Water Cycle (Website)

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html

This link will lead you to an interactive water cycle website.  Children are able to listen as the water cycle is discussed in great detail (e.g. rain, water storage, vapor, and clouds)  This is a valuable tool because the pictures and words directly correlate to what the speaker is saying.  It would be a wonderful resource to use when teaching about the water cycle.

Dinosaur Word Search (Website)

http://www.primarygames.com/science/dinosaurs/games/word_search/search.htm

This website is an online word search game.  Here children have to find specific words dealing with the topic of dinosaurs.  (e.g. extinct, Tyrannosaurus Rex, fossils, etc.)  I think this would be a useful and fun way to end a unit lesson on dinosaurs.

 

Simple Machines (Website)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1Fhs8pXGxM

This song sings about the 6 simple machines - wedge, lever, inclined plane, wheel and axle, screw, and pulley.  It would be great to use as a motivational experience to get children interested and exciting to learn more about these 6 simple machines. 

Digestive System Movie (Website)

http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=1&article_set=59299&cat_id=20607

This movie introduces children to the digestive system and how it works.  It would best be used for students in grades 3 to 5.  It's a useful resource because not only it is very informative; it's easy to follow along and listen to as well.

Kinetic City (Website)

http://www.kineticcity.com/controlcar/activity.php?act=4&virus=puniverse

This interactive game involves children picking a constellation and then finding it on a star map.  This game would be a great addition for a unit lesson on our solar system.  It's value lies in the fact that children are active participants; searching for a constellation while learning the history behind it.

States of Matter Quiz (Website)

http://dimdima.com/science/Quiz/show_quiz.asp?q_aid=13&q_title=States%20of%20Matter

This online website can be used as an assessment tool.  After learning about matter and its three states, children can go to this site and answer the questions.  This is a valuable tool because it allows the teacher to see if her students understand the concepts or if she needs to provide further instruction.

Body Parts (Website)

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/science/body_parts_p/english.htm

This website includes both the picture and the written word of different body parts (e.g. nose, mouth, eyes, etc.)  Children can click on each item and hear what they are.  This is very beneficial for young students (especially ELLs) learning the different body parts.  It can be a good review after a lesson on the human body.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Website)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpISHA8Fs4w

Children can visit this website and enjoy the well-know story of Eric Carle - The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  This YouTube video reading of the book is great way to introduce a lesson on the butterfly life cycle. It's worthwhile and purposeful in getting the children's attention and focusing them on what will later be taught.

Underwater Life (Website)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyLGimRd4RA

This YouTube video shows real-life, vivid pictures of underwater sea animals.  It would be perfect to play before any unit on oceanography.  It would introduce children to certain vocabulary words such as: ocean, environment, animals, sea creatures, underwater, sharks, fish, etc.

Seasons WebQuest (Website)

http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=134163

This Web Quest is designed for children in grades K-2. It will provide the opportunity for children to learn about the four seasons - Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.  It’s a valuable Web Quest with regards to being kid-friendly and kid-interactive.

 

A Swim Through the Sea (Book)

A Swim Through the Sea  by: Kristin Joy Pratt

This alphabet book is actually written and illustrated by a 16 year old and is a classic introduction to the marine habitat. Each page highlights a selected species with fascinating facts about each.  I like this book because it reaches a wide range of children and successfully inspires them to learn more about intriguing sea creatures found in our oceans.

Young Genius: Brains (Book)

Young Genius: Brains  by: Kate Lennard

Young Genius is a bright little boy who escorts children through the pages of this amusing and colorful book.  Here children will discover answers to many interesting questions about their brains.  It also explains different parts of the human body and how each part works.  It’s a fantastic read for young children because it’s easy to understand with sound and reliable information.

The Buffalo Are Back (Book)

The Buffalo Are Back  by: Marie T. Cimarusti & Jean C. George

This book describes American’s prairies “in a time long ago” and the changes caused by the American settlers.  Unexpected discoveries like the nearly extinct buffalo grass emphasize how fragile the buffalo’s habitat had become.  It’s an ideal book for beginning further investigations into why animals become extinct and what we can do to help prevent that from happening.

