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<>I’m a scientist! Introducing
probeware
into your elementary
classroom
FETC 2005, Orlando
The following
resources are offered in addition to those to be shared during the
session. You’ll find resources, training, and activities covering very
simple and very inexpensive items for the classroom. Probeware gives us
a unique tool to engage learners and build concepts in whole new ways.
However, the focus is always on the science understanding and not on
the technology. Experiment and enjoy. Your students will thank you for
taking the first steps to bring science probeware into your classroom.
Remember, as you start out, keep it simple!
Another point to keep in mind is that because of the benefits of
introducing science probeware into classrooms, this is a very
“fundable” activity. You don’t have to rewrite your entire curriculum.
Start small with a topic you enjoy and look how probeware could make it
an even better experience for your students. In the “articles” section
of this handout, you’ll find references to how other elementary
teachers used probeware. These might give you an idea of how to begin
your grant project.
FREE Staff Development
Opportunities Online
The demands on elementary teachers are many and varied. Getting time to
get to staff development opportunities can be tough. The Annenberg/CPB
Foundation has produced an excellent site filled with the most amazing
resources. You can sign up for courses or you can use the materials for
self-study. Online videos, additional links, and readings are available
to accompany the courses. Each of the workshops also has lots of
student activities for you to try where you can apply your new insights
into the topic under study. Do not miss this site!!
Life Science for Elementary Teachers
Source: http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/essential/life/
Learning Science Through Inquiry
Source: http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/inquiry/
Science in Focus: Energy
Source: http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/energy/
Science in Focus: Force and Motion
Source: http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/force/
Shedding Light on Science
Source: http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/sheddinglight/
Annenberg/CPB does not charge for teachers using these resources.
Districts, schools, universities, etc. can use these materials to
support instruction or staff development. Think about it. No matter
where you live or what’s happening with your schedule, Annenberg/CPB
has provided you with a resource to assist in your personal
development. Further down this page, you’ll find one or two more
topics, such as weather, that also have staff development
opportunities.
General Sources of
Activities of All Types
Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE)
A thorough and extensive source of science learning opportunities and
resources for teachers and students in the K-12 system. You could spend
hours at this site exploring what’s available!
Source: http://www.dlese.org/educators/k12.html
Internet4Classrooms
Source: http://www.internet4classrooms.com/science_elem.htm
There are some wonderful activities here that can really liven up a
classroom if you’ve been looking for some new ideas.
Windows
to the Universe
Lesson Plans and Activities for the Classroom
Source:
You’ll find science activities - hands-on, paper and pencil, and online
- on the solar system, weather, geology, oceans, and life, sun and
spaceweather, physics and chemistry, as well as items from NASA. There
are links at the site for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced
activities. Beginner level activities are focused at K-5 classrooms,
Intermediate focuses on 6 to 9, and Advanced looks at items appropriate
for grades 9 -12.
Webwatcher Guides from NSTA
Source:
http://webwatchers.nsta.org/
Locate lessons that fit your science needs. Sites have been vetted by
members of NSTA.
WonderNet: Your
Science Place in Cyberspace
Lots of different types of experiments aimed a elementary.
Baking
is a science!
They’ve
done a nice job of setting up some very simple science fair activities
involving the everyday world.
Articles
Communicating Learning
The
Force of Multimedia Slide Shows by Darcy Santangelo and Mark Guy
(March, 2004)
Note: You have to be an NSTA member to access this article. It’s in the
Science & Children journal put out by NSTA.
Learning
in Motion by Kathleen Hogan
Ms. Hogan documents her systematic use of the motion sensor in the
grade one classroom to help students understand graphs.
Using
Technology to Help Children Form Representations
of
Mathematical
Concepts by Stefan J. Pape
A motion sensor becomes a friend in the classroom when trying to get
the concepts of speed, acceleration, and slope across to students.
Studying Ecosystems by Patricia Haslet
This isn’t a journal article so much as it is a narrative of how a
grade 3 teacher incorporated a pH sensor, oxygen probe, and temperature
sensor for use by her students to monitor the habitat of a new pet in
class - a fish.
http://homepage.mac.com/yerrick/Personal7.html
Teacher Education and Probeware
This is from Randy Yerrick’s page on the use of video and probeware in
the science classroom.
Source: http://homepage.mac.com/yerrick/iMovieTheater24.html
Grade 6 and Mobile Labs Incorporating Probeware
Again, from Randy Yerrick’s page, you’ll find an entertaining
presentation of just what happened when he combined students and
probeware.
