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Earth Science - 6th grade

by Tom

Jul 4, 2016

I'll be teaching 6th grade science next year, and I'm wondering how to go about it. The texts are Prentice Hall Science Explorer: Earth Science, and CPO Physical Science. The CPO text was designed for 8th grade, and the other teachers said that it is too hard for the students. It had some good demonstration items to go with it, but the book is not liked at all. I have a wide variety of methods and teaching materials to supplement the curriculum, but I was considering how to go about teaching the concepts. A very simple statement of my idea of how to begin introducing the text would be to do the reading together as a class, give the students the guided reading worksheets that go along with the texts, give them time to answer questions, then go over the answers together. After however long that will take to complete, one day or two days, go to the other, more creative activities, including compiling an interactive notebook. Does that sound acceptable as a basic framework to go about tea...See More

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Tom On 7/05/16, AW to Tom wrote: > First let me ask what state you are in? Then you need to > use your state standards to drive your curriculum. > > What technology do you have access to? I have a set of > chromebooks for each student in my classroom, therefore, my > lessons have a lot of technology incorporated into them. > > D...See MoreOn 7/05/16, AW to Tom wrote: > First let me ask what state you are in? Then you need to > use your state standards to drive your curriculum. > > What technology do you have access to? I have a set of > chromebooks for each student in my classroom, therefore, my > lessons have a lot of technology incorporated into them. > > Do you have a webpage or can you use googleclassroom and > google sites? If so this will be great because you can do > much through these tools. Google forms now has exit > tickets, and quizzes -- and these can be automatically > graded. If you have students create documents in google > docs or slides the students can share the doc with you and > their group while they collaborate together. Videos or > webquests can be partner/group or independent. > > I can even video the screen when doing a lesson and have it > for those students that are absent. > > I also do a lot of STEM and Project Based Learning. (I > posted a link at the bottom you may find helpful.) > > A normal day for me: > > students read the screen and follow the directions - > generally put materials in their science journal and > complete a digital warm-up. (I take attendance and visit > with any absent students or answer any questions and > students turn in any homework - but I generally don't give > much homework). > > Most often we do our lessons in the 5E format. (It can be > longer than 5 days, don't think you are tied to 5 days!) > Day 1 you "engage" the students. Maybe an inquiry lab using > observation. > > Day 2 - you "explore" - this is generally a hands-on > activity. Can include a webquest here. > > Day 3 you "explain" You introduce the vocabulary, some > notes, can incorporate a video here too. Can do a quick > check on the technology to see who is getting it and who is > not. > > Day 4 you "extend" so you are doing a more guided lab here. > Or it could be that students find ways to represent or > express their learning and share it. I also post extensions > on my googleclassroom so that those that finish early can go > a little further. > > Day 5 you "evaluate" this may be a quiz or if it was a big > unit then a test. Since we have technology the test is > given on the computer and automatically graded for immediate > feedback. > > You may find this link helpful: > [link removed]?

Jul 5, 2016

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Tom It's nearly impossible to get access to a computer. The lab is on a first come first served basis after the Math teachers reserve for the month, as they get priority. I get no money at all to but materials, and other than some goggles and a few microscopes, we have no equipment. Which means we can have the most awesome investigations that I can aff...See MoreIt's nearly impossible to get access to a computer. The lab is on a first come first served basis after the Math teachers reserve for the month, as they get priority. I get no money at all to but materials, and other than some goggles and a few microscopes, we have no equipment. Which means we can have the most awesome investigations that I can afford, which is nothing. Seriously. I'm hustling to get the money to make ends meet. I would love to do more, but the district won't pay a cent out and I'm done spending money on school stuff. I can't and won't do it anymore. So, I don't feel bad about doing the reading from the book and doing the guided worksheets that go with it. It's two days out of the week and they are going to need to be able to read and answer the questions on the state tests.

On 7/05/16, Tom wrote: > On 7/05/16, AW to Tom wrote: >> First let me ask what state you are in? Then you need to >> use your state standards to drive your curriculum. >> >> What technology do you have access to? I have a set of >> chromebooks for each student in my classroom, therefore, my >> lessons have a lot of technology incorporated into them. >> >> Do you have a webpage or can you use googleclassroom and >> google sites? If so this will be great because you can do >> much through these tools. Google forms now has exit >> tickets, and quizzes -- and these can be automatically >> graded. If you have students create documents in google >> docs or slides the students can share the doc with you and >> their group while they collaborate together. Videos or >> webquests can be partner/group or independent. >> >> I can even video the screen when doing a lesson and have it >> for those students that are absent. >> >> I also do a lot of STEM and Project Based Learning. (I >> posted a link at the bottom you may find helpful.) >> >> A normal day for me: >> >> students read the screen and follow the directions - >> generally put materials in their science journal and >> complete a digital warm-up. (I take attendance and visit >> with any absent students or answer any questions and >> students turn in any homework - but I generally don't give >> much homework). >> >> Most often we do our lessons in the 5E format. (It can be >> longer than 5 days, don't think you are tied to 5 days!) >> Day 1 you "engage" the students. Maybe an inquiry lab using >> observation. >> >> Day 2 - you "explore" - this is generally a hands-on >> activity. Can include a webquest here. >> >> Day 3 you "explain" You introduce the vocabulary, some >> notes, can incorporate a video here too. Can do a quick >> check on the technology to see who is getting it and who is >> not. >> >> Day 4 you "extend" so you are doing a more guided lab here. >> Or it could be that students find ways to represent or >> express their learning and share it. I also post extensions >> on my googleclassroom so that those that finish early can go >> a little further. >> >> Day 5 you "evaluate" this may be a quiz or if it was a big >> unit then a test. Since we have technology the test is >> given on the computer and automatically graded for immediate >> feedback. >> >> You may find this link helpful: >> [link removed]?

