Brookstone School’s Science Committee

November 16, 2009

Agenda

General Information:

·  Wikispaces: http://brookstonesciencewiki.wikispaces.com/ Have you joined? Add a summary paragraph of something you have or are doing in your class that is hands-on, utilizes technology, or demonstrates authentic learning.

·  Workshops attended?

·  Competitions: From Ron

1. Georgia Youth Conservation Project. =Deadline of Jan 20, 2010. Info and a teacher's packet at www.georgiaconservancy.org

2. Eco-Hero Siemens "We Can Change the World Challenge." Details at www.wecanchange.com. I have posters on this contest in the Media Center.

I also have a copy of Teaching Conservation, Summer 09 from the Georgia Conservancy.

·  Topic : Authentic learning

o  What is Authentic Learning? Read page 74 in the following article: http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/sem/pdf/Enrichment_Clusters_News.pdf

o  Articles from Galileo in Shared folder/Garrett/Science Committee

o  Examples:

§  http://www.greece.k12.ny.us/ath/beach/

§  http://tinyurl.com/r88ybx or http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/04/nyregion/in-the-lab-with-dr-robert-pavlica-formula-for-turning-out-winners.html

§  http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-3440681/Replicating-a-successful-Authentic-Science.html or http://tinyurl.com/o4d8cq (See where Dr. Pavlica got his idea.)

Lower School:

·  Show an activity utilizing technology. (Lori)

·  Pre-K will be getting a SmartBoard. (Interactive Websites and sites with experiments)

·  Websites for research (Jodi) http://www.enchantedlearning.com

Intermediate School:

Third Grade in Science Lab

·  Weather and Water: Hands-on activities such as making ice to demonstrate 3 states of water, measuring temperature, barometer, and hygrometer.

·  Measurement:

o  Measuring the track using a trundle wheel, measuring head, arms, smile, etc.

o  Measuring gummi worms and real worms

o  SmartBoard activity for measurement and importing a PowerPoint

Fourth Grade

·  www.unitedstreaming.com (I make a link available for students to create their own account. Great if they are absent.)

·  Making cheek cell slides and showing each one using the Digital Microscope.

·  Hands-on activities such as measuring mass, length and testing for buoyancy.

·  Utilize Qwizdom before tests.

·  Will be dissecting owl pellets

Fifth Grade

·  www.unitedstreaming.com

·  Measuring mass using a balance and triple beam balances, measuring and calculating, length, width, height, volume.

·  Use computer to create graphs, tables, reports for their science fair experiment.

·  Utilize Qwizdom.

·  Use Elmo to project objects or book.

·  Use SmartBoard software to take pictures and make notes or games. (shared folder)

Middle School:

·  Amy Smith and Peter Chen (How is the science fair going?)

o  Columbus Regional Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

High School:

·  Have any of our high school students expressed an interest in participating in science fairs or other competitions (www.ecybermission.com-Registration for students and Team Advisors is now open through December 18, 2009)?

·  Body Systems covered at other grade levels. (muscular- Dr. Bell’s P.E., bone and muscular-5th grade)

·  Upper School Students to judge 5th grade science displays using provided rubric.

Topic to consider for next time:

-Share technology uses for various science topics in the Middle School and Upper School.

- Add a summary paragraph to the Brookstone Science Wikispace of something you have or are doing in your class that is hands-on, utilizes technology, or demonstrates authentic learning.

-Check out some science resources from Galileo and the National Science Digital Library and share your findings.

http://www.galileo.usg.edu/high-school/brookstoneschool/search/

http://nsdl.org/

Some sites I found for Lower and Intermediate School from National Science Digital Library:

http://www.zoobooks.com/animalsatoz.aspx?n=620791

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/ (pictures of animals, description, and sounds they make)

http://kids.nceas.ucsb .edu/

http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/kids/kids_hope/rocksincab.html (authentic learning about rocks)

http://www.amnh.org/ology/?src=h_nc