Source: http://homepage.mac.com/yerrick/iMovieTheater20.html
Source: http://homepage.mac.com/yerrick/PhotoAlbum1.html
Story of a Grade One Teacher's Use of a Motion Sensor
Newton's Laws for 3rd Grade
http://www.sedl.org/scimast/archives/answers/94.html
Soil
Soil Science Education Home Page
An amazing collection of activities and information for all ages. This
is part of the GLOBE project and is sponsored by NASA. Don’t leave home
without it!
Source: http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/globe/index.htm
Dr. Soil
Using the concept that the soil had become ill, an inventive teacher
engaged her grade three students in learning about soil and the factors
affecting it. Excellent!
Source: http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/globe/drsoil/drsoil.htm
Globe 2003 Soil Chapter
http://archive.globe.gov/tctg/tgchapter.jsp?sectionId=86
Soil Science Education Home page
Here's a beginning level activity that introduces students to looking
at soil. From there they can go to measuring the pH level of their
soil.
http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html
Why Do We Study Soil?
Source: http://archive.globe.gov/tctg/section_100.pdf?sectionId=100
The concept of just how much soil is available to support the food
needs of people on Earth is difficult to understand, especially for
at-risk and very young students. They have an excellent activity in
this PDF where an apple is used to illustrate this concept.
Measuring Moisture in the Soil
Source: http://archive.globe.gov/tctg/section_93.pdf?sectionId=93
“Students collect soil samples with a trowel or auger and weigh them,
dry them, and then weigh them again. The soil water content is
determined by calculating the difference between the wet sample mass
and the dry sample mass.
From Mud Pies to Bricks
Source: http://archive.globe.gov/tctg/section_103.pdf?sectionId=103
“Students are introduced to the different particle sizes of soils and
the properties which each contributes to the soil character.”
Just Passing Through - Beginners
Source: http://archive.globe.gov/tctg/section_101.pdf?sectionId=101
“Students develop an understanding of how water flows through soils and
of how the water changes as it goes through.”
Just Passing Through - More Advanced
Source: http://archive.globe.gov/tctg/section_102.pdf?sectionId=102
“Students develop an understanding of some of the relationships between
soils of different types and water.”
Soil and My Backyard
Source: http://archive.globe.gov/tctg/section_104.pdf?sectionId=104
“Students will discover the variability of soils, derive relationships
among soils and the soil forming factors, and link the GLOBE Soil
Investigation to the students' local environment.”
pH Factor from the Miami Museum of Science
Source: http://www.miamisci.org/ph/
Zinnia Race
This isn’t strictly a soil activity, but it adds a nice touch to
extending the study of soil to the things that impact plants. Students
plant zinnia seeds and monitor various factors to determine which
variables have the greatest impact on this race to grow the biggest
zinnia the fastest.
Source: http://www.kidsgardening.com/themes/scientists15.asp
Sound
The Sound Site
Source: http://www.smm.org/sound/nocss/
WonderNet: Sound
and Hearing
I love what I hear!
From NIH, this is a complete teaching unit on the ear and hearing.
Designed to not only teach how the ear functions, but also what we can
do to protect our hearing. A sound sensor works great with this theme
to provide immediate feedback on just how loud noise is!
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/education/teachers/index.asp
Wise ears!
Bookmarks and activities are available for free that highlight how to
keep your ears and your hearing safe.
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/wise/index.asp
Simple movie demonstrating how the ear hears
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/education/video/travel1_4.mov
Water
The
Water Cycle
Source: Academy Curricular Exchange Columbia Education Center
Activity: You’ll find a simple, easy-to-build model that can be used to
illustrate the water cycle. Children create a land mass that is set in
a “lake” and then covered with plastic wrap. Over time - 1 to 3 days -
students can observe their own little world go through the water cycle.
Water Science
Source: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/
If you want to know about water on Earth, this is the site for you! The
USGS has put together a comprehensive resource covering everything from
the basics in information right through to activities and pictures.
They even have a certificate of completion for working through the
site. You can print it off and have it signed!
Fresh Water Ecosystems
The Missouri Botanical Unit can help you explore pond, lakes, and
rivers with your students. They’ve created simple pages with nice
pictures to illustrate their points. It’s short and to the point.
Source: http://mbgnet.mobot.org/fresh/
Watershed
Game
This is an online game at two levels - novice and intermediate. The
game quizzes students on their knowledge of issues related to the
watershed.