S is for Scientists (Book)

S is for Scientists  by: Larry Verstraete

This alphabetic book talks about different scientists and scientific methods. It's not only a good read for elementary aged students; it’s great for middle and secondary readers as well.  Its creativity and depth of descriptions has earned it a designation as a NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book for 2011. 

Fabre's Book of Insects (Book)

Fabre’s Book of Insects  by: Jean H. Fabre

This book covers a wide range of insects, including the beetle, cicada, praying mantis, glow-worm, wasp, grub, cricket, and locust.  It contains information about these creatures as they hunt, build nests, feed families, etc.  This book would be great for providing background knowledge on insects and would open the door for further investigation on specific insects.

A Seed is Sleepy (Book)

A Seed is Sleepy  by: Dianna Hutts

This gorgeous and informative book is a great introduction to seeds.  Being poetic in design, this book introduces children to a fascinating array of seed and plant facts.  It’s perfect for a read aloud at home and in school.

A Day at Our Dairy Farm (Book)

 A Day at Our Dairy Farm  by: Barbara Reeves

This book is about dairy cows.  Real pictures are used to tell the story of how the milk gets from the cow to you.  It’s a simple read but is very informative and eye-catching. This would be a great book to launch a unit lesson on farm animals.

We're Different, We're the Same (Book)

We’re Different, We’re the Same  by: Bobbi Kates

When doing a science lesson that deals with the concept of sight and observation, I would read this book to my children.  This book draws on the fact that everybody is the same and different.  Children can then explore using their senses and make observations between themselves and others.  For example, give each child a hand lens and ask them to look at their hands.  Encourage them to then look at a friend’s hand.  Make comparisons.  Ask, “What do you see that is the same? Different?”

Wallop and Whizz and the Bottle of Fizz (Book)

    Wallop and Whizz and the Bottle of Fizz  by: Philip Hawthorn

This book is a great read for children 7 and up.  Furthermore, this rhyming book would be a great additional asset to a lesson involving fizz and bubbles.  For example, when doing a lesson on bubbles raising raisins, read this book as a motivational experience or activating strategy.

Hattie and the Fox (Book)

   Hattie and the Fox  by: Mem Fox

In summary, this book (which includes much repetition) is about Hattie, a big black hen.  Throughout the book, Hattie discovers that there is a fox hiding in the bushes.  This in turn causes varying reactions from the other barnyard animals.  This story could be used then to introduce the idea of prey and predators.  After reading the story, talk more about the difference between prey and predators.  Have children become the “prey” and “predator” by creating a fun came of tag.

Science Investigation Box: Farm Theme (Lesson Plan)

This science investigation box is designed for children to explore the different types of cow feeds. The goal is to explore the materials using their senses - sight, touch, and smell. It's a good lesson and center because it builds on the children's natural curiosity to learn more about the world around them.  

Grades: K-2

Looking At Me (Lesson Plan)

This lesson plan primarily focuses on the topic - senses. Children learn that by using their senses (specifically sight), they can learn a lot about themselves, others, and the world around them. This noteworthy lesson will help improve children's science process skills - observing, classifying, and experimenting.

Student Learning Map

Name: Kimberly Ritchey                                                               Date: 2/1/2012

Course/Subject: Science                                                              Team:

Topic: Senses                                                                                   School/District:

Key Learning: (this is linked to the Unit Essential Question) Learning through the 5 senses.

Unit Essential Question: (the Unit EQ) Why is it important for us to use our sense of sight in science?

Concept: Sight	Concept:	Concept:
Lesson Essential Questions: How does sight enable us to be scientists?	Lesson Essential Questions:	Lesson Essential Questions:
Vocabulary: Hand lenses	Vocabulary:	Vocabulary:

Additional Information/Resources: If this was a lesson in my classroom, I would read a book. (e.g. We’re Different, We’re the Same by Bobbi Kates.)

Acquisition Lesson Plan

Plan for the concept, topic, or skill-not for the day

Name: ____Kimberly Ritchey___ Topic: Senses

Essential Question: How does sight enable us to be scientists?

What do students need to learn to be able to answer the Essential Question? Assessment Prompt: Stop and Share. Assessment Prompt: Look at a friend. Assessment Prompt: Same? Different?

Activating Strategy: Excitingly share that they’re going to be scientists and will be using a special scientific tool – a hand lens. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Key vocabulary to preview: Hand lenses (for young children or ELLs)

Teaching Strategies: Graphic Organizer: N/A

Instruction: Give each child a hand lens. Ask the children to look at their hands through the lenses. Give them time to explore. Follow the children’s leads – encouraging them to describe what they see. AP#1: Stop and have children share what they observed. Use questions to guide the children. AP #2: Encourage the children to look at a friend’s or your skin or clothes. AP #3: Ask “What do you see that is the same?” Ask “What do you see that is different?” Assignment: For homework, ask the children to find a family member or a friend. Instruct them to put their hand and their family member’s or friend’s hand side by side. Have them observe the two. Tell them that tomorrow we’ll talk about what they saw. (e.g. Similarities and differences between the color, size, shape, and texture.)

Summarizing Strategy: Have the children share with a partner their response to the EQ: How does sight enable us to be scientists? Discuss their answer as a whole group. Assign the homework assignment (above).

Taste Buds (Lesson Plan)

This is a fantastic lesson to use when teaching about taste buds.  Children get to taste different foods and talk about if it’s salty, sweet, sour, or bitter.  Moreover, I like how most of the worksheet questions do not have right and wrong answers.  Instead, children are allowed the opportunity to experiment and back up their answers with evidence and strong reasoning.

Title – Taste Test
By – Catelin Welch
Primary Subject – Science
Grade Level – 3^rd

Standards:

Science 5B – Observe a simple system and describe the role of various parts.
Science 2B – Collect information by observing and measuring.

Learning Objectives:

·         By the end of the activity, the students will be able to determine sweet, salty, sour, and bitter tastes.

·         By the end of the activity, the students will be able to determine what lemon juice, sugar, and water will make by experimentation.

·         By the end of the activity, the students will be able to fill out the worksheets successfully.

Materials Needed:

·         lemon juice,

·         vanilla,

·         salt,

·         sugar,

·         cups,

·         water,

·         little spoons,

·         pencils,

·         information about sense of taste and taste buds and

·         worksheet.

Pre-Activity Preparation:

·         Prepare lesson on taste buds

·         Prepare worksheet

·         Gather materials

Transition:

·         Move desks into groups of three. Explain to children to be careful not to spill and if they do, tell them to clean it up.

Procedure:

·         Discuss the terms sweet, salty, sour, and bitter.

·         Discuss taste buds.

·         Discuss “lye” bumps.

·         Line up the cups, label them, and separately put the ingredients in the correctly labeled cups.

·         Put on each groups desk:

·         3 lemon juice cups,

·         3 sugar cups,

·         3 salt cups,

·         3 vanilla cups, and

·         3 cups of water.

·         Pass out napkins, spoons, worksheets and pencils.

·         Read the directions on the worksheet aloud.

·         Instruct students to begin following their worksheet.

WORKSHEET QUESTIONS:

1.      What do you think vanilla will taste like? (Sweet, salty, sour, or bitter)
Were you correct? What does it really taste like?

2.      Which one is sweet, vanilla or sugar?

3.      Salt and sugar look the same, but do they taste the same?

4.      What happens when you mix a little salt and sugar together?

5.      What happens when you mix lemon juice, water, and sugar together?

6.      Which is your favorite, sweet, salty, sour, or bitter?

7.      Which is your least favorite?

8.      Do you have more sweet taste buds or sour taste buds?

9.      If you eat a dill pickle which part of your mouth will tell you that it’s sour, your front, back, or middle?

10.  What makes the little bumps (lye bumps) on your tongue?

11.  Who do you think has more taste buds? (Kids, Adults) (Boys, Girls)