is to write without seeing also.
This PowerPoint gave all of us a lot of information regarding the midterm project. It showed us the rules we should follow in the classroom and the rules we should follow with our project. One thing I remember Dr. E. saying is 'to never leave the classroom when doing a lab'. This is a great example of having a safe learning environment.
Then we looked at a list of judging a science fair fairly. This had a lot of good information on it. I think the steps will really help me to learn about judging. I also liked the fact that there was a rubric attached to it. This was a great example and showed me what I need to be prepared for.
The last thing in class we did was a mirror lab, regarding mirror writing. I liked this lab. It was quick but fun and interactive. This lab is great because there isn't a lot of preparation needed. It was funny to see others writing and to try and write your own. It showed me how difficult it is to write without seeing also.
October 2nd
Today I was not in class. I went to the Rosebud Indian Reservation for internship. However, I did do the reading for today and looked at the PowerPoint I missed.
I learned a lot about misconceptions while reading chapters 3 and 4. I learned that they should be used in the classroom as a stepping stone regarding the base of learning in the classroom. I learned that students should taught to learn from their 'wrong' ideas and learn new ones. Every child is going to come into the classroom with different ideas and it is a teachers' job to show the students the right way of thinking and let them explore on their own.
After looking at the PowerPoint I learned more about building upon teaching concepts. There was a lot of information in the slide show. One thing I found interesting is that research has found is in regards to core concepts. Research basically says the best way for children to learn is to be taught the basics, then taught more on top of them, and that these concepts should be taught year after year. This is important, because it is hard for students to understand material they haven't been taught before.
I learned a lot about misconceptions while reading chapters 3 and 4. I learned that they should be used in the classroom as a stepping stone regarding the base of learning in the classroom. I learned that students should taught to learn from their 'wrong' ideas and learn new ones. Every child is going to come into the classroom with different ideas and it is a teachers' job to show the students the right way of thinking and let them explore on their own.
After looking at the PowerPoint I learned more about building upon teaching concepts. There was a lot of information in the slide show. One thing I found interesting is that research has found is in regards to core concepts. Research basically says the best way for children to learn is to be taught the basics, then taught more on top of them, and that these concepts should be taught year after year. This is important, because it is hard for students to understand material they haven't been taught before.
Web Seminar
After viewing the Web Seminar, I realized how beneficial something like this is in the classroom. The information was presented in a way that made me interested and kept my attention. One thing I really enjoyed about the presentation was the use of charts and diagrams. They did a great job of depicting the information and showing how it connects. One of my favorite diagrams was the comparing and contrasting of the high and low mass stars. I also learned about the make-up of stars and that hydrogen makes up the majority of a star.
In a classroom, when I am the teacher, I think I could truly use Web Seminars to teach different subjects. I think students would enjoy this, not only because of the viewing appeal, but because it is interactive. I also think viewing the presentation is beneficial, because students can go back and look at the slides in order to refresh their memory. Another advantage of using a Web Seminar is for comprehension. By having students interact, you as the teacher can see who understands the material. This experience overall, was a good one for me. It was beneficial to see the use of technology in the classroom and I learned more than I probably would just from a lecture because I could move at my own pace.
In a classroom, when I am the teacher, I think I could truly use Web Seminars to teach different subjects. I think students would enjoy this, not only because of the viewing appeal, but because it is interactive. I also think viewing the presentation is beneficial, because students can go back and look at the slides in order to refresh their memory. Another advantage of using a Web Seminar is for comprehension. By having students interact, you as the teacher can see who understands the material. This experience overall, was a good one for me. It was beneficial to see the use of technology in the classroom and I learned more than I probably would just from a lecture because I could move at my own pace.
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