Explor-A-Pond
Quote: ExplorA-Pond offers offers a variety of ways to learn about pond
ecology. One component is a worldwide online project for K-12 students
to study pond ecology and create a database of pond descriptions. There
are grade level appropriate activities and lesson plans that cover both
science and mathemetics concepts. An adopt-a-pond project allows
students to submit information and images about their local pond to be
viewed by others. A virtual pond simulation challenges students to
populate the pond in such a way that the creatures in the pond remain
healthy and thriving.”
Source: http://www.uen.org/utahlink/pond/index.html
Weather
Are you a little uncertain about some of the science behind studying
weather? Don’t worry! The Annenberg/CPB Foundation is here to help.
Weather: What forces affect our weather?
Source: http://www.learner.org/exhibits/weather/
Another “let’s get acquainted” with the science associated with the
atmosphere is available from the University Corporation for Atmospheric
Research at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. They have an
online learning module associated with the science to do with cycles of
the Earth and atmosphere. This will get you up to speed on the concepts
as high as middle school. In addition to the staff development you can
get at the site, they have woven in the student activities that you
might use with that content.
Source: http://www.ucar.edu/learn/
Interactive
Weather Map
Source:
This is a very simple online activity that allows students to adjust
temperature and humidity by moving simple slider bars to create their
own weather systems. The impact of their adjustments is illustrated on
the right in a picture that shows what could happen. This, in turn, is
accompanied by an explanation of why these things combined to create
the weather they did.
Hands-On Weather Activites
You’ll find such things as how to create your own tornado, cloud, fog,
lightning, and rain. There are additional activities at the site you’ll
find useful, too.
Exploring
Properties of Air
Source:
This PDF file from the FAA is really to get students involved in
considering the principles of science in aviation. However, there are
lots of great experiments (and simple) related to the study of air.
Plants
Kids Gardening has theme gardens available for teachers. One of those
is “Nurturing Young Scientists.” Here you’ll find that they’ve got the
following sections: 1. Introduction; 2. Cultivating Keen Observers; 3.
Inquiring Into Inquiry; 4. It's All in the Eyes; 5. Beyond the
Scientific Method; 6. Exploring What Scientists Do; 7. Grappling with
Data; 8. Getting to Know Plants; 9. Cultivating Inquirers; 10. Insect
Appeal; 11. Netting A Solution to Aphids; 12. Inspiring Insect Sleuths;
13. Luminous Lessons; 14. Weatherwise Learners; 15. Greenhouse Zinnia
Race; and, 16. Resources. This is your chance to use gardens to involve
everyone with science.
Explore the other “theme gardens” available that show you how to link
math and science, literacy and science, and much, much more.
Source: http://www.kidsgardening.com/themes/scientists1.asp
pH Factor from the Miami Museum of Science
Source: http://www.miamisci.org/ph/
Using
radish to test pH levels
All I Have is Yeast!!
Fleishmann’s provides a nice overview of yeast
Source: http://www.breadworld.com/sciencehistory/science.asp
Simple experiments involving yeast
Source: http://www.lesaffreyeastcorp.com/SoY/experiments.html
How Sugar Affects Yeast; Is Yeast Alive?; Effects of Mixing
Flour, Sugar, Water and Yeast; How Temperature Affects Yeast; Effects
of Salt in Bread Making; Effects of Sugar in Bread Making.
Information on yeast and the science behind what happens
when
it
multiplies
Note: This is meant for teachers or advanced students.
The
secret of rising bread
The
secret of baking powder! (Here comes carbon dioxide again!)
How
is sodapop made?
Why
do some sodapop bottles explode all over the place
and
others don’t?
There’s a nice, simple explanation at this site.
Pasta
with pep!
Use pasta and soda pop to set up a race! See carbon dioxide at work in
a new way.
Overview
of greenhouse gases impacting the Earth
NASA: Earth Observatory
Connection
Carbon Dioxide with Pollution
NASA: Earth Observatory
NASA: Earth Observatory
Source: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/
Data and images
Lots of information about the carbon cycle
This is a little advanced, but the experiments are explained in fairly
simple terms.
Source: http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/esi/1998/p/carboncycle/experiments.html
Session notes:
The science probeware used
in the session is from PASCO Scientific. They can be located at:
http://www.pasco.com
Other information regarding probeware can be
found at this site through this link.
The multimedia software you saw
was from eZedia at http://www.ezedia.com
Other resources . . .
Students in our graduate class took the science probeware out to their
classrooms and then prepared a summary on what they discovered. That
presentation is available online at this site.
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