Energy Game (insulators and conductors)

Based on a game from the EIA, students review electrical energy  - insulators and conductors with this game.  

16x20 gameboard and spinner

To use the spinner, put the point of a pencil through a paper clip in the center of the spinner.  Flick the paper clip and wait for it to stop on a section of the spinner.  If it is an insulator - move ahead 2 spaces.  If it is a conductor - move ahead 3 spaces.  

The gameboard has pit falls such as move ahead or move back, spin again and go back to start.

*Add color and game pieces such as novelty erasers, pawns, bottle caps or other markers.

With 4 players, this game takes about 15 minutes to play.  To extend time, use the added rule that if a player lands on a space occupied by another player - that player goes back to the start.

All About Energy

I helped a 3rd grade homeschool group learn about energy.  (Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards Big Idea 10: Forms of Energy Benchmarks: SC.3.P.10.1, SC.3.P.10.2)

We watched a quick video (Peekaboo Kidz - The Dr.  Binocs Show: Energy)

Then students created a graphic organizer on energy including -  forms of energy (potential & kinetic) and types of energy (light, heat, sound, electrical, mechanical, chemical & gravitational).

Booklet includes fill in the blank vocabulary, a concept map, cut and paste examples and a word find.

Students took the booklet home to share with their families however it would be a good activity as part of an interactive notebook.

I displayed  the Types & Forms of Energy Anchor Charts for students to use as a reference.

We had some time at the end of class so we demonstrated the change from potential to kinetic energy with wind up boats.  I cut a template out of take-out containers and added a rubber band and paper clip.  We raced in wallpaper trays. 

Student Led Test Review

Students don't look forward to reviewing for assessments.

With this board game, students can review for the Science semester exam and have fun.

 

There are 58 questions that cover the standards for Nature of Science, Matter and the Periodic Table.

The answers are included on the game cards so students receive immediate feedback.

As students are playing/reviewing, I can monitor their progress and give struggling students individual attention.

Students are engaged and I’m able to quickly determine if they’re prepared!

Using Cornell Notes in Science

Benefits of using Cornell Note outlines for your students

• Notes are organized 
• Students can quickly identify key words and concepts
• Notes can be used as a study guide

How to Use Sandy’s Science Cornell Notes

1. Start with an outline 

• There are 51 topics available (Nature of Science, Matter, Space) – try this one for free - Scale of the Universe Cornell Notes #10

• Standard and Composition Sizes are both included

2. Use resources to fill in

• I always try the textbook first. Ours does not have much but it's a good start. Have students fill in what they can of the notes.
• Next I use videos, simulations games etc.  Each set of Cornell Notes has suggested resources such as:
• Study JAMS: The Universe
• TED Ed: How small are we in the scale of the universe?
• TED Ed: How to measure extreme distances
• Crazy Games: Scale of the Universe 2
• Powers of 10
• Khan Academy – Scientific Notation
• BuzzFeed: 27 Facts That Will Make You Question Your Existence
• BuzzFeed: The True Size Of The Universe As We Know It
• Animaniacs: Yakko's Universe Song
• Clint Black: Galaxy Song 

3. Check student’s answers or use the answer key for direct instruction for students that need differentiation.

 

4. Glue into an interactive notebook. 

Students can refer back to these notes as homework, a reference for an exit ticket/formative assessment or as a study guide for a summative assessment.

Rockets - Back to the Moon

NASA is launching Artemis on Monday August 29th. (Sep 2nd & 5th are alternate days).  

The launch window on the 29th is between 8:33 a.m. EDT and 10:33 a.m. EDT (12:33 and 14:33 UTC).

There is a new website and video:  

Students need to know the advantages of multistage rockets.  This launch is a good way to show them!

Students can fill in a Cornell (2 column) Notes Outline that includes Key Terms, Questions and Summary prompt about the Science of Rockets (thrust, velocity, multistage).

Are you setting up your sub plan folder?

Here are a few ideas to leave for a sub or have ready in case a collegue is out and you're asked at the last minute to cover...

Scientific Method

• Watch a Mythbusters video clip

• Determine the parts of the experiment
• Hypothesis
• Identify the Variables - Independent variable (IV), Dependent variable (DV) & Controls
• Conclusion - Was the hypothesis supported or not?

*If you have sets of Jenga - let students try it!

Graphs

• Use a graph from the Graph of the Week site

• Identify the parts of a graph
• Title
• Independant variable (IV)
• Dependant variable (DV)
• Identify any trends (positive, negative, no trend)

I have a folder with copies and answer keys ready to go.  If I don't use them - they're ready to use next year.

Have a great year!

Don't have a Brain POP Subscription? Here's another option.

 I'm lucky to have a school that pays for a Brain POP subscription - it's really expensive!!!

Scholastic has a pretty good alternative that's FREE!!!!  It's called Study JAMS! and in some cases I like it better.  

Tides is a topic that I think Scholastic does a better job.  They include the Sun, moon, Earth relationship, high/low tides but they also discuss Spring and Neap tides which is part of our state's standards.

I made CLOZE notes to go along with the video.  My students need to have a purpose for watching a video to be engaged.  We watch it together once then decide if we need to go back and watch additional times to get the notes completed or review main ideas.  It's not unusual to re-watch 3-5 times.  *5 for chemical/physical changes was our record!

Did I mention the best part about Scholastic Study JAMS?  You can download the video to play offline. 

There is a playback speed option too.  I use this when the facts are presented quickly.  Students like this option because it means less times they need to re-watch.

To introduce tides, I use a wordfind as a warm-up, watch the video and complete notes and then a crossword as either a wrap-up or as homework.  The next class we'll do a cut and paste/sort or a more advanced graphing activity  (I like this one from Middle School Science - I adapted it and used our local tide data.)

The only drawbacks to using Study JAMS! is there are not closed captions and they don't have all the topics BrainPOP does.  I still think it's a great alternative!

Brain POP Tides Guided Notes

To introduce the topic of tides - I use CLOZE or guided notes in my classroom. 

I find completing notes while watching a video keeps students engaged.

BrainPOP requires a subscription - not included in the product

Here's how I suggest using the product:

1. Start with the word search (included) as a warm-up to introduce vocabulary terms before watching the video.
2. Next, Students watch the video and fill in the notes as they go. *After the video I ask students if they need to watch the video again. We have watched the videos several times in some cases. I let the students decide. *I walk around as the video plays to monitor student progress.
3. Review the answers together and have students glue the notes in their interactive notebooks for a reference.
4. Use the crossword (included) as a formative assessment to wrap-up. *There is a word bank to reinforce the vocabulary.

An Easel by TpT is included in each product. It has fill in notes just like the print copy and a link for the video (you'll need to provide students the username and password - not included).

Space Technology - Space Spinoffs

TRACE SPACE BACK TO YOU

Have you ever wondered how space exploration and research impact your daily life?  

This question is from the NASA Home and City website.  This is a fun way for students to investigate space technology (space spinoffs).  

I start with this video of former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine explaining how space has transformed how you live your life.

After the video, students can go to the NASA Home and City website where they can click to learn more about how technology created to explore space is helping make life better back on Earth. 

For example, click home -> bathroom -> sink to find that polished brass finishes on fighter jets, silicon chips and plumbing fixtures all share one thing in common: NASA surface-coating technologies.

I have students go through the website and fill in the chart below with their favorite spinoff, how it was used in space and how we use it on Earth.

Afterwards we discuss which spinoff they think is the most important/useful etc.  After the discussion I ask students to review the spinoffs we saw and discuss whether or not we should continue space exploration.

To differentiate: (or if you don't have student computers) use the  NASA 360 vodcast and fill in the chart together.  

To extend: have students read recent news stories such as: NASA Spinoffs Help Fight Coronavirus, Clean Pollution, Grow Food, More 

I like to remind students that they "paid" for this NASA products with their (parents) taxes.  This means they can apply to use the technology and make money from it!  That always gets them thinking....

FSSA - Last Minute Review

"Science Brain Dump" 

Right before the test, I give my students a copy of the Periodic Table - similar to the one they will get to use on the FSSA.  I tell them, we are going to do a "Brain Dump" about everything they know about Science that might be on the test.

*The released test has an old Periodic Table from 2012 - we review theories & laws and how theories can change over time...

I got this idea from Chris Kesler's Hacking the 8th Grade STARR Science Test that has many of the same topics that we cover.

Here's how we adapted this to our standards:

Front 

• Properties - chemical/physical, metals, nonmetals and metalloids and their location
• Subatomic particles - location, size and charge & how to calculate the # in each element (APE MAN)
• Periodic Table - groups/periods, atomic #, atomic mass, families, trends (reactivity)
• Chemical formulas - subscripts/coefficients
• Chemical equations - reactants, products

Back

• Moon Phases & Tides - spring/neap
• Seasons - equinox/solstice
• Plate Tectonics - boundaries and formations
• Life Science Vocabulary - abiotic/biotic, prokaryote/eukaryote, autotroph/heterotroph, sexual/asexual reproduction
• Body Systems functions - nervous, digestive, circulatory, immune, excretory
• Cell Organelles - mitochondria, vacuole, nucleus) differences between plant and animal cells
• Density - using the density triangle, units

Students and their parents are always asking for a "study guide."  This was a good way to engage students in making their own.  With the time left in class, students play a review game using their sheet.