Jul 5, 2016

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AW
Have you considered applying for a grant? What about
Donors Choose? Last year Bill Gates went through the end
of July or August and funded those that were asking for
tablets.

You didn't mention what state....

I'm in Texas. I thought we might be able to find you
better help if we know what state. :)

...See More

Jul 5, 2016

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Tom I'm in Ohio. The interactive science teacher site looks interesting. I'll check out the pricing plans tomorrow. On 7/05/16, AW wrote: > > Have you considered applying for a grant? What about > Donors Choose? Last year Bill Gates went through the end > of July or August and funded those that were asking for > tablets. > > You d...See More I'm in Ohio. The interactive science teacher site looks interesting. I'll check out the pricing plans tomorrow. On 7/05/16, AW wrote: > > Have you considered applying for a grant? What about > Donors Choose? Last year Bill Gates went through the end > of July or August and funded those that were asking for > tablets. > > You didn't mention what state.... > > I'm in Texas. I thought we might be able to find you > better help if we know what state. :) > > > On 7/05/16, Tom wrote: >> It's nearly impossible to get access to a computer. The >> lab is > on >> a first come first served basis after the Math teachers >> reserve for the month, as they get priority. I get no >> money at all to but materials, and other than some >> goggles and a few microscopes, we have no equipment. >> Which > means >> we can have the most awesome investigations that I can >> afford, which is nothing. Seriously. I'm hustling to get >> the money to > make >> ends meet. I would love to do more, but the district >> won't pay > a >> cent out and I'm done spending money on school stuff. I >> can't > and >> won't do it anymore. So, I don't feel bad about doing the >> reading from the book and doing the guided worksheets >> that go with it. It's two days out > of >> the week and they are going to need to be able to read >> and > answer >> the questions on the state tests. >> >> >> On 7/05/16, Tom wrote: >>> On 7/05/16, AW to Tom wrote: >>>> First let me ask what state you are in? Then you need >>>> to use your state standards to drive your curriculum. >>>> >>>> What technology do you have access to? I have a set of >>>> chromebooks for each student in my classroom, >>>> therefore, my lessons have a lot of technology >>>> incorporated into them. >>>> >>>> Do you have a webpage or can you use googleclassroom >>>> and google sites? If so this will be great because you >>>> can do much through these tools. Google forms now has >>>> exit tickets, and quizzes -- and these can be >>>> automatically graded. If you have students create >>>> documents in google docs or slides the students can >>>> share the doc with you and their group while they >>>> collaborate together. Videos or webquests can be >>>> partner/group or independent. >>>> >>>> I can even video the screen when doing a lesson and >>>> have it for those students that are absent. >>>> >>>> I also do a lot of STEM and Project Based Learning. (I >>>> posted a link at the bottom you may find helpful.) >>>> >>>> A normal day for me: >>>> >>>> students read the screen and follow the directions - >>>> generally put materials in their science journal and >>>> complete a digital warm-up. (I take attendance and >>>> visit with any absent students or answer any questions >>>> and students turn in any homework - but I generally >>>> don't give much homework). >>>> >>>> Most often we do our lessons in the 5E format. (It can >>>> be longer than 5 days, don't think you are tied to 5 >>>> days!) Day 1 you "engage" the students. Maybe an >>>> inquiry lab using observation. >>>> >>>> Day 2 - you "explore" - this is generally a hands-on >>>> activity. Can include a webquest here. >>>> >>>> Day 3 you "explain" You introduce the vocabulary, some >>>> notes, can incorporate a video here too. Can do a quick >>>> check on the technology to see who is getting it and >>>> who is not. >>>> >>>> Day 4 you "extend" so you are doing a more guided lab >>>> here. Or it could be that students find ways to >>>> represent or express their learning and share it. I >>>> also post extensions on my googleclassroom so that >>>> those that finish early can go a little further. >>>> >>>> Day 5 you "evaluate" this may be a quiz or if it was a >>>> big unit then a test. Since we have technology the test >>>> is given on the computer and automatically graded for >>>> immediate feedback. >>>> >>>> You may find this link helpful: >>>> [link removed]?

Jul 5, 2016

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AW -- No don't buy - just read! Don't buy anything. That was just an example of a resource available to you through that writer's blog. Never waste your own money on someone else's lesson plans because you have to tweek it to fit the needs of you and your students. ;) But do check out donors choose.

There are many such blogs out on the internet. In fact, if you want to b...See MoreDon't buy anything. That was just an example of a resource available to you through that writer's blog. Never waste your own money on someone else's lesson plans because you have to tweek it to fit the needs of you and your students. ;) But do check out donors choose.

There are many such blogs out on the internet. In fact, if you want to buy anything then go with teacherspayteachers. You can find lots of really good material to print out and to use in your classroom for free.

(Note: you can even use this site to find 6th grade science teachers in Ohio and see what products that they have created for their classes. Click on the "all categories" button near the search bar)

On 7/05/16, Tom wrote: > > I'm in Ohio. The interactive science teacher site looks > interesting. I'll check out the pricing plans tomorrow. > On 7/05/16, AW wrote: >> >> Have you considered applying for a grant? What about >> Donors Choose? Last year Bill Gates went through the end >> of July or August and funded those that were asking for >> tablets. >> >> You didn't mention what state.... >> >> I'm in Texas. I thought we might be able to find you >> better help if we know what state. :) >> >> >> On 7/05/16, Tom wrote: >>> It's nearly impossible to get access to a computer. The >>> lab is >> on >>> a first come first served basis after the Math teachers >>> reserve for the month, as they get priority. I get no >>> money at all to but materials, and other than some >>> goggles and a few microscopes, we have no equipment. >>> Which >> means >>> we can have the most awesome investigations that I can >>> afford, which is nothing. Seriously. I'm hustling to get >>> the money to >> make >>> ends meet. I would love to do more, but the district >>> won't pay >> a >>> cent out and I'm done spending money on school stuff. I >>> can't >> and >>> won't do it anymore. So, I don't feel bad about doing the >>> reading from the book and doing the guided worksheets >>> that go with it. It's two days out >> of >>> the week and they are going to need to be able to read >>> and >> answer >>> the questions on the state tests. >>> >>> >>> On 7/05/16, Tom wrote: >>>> On 7/05/16, AW to Tom wrote: >>>>> First let me ask what state you are in? Then you need >>>>> to use your state standards to drive your curriculum. >>>>> >>>>> What technology do you have access to? I have a set of >>>>> chromebooks for each student in my classroom, >>>>> therefore, my lessons have a lot of technology >>>>> incorporated into them. >>>>> >>>>> Do you have a webpage or can you use googleclassroom >>>>> and google sites? If so this will be great because you >>>>> can do much through these tools. Google forms now has >>>>> exit tickets, and quizzes -- and these can be >>>>> automatically graded. If you have students create >>>>> documents in google docs or slides the students can >>>>> share the doc with you and their group while they >>>>> collaborate together. Videos or webquests can be >>>>> partner/group or independent. >>>>> >>>>> I can even video the screen when doing a lesson and >>>>> have it for those students that are absent. >>>>> >>>>> I also do a lot of STEM and Project Based Learning. (I >>>>> posted a link at the bottom you may find helpful.) >>>>> >>>>> A normal day for me: >>>>> >>>>> students read the screen and follow the directions - >>>>> generally put materials in their science journal and >>>>> complete a digital warm-up. (I take attendance and >>>>> visit with any absent students or answer any questions >>>>> and students turn in any homework - but I generally >>>>> don't give much homework). >>>>> >>>>> Most often we do our lessons in the 5E format. (It can >>>>> be longer than 5 days, don't think you are tied to 5 >>>>> days!) Day 1 you "engage" the students. Maybe an >>>>> inquiry lab using observation. >>>>> >>>>> Day 2 - you "explore" - this is generally a hands-on >>>>> activity. Can include a webquest here. >>>>> >>>>> Day 3 you "explain" You introduce the vocabulary, some >>>>> notes, can incorporate a video here too. Can do a quick >>>>> check on the technology to see who is getting it and >>>>> who is not. >>>>> >>>>> Day 4 you "extend" so you are doing a more guided lab >>>>> here. Or it could be that students find ways to >>>>> represent or express their learning and share it. I >>>>> also post extensions on my googleclassroom so that >>>>> those that finish early can go a little further. >>>>> >>>>> Day 5 you "evaluate" this may be a quiz or if it was a >>>>> big unit then a test. Since we have technology the test >>>>> is given on the computer and automatically graded for >>>>> immediate feedback. >>>>> >>>>> You may find this link helpful: >>>>> [link removed]?

Jul 6, 2016

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