SCIENCE
- writing materials
- ball of white yarn
- Fright Time, The Eye of the Spider, by Jack Kelly. (Any book can be used)
- Opening: Remember last week when I explained the importance of storytelling? Why is it important? Today we are going to create a story together. Halloween is coming close. All sorts of scary stories are told during this time. Today we are going to make up and tell our very own SPIDER WEB STORY. When we are finished with our story we will have completed our very own Halloween spider web.
- State directions. I am going to start our story. After I start the story, I will throw the spider web ball to another person in the class to continue the story. Anyone who receives the ball will add a sentence or two to the story. When they are done, they will throw the ball to another person until everyone in the class has had a turn and is holding on to a piece of the spider web. When you are choosing a person to throw the ball to remember that we are trying to make a spider web. You can raise your hand if you want to take a turn at continuing the story. You may also pass if you are stuck. You are allowed to help others if they are stuck. The last person will end the story.
- Write the characters and setting of the story on the chalk board. Explain a little bit about the story.
- Discuss different endings to the story. Talk about how and why spiders spin their webs.
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Submitted by,
-
CHARLENE ROBERTA TEETO
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MAJOR
CHARLESTON, SC
crteeto@aol.com
THE 12 DAYS OF ADOLESCENCE--A HEALTH SONG
GRADES: 8-12
MATERIALS:
METHOD:
Your assignment is to rewrite a Christmas song…The 12 Days of Christmas is suggested…to reflect the various physical, social, emotional and intellectual changes experienced in adolescence. Have fun with this. This is your unit review!!
The 12 Days of Adolescence
On the first day of Christmas adolescence gave to me, a zit on my chin.
On the second day of Christmas adolescence gave to me, 2 left feet, and a zit on my chin.
On the third day of Christmas adolescence gave to me, 3 hour phone calls, 2 left feet, and a zit on my chin.
On the fourth day of Christmas adolescence gave to me, 4 new friends, 3 hour phone calls, 2 left feet and a zit on my chin.
On the fifth day of Christmas adolescence gave to me, 5 A’s on my report card, 4 new friends, 3 hour phone calls, 2 left feet and a zit on my chin.
On the sixth day of Christmas adolescence gave to me, a 6 foot tall best friend, 5 A’s on my report card, 4 new friends, 3 hour phone calls, 2 left feet and a zit on my chin.
On the seventh day of Christmas adolescence gave to me, 7 hours left of school, a 6 foot tall best friend, 5 A’s on my report card, 4 new friends, 3 hour phone calls, 2 left feet and a zit on my chin.
Now finish.....
Submitted by,
KELLY JOHNSON-TURNBULL
no school listed
no city listed
no e-mail listed
SPIDER WEB (CHAIN) STORY
GRADES: 4-6
This lesson integrates language arts into a science subject.
MATERIALS:
METHOD:
A SCIENCE ATTITUDE SURVEY
GRADES: 4-12
MATERIALS:
- a copy of the following survey
METHOD:
- Have the students mark True or False for each question. Have them also give a reason for their response.
- Scientists have already found answers to most of the questions about nature. T F
- Scientists make observations using their senses. T F
- Our senses often play tricks on us. T F
- American scientists have made few contributions to science. T F
- As a rule men make better scientists than women. T F
- Scientists are too busy at their work to have much fun. T F
- Scientists have no definite method they can follow when they set out to solve a problem. T F
- After making a discovery scientists must also try to find ways to use it. T F
- Tools for taking accurate measurements are essential to the scientists' work. T F
- Science has been part of human existence since our earliest ancestors thousands of years ago. T F
- A scientist can make a general conclusion after an experiment once. T F
- When I graduate I would like to choose a career in a field related to science or technology. T F
- Science has played a great part in improving our standard of living. T F
- Scientists often make errors and become frustrated because their experiments are not successful. T F
submitted by
MARIE LANCE
RETIRED
BRIGHTON, ONTARIO, CANADA
garlan@suckercreek.on.ca
THE FUN OF SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS
GRADES: 2-8
MATERIALS:
- two eggs per pair of students, one raw, one hard-boiled, plus a couple extras for eggs broken extra early
- permanent markers--about 5
METHOD:
- Query the Egg: You have just been given two eggs. One of your eggs is fresh and one is hard-boiled. Choose one of the eggs and put a mark on it. Do you think the marked egg is (Circle one) Raw Hard-boiled
- Now, do a scientific investigation and discover all the ways your two eggs differ that could be used to tell any hard-boiled egg from any raw one. (That means that size, shape, color, specks, etc.,. can't be listed, as, if you write that the small one is hard-boiled, it means that all small eggs are hard-boiled.) It might help if you pretend that your dad is going to make cookies and that your little brother mixed up the hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator and you need to find all the hard-boiled eggs and all the raw ones. (No, you may not break the eggs to find out, and yes, please do keep your eggs over the desk because if the eggs drop on the floor the raw egg, at least, is going to be a real mess to clean up!)