FSSA Review - Physical Science

To review for Physical Science, I like student lead lab stations.  Chris Kesler is the best at these!  Because we are reviewing, I provide the answers at the lab stations so students have immediate feedback.  I copy the answers on pink paper and put them in a folder so it's easy to monitor student progress. 

One drawback is set-up can be time consuming.  A faster option is an "around the room" activity.

Use posters and released tests or item specifications.  Print the test questions and cut apart.  Tape question(s) under the appropriate poster around the room.  Have students rotate around the room in pairs answering the questions.  

To wrap up, put a copy of the questions under a document reader and review the answers together. 

Earth Day 2022

Interactive Poster Resource from NASA

Directions to use the Poster in your classroom:

Click the image below to access the pdf file.

Suggested Uses:

• Print as a classroom poster 
• Print copies to use in lab groups
• Use under a document reader

Students can use their phone or other device to scan the links.

FSSA Review - Nature of Science

Nature of Science 

There are ~12 questions on Nature of Science but they really weave through all of the questions because it's how we do Science.  

The standards covered: 
SC.8.N.1.1 Define a problem from the eighth grade curriculum using appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding, plan and carry out scientific investigations of various types, such as systematic observations or experiments, identify variables, collect and organize data, interpret data in charts, tables, and graphics, analyze information, make predictions, and defend conclusions.
SC.7.N.1.2 Differentiate replication (by others) from repetition (multiple trials).
SC.7.N.1.5 Describe the methods used in the pursuit of a scientific explanation as seen in different fields of science such as biology, geology, and physics.
SC.6.N.2.2 Explain that scientific knowledge is durable because it is open to change as new evidence or interpretations are encountered.
SC.7.N.3.1 Recognize and explain the difference between theories and laws and give several examples of scientific theories and the evidence that supports them.

*An important thing to remember in review is that you can't teach as if students have never seen the material.  You have to assume they have some sort of knowledge and build.  It's true there are gaps but you just have to work with the time and resources you have.

I look at the standards, pick out what I think are the most important/most missed items based on previous years scores and student data and then adapt resources to fit.  

For Nature of Science, the major topics I chose (see highlighted standards above) are:

• variables
• charts & graphs
• replication/repetition
• theories & laws
• investigations (methods, predict, analyze, conclusions, new evidence)

For these topics, I think the best way to review is an "around the room" activity. This is the time when you can pull out resources that you "just didn't get to" during regular instruction.  

I use old tests, quizzes, worksheets and cut them apart for the charts and graphs.  

I make a poster with a graphic then write a question at the bottom then post them around the classroom, down a hallway or clothespin them outside on a fence.  

Students walk around in pairs and answer the questions.  

There are 2 ways to handle the answers.  

1.  Put them on the back of the poster.  

2.  Review them at the end of the activity.  

I personally like on the back.  Students get immediate feedback.  Yes there are students that cheat look early!  I spend my time encouraging them to try to answer the question on their own first, then use the answer as a resource.  If students are looking - they are still engaged.  That's a good thing😀

FSSA Test Review Schedule

Our state test is similar to the TEKS and REGENTS.

About 2 (10 days) weeks to review so 2 days for each strand then 1 day general/catch-up (board game), 1 day brain dump using the reference sheet students will be given to use on the test.

We have a “Practice” FSSA to determine which topics need more review.  We use the textbook test but you could use a released test.

The basic schedule:

• Give crossword (Nature of Science, Physical Science 1, PS 2, Life Science 1, LS 2, Earth/Space Science) as homework the night before
• Check answers in class
• Lab stations or an activity based on student level of knowledge
• BINGO *enrichment if time
  
• Vocabulary Quiz (formative assessment)

Ready...Set...FSSA Review

State Testing Review starts after Spring Break.

I want students to have fun reviewing so I use crossword puzzles, wordsearches and games. 

We have a lot of standards to cover from 6th, 7th and 8th Grade...

so I divide the standards into categories: Nature of Science, Life Science 1, Life Science 2, Physical Science 1, Physical Science 2, Earth Science.  Depending on how well students know the content I can remediate or enrich as I go.

Students start by completeing a crossword puzzle as homework.   

Crosswords, BINGO & Quizzes

We check it the next day in class and then depending on how well they did we will play BINGO or do a hands on activity such as a lab, station activity, cut and paste notes etc.

After every category, we take a quick 10 question vocabulary quiz.  They are differentiated with a word bank.  I also have anchor charts posted for students that need extra help.

We like to play games so I always have a board game ready to go.  For FSSA Review I have game cards for each category: Nature of Science, Life Science, Physical Science, Earth/Space Science.  

FSSA Science Review Board Game

This game has 124 game cards.  The gameboard includes illustrations and pitfalls (You got sucked into a black hole by gravity. Go Back 1 space.)  

The game cards have the answers on them so the reader reviews while quizzing the other player.

I laminated the gameboard and copied the game cards on cardstock so I can use them again.