Want to meet my classroom plants? I love having plants in my classroom - it’s fun to have a few plant companions and also soften up your decor a bit. Plus for me, it fills the hole for classroom pets. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=50XM57Z-Wv8 In the video linked above I show you the plants that have called my … Continue reading Classroom Plants!
Author: BetterScienceTeaching
Getting ready for next year?
Everyone starts thinking about the next school year before summer starts, right? I do. May brings not only graduation and finals, but also prepping summer work, science fair kickoff for next year, and launching next year’s student leaders with a last days of school retreat. Yea. Insane. One critically important thing to me is a … Continue reading Getting ready for next year?
Scientific Method vs. Engineering Design
Early in your science fair project, it can be helpful to think about if you are pursuing answering a question using the scientific method, or if you are problem solving with engineering design. The answer will influence your project from your research plan to your final judging. https://youtu.be/3t26b59bjcQ
Pandemic-proof plans
The 2020-2021 school year is setting up to be just as challenging as the spring of 2020. Can teachers ever hope to plan for their students? Of course we can! We know class will happen, and we know what our objectives will be. That's really all we need to lay out a plan for the … Continue reading Pandemic-proof plans
What is Science Fair Friday?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSIekuOZt00&feature=youtu.be Science Fair Friday as a YouTube series is long past-due! Here we go - for teachers, students, and parents - a weekly series about science fair. I have big plans for this over the next year. I also want it to be useful for you! If you have questions, suggestions, or have information you … Continue reading What is Science Fair Friday?
How to Make a Good Science Fair Project Idea into a Great Idea!
How can you develop your own unique, prize winning idea? How can you make it better? Watch here!
Science Fair: Student Peer Review
My students participate in a Writing Workshop and Peer Review Session before their last submission of their introduction. The purpose of this activity is to actively engage students in supporting each other by giving meaningful feedback. This activity is meant to model the peer-review process used by professional scientists. At this point in the class, … Continue reading Science Fair: Student Peer Review
Science Fair: Timeline
One challenge for many teachers is how to distribute work through the year so that students can complete their work on-time and with minimal stress. I tell parents my goal is that students will not be spending a full weekend with no sleep just before the fair. I expect students to work through the year … Continue reading Science Fair: Timeline
What is up with K-12 Paleontology Education?
Kids LOVE Paleontology! This isn't my writing (I found it someplace online), but in 3rd grade I wrote to my teacher, Mrs. Greene, that when I grew up I wanted to be a paleontologist and study fossils in Utah. I did grow up to earn a PhD in paleontology, and did study some fossils in … Continue reading What is up with K-12 Paleontology Education?
Science Fair: Topic Ideas
Generating new ideas is hard. Students can choose from a seemingly unlimited number of topics - as long as they apply the scientific method or engineering principles. Giving students the most freedom possible is a good thing. I require students to stay away from projects that are a demonstration of a known idea or product … Continue reading Science Fair: Topic Ideas
Better Science Teaching 