Acceleration and Enrichment

I am taking a curriculum class right now for gifted learners, so I have been putting a lot of though into how I differentiate learning in the lab. Science is actually a great subject to differentiate learning and  a great subject to challenge your high students in. Science instruction can be differentiated to allow students to explore topics of interest (huge plus for the gifted student), expand their research skills, and receive instruction on discrete science and inquiry skills. I try to do tiered lab sheets as often as possible. I usually do three levels, making the highest one challenging in science and math skills. I also try to let instruction be student interest driven. Real world problems and applications are always popular. I also group my highest students together at one table. You could also use learning contracts. I have not used them yet, but I am considering it.

I found an interesting article tonight:  http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1653653-1,00.html

I included different level lab sheets on my Monster Madness update: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Monsters-Matter

 

Pictures are from Monster Madness labs this week. :)

Great Giveaways!



Check out Jen's Ghostly Good Giveaway!


and Kerri's 500+ celebration giveaway!





October is here!

October is here...I just we had the cooler weather to go with it! It is hot in central Florida! I am happy to be thinking about fall activities and Halloween! Halloween can be so much fun in the lab. We definitely are mad scientists! I have a new item on TPT filled with 6 fun, easy, exciting Halloween Investigations. Check it out... http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Halloween-Science-Fun
This week in the lab, we are beginning our chemistry/matter unit in grades 1 and 2 and of course, pumpkin investigations in K. We might actually make a pumpkin explode this year. :)
Today, we did "Dancing Creepy Crawlies" in first grade. We replaced the traditional raisins with broken up cooked spaghetti dyed different colors with food coloring. The red ones looked so gross... just like real worms. Mystery potion A was sprite and B was tonic water. They had to determine which made the worms dance more.

Sick, Sale, and Sleepy!

 

 I have had a cold which turned into bronchitis...I was managing. Until yesterday, when the stomach bug entered! Needless to say I have been ill and confined to the house for two days. I think *fingers crossed* that my stomach woes are over, but I have this lingering cough! Being asthmatic, this means I am having a serious relationship with my nebulizer!
     Enter fall...although it still feels very much like summer in central Florida! I am having a sale and I have joined a blog hop..."Happy Fall Y'all!"
Thank you to Casey@ http://secondgrademathmaniac.blogspot.com/
I love her blog!
Finally, my meds are making me very sleepy...goodnight!

Publisher Secrets

Did you know that there are airplaine templates on microsoft publisher? Yes! And there are also origami templates...get this...with directions! They are in templates under "paper folding." You can edit the words, pictures to be whatever you would like. :) There are four aircraft designs. I usually give one design to each group and we go through the scientific process or engineering design process (or both!) with them.
Problem- Which aircraft goes the greatest distance?
Hypothesis- I think that _____ design goes the greatest distance because _________.
etc.
We do 3-5 trials and the kids love it!

 



A great giveaway...

http://surfinthroughsecond.blogspot.com/

Check out Corinna's great giveaway! Each day she will feature some fabulous bloggers and give away items from them. Congratulations, Corinna!

Science ipad apps

I am so excited! I finally go the cord to connect my ipad to my smartboard. My first favorite science app is National Geographic Kids. You can download free explorer magazines for grade levels from K-8. They have embedded video and pictures/facts and for the younger kids, it has audio to read it to them!

 

I also like Science 360. There are unlimited science photos, videos, and more!

 

 

Next week, I will post any new apps that we explore in the lab!