- Make a list the ways you have found to tell all hard-boiled eggs from all raw eggs:
- Would you like to change your original hypotheses? If so, now is your chance The marked egg is (circle one) Raw Hard-boiled Why do you think this?
- Now, how are you going to prove it? That's right, but you only get
one chance. Go up to your teacher and break your egg over the bowl,
and, if you are right, you'll get salt and/or pepper and be able to
eat it. If not, you get to clean up the mess, so be careful!
submitted by
BARBARA D. MARTIN
RICE SCHOOL
ROSEMEAD, CA
barbdmar@earthlink.net
AN AUTUMN DEMO FOR EXPLAINING RATE OF REACTION
GRADES: 7-12
This can be used in explaining rate of reaction in chemistry classes, but because of the effect I liked to use it near Halloween. It involves making 3 solutions which might require a well-stocked chemistry lab. When the colorless solutions are mixed in the proper order, they will suddenly turn bright orange, then just as suddenly turn blue-black. The effect is called the "Old Nassau Reaction" because it was the colors of the Princeton Tigers. The University of California sometimes used to use it as they sang of their colors, gold and blue.
MATERIALS:
- Solution A consists of 15 g of KIO3 dissolved in a liter of water
- Solution B is made by dissolving 4 g of soluble starch in 500 ml of boiling water
- Solution C requires 3 g of HgCl2 dissolved in a liter of water
- large beakers or flasks for mixing, and 50 ml to 250 ml beakers for the demo
METHOD:
- The solutions must be freshly made the week of the demo, and should be tried before showing to a class. This makes enough for many demonstrations. CAUTION: POISON. Do not allow any one to drink the solutions! KIO3 is potassium iodate, while HgCl2 is mercury II chloride.
- Mix equal volumes of B + C + A in that order. I just use beakers large enough so that the volumes used are less than one third of the volume of the beaker. For example, if I use 250 ml beakers, I fill each beaker with 50 ml of solution. It is easier to be sure of the order if the beakers are labeled A, B, and C.
- Pour B into C, then both back into B. Now pour B into A, then back
into B (pouring back and forth does the mixing.) Now hold the beaker
with all three solutions up for the class to see. Very soon the colorless
liquid will turn bright orange, then suddenly turn black.
submitted by
KENNETH ROBINSON
NORDHOFF HIGH SCHOOL (retired)
OJAI, CA
kenben@wcc.net
OBSERVATION PRACTICE: DEMONSTRATING THE COLLAPSING CAN
GRADES 3-12
This experiment is the old stand-by, collapsing can. In this version, I use it to teach how to write a complete observation, and one set of procedures for scientific problem-solving.
MATERIALS:
- empty, undented soda can
- bowl of cold
- method of heating
- dark colored background (i.e. cardboard)
METHOD:
- Before I begin, I tell the students the names of tools I am using and also that the bowl contains cold water.
- I direct them to watch the demonstration carefully, and then write down everything they observed. They must try to remember everything.
- I then proceed to do the demonstration in silence, modeling listening for the sounds of boiling water. I put up a dark colored background so that they can see the presence of steam when the water boils.
- I make a show of emptying the soda can of water, then putting back in only one tablespoon of water. They watch me light the burner, placing the can over the burner, and wait for the water in the soda can to boil. I then take the can carefully with tongs, and invert it into the bowl of cold water. The can's collapse is dramatic and instantaneous!
OBSERVATIONS:
After they write what they have observed, I ask them to voice the one big question they have!
USING SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURES:
- What is the QUESTION you have now?
- What is your guess or HYPOTHESIS about why the can collapsed? (I solicit several guesses, then select one to work with for part 3. If there is time, we may do more than one. Students suggest many things, and help each other explain.)
- Let's TEST your hypothesis: Describe how we would test your idea to see if it is right or not. (Together, the students and I design a test. Usually the hypotheses involve temperature changes, weakness of aluminum cans, and other suggestions which can be tested by varying where the hot water is, if the can is inverted or not, or whether or not the can needs to have boiling water in it to collapse. Then we try out their ideas. They are told to use complete sentences in all reporting, and to include drawings.)
CONCLUSION: What happened in your test? Were you right? What if you were not right -- how would you change your hypothesis? Write another explanation for why the can collapsed. (Answer all the questions, please!)
submitted by
ALEXANDRA FLORIMONTE
PACOIMA MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOS ANGELES, CA
OBSERVATION SKILLS PRACTICE: UNKNOWN POWDERS
GRADES 5-12
In this experiment we will see if you are able to observe 3 powders very carefully.
MATERIALS:
- piece of aluminum foil
- ruler
- scissors
- medicine dropper
- wooden stirring rod
- small container of water.
- sugar (unlabeled to all but the teacher)
- Plaster of Paris (unlabeled to all but the teacher)
- baking powder (unlabeled to all but the teacher)
METHOD:
- Cut out 3 squares of aluminum foil. Make them 5 cm on each side.
- Bend the edges of the foil to make a shallow dish. Make 3 of them. Label them A, B, & C.
- Get a level spoonful of powder A. Put it in dish A. Add 15 drops of water. Stir it.
- Observe carefully. Write your observations.
- Get a level spoonful of powder B. Put it in dish B. Add 15 drops of water. Stir it.
- Observe carefully. Write your observations.
- Get a level spoonful of powder C. But it in dish C. Add 15 drops of water. Stir it.
- Observe carefully. Write your observations.
- One powder was sugar. How could you tell which one it was?
- One powder was Plaster Of Paris. Which one?
- One powder was Baking Powder. It made bubbles. Which one was it?
submitted by
AL LEVIN
PACOIMA MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOS ANGELES
allen.levin@worldnet.att.net
OBSERVING A CANDLE
GRADES 4-12
Observation practice is one of the most important activities in a science classroom. Here is one that gives the students practice, while dealing with an ordinary, but often ignored, daily object.
MATERIALS:
- candles
- matches
- plastic stand (or some other type of holder)You can copy these questions directly onto a student worksheet
METHOD:
MOST PEOPLE HAVE USED CANDLES. VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THE
TIME TO OBSERVE A CANDLE CAREFULLY. THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL DO NOW.
ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-8 BEFORE YOU LIGHT YOUR CANDLE.
- Draw the candle.
- What is the color of the string at the top of the candle?
- Describe what the candle feels like.
- Can you see any marks, or spots, inside the candle?
- Look at the bottom of the candle. Is the string the same color as at the top?
- Describe how hard the candle is. Tell if it is hard in some places, and soft in others.
- Say something about the candle.
LIGHT YOUR CANDLE. TAKE IT TO YOUR DESK. STAND IT UP ON YOUR
PLASTIC SQUARE. BE CAREFUL!
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AFTER YOU LIGHT YOUR CANDLE.
- How much of the exposed string (1/2, 1/3, etc.) is surrounded with flame?
- What colors are in the flame?
- The greatest part of the flame is what color?
- Draw the flame. Be sure to show the string.
- Is there any smoke?
- What must you do to make smoke?
- What color is the smoke?
- Where is the flame dark?
- Does the flame come to a sharp point?
- What can you do to change the shape of the flame?
- Draw a line to show how far into the candle the light goes.
- Does the top of the candle have a little cup of melted wax?
- Is the cup the same on all sides?
- Is wax dripping down the side of the candle?
- Draw the wax that is dripping down the side of the candle.
- Let ONE DROP of melted wax fall onto your hand. How hot is it?
- For how long a time does the drop of melted wax stay hot?
- Does the candle make any noise as it burns?
- Can you read the page by the light of your candle?
- Does the burning candle produce an odor?
EXTRA CREDIT! What other things can you observe about your candle?
submitted by
AL LEVIN
PACOIMA MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOS ANGELES
allen.levin@worldnet.att.net
POP! POP! POP!--SEEDS
GRADES: K-3
A great method for teaching the scientific method to early elementary children.
MATERIALS:
- science worksheet on observing and predicting seeds
- hand lenses
- popcorn kernels
- popcorn popper
METHOD:
- First I made up a worksheet about observing and predicting seeds. The worksheet says "Observing Seeds on Top",. The first part was to have the students look at unpopped and popped kernels and record the differences of color and shape. They do this by making a chart. Then the next part was to predict how many seeds were in a teaspoon. I drew a teaspoon on the worksheet and left a blank for guessing how many unpopped kernels would fit in a teaspoon and then they actually had to count how many were in there by placing the kernels in it.
- Now to finally start the lesson. First I popped some popcorn and had the students use their senses to look, listen, and smell the popcorn being popped. After it was popped, they used the remaining two senses, taste and feel, to explore it. We talked about the popcorn and related the senses to it.
- Next we did the worksheet and used hand lenses when trying to observe the popped and unpopped kernels. I did this in small groups of about six students and it worked out really well. When we were all done and there was popcorn leftover then they could eat it. They had lots of fun eating it.
INTEGRATING WITH OTHER SUBJECTS:
SOCIAL STUDIES: Read the book "Popcorn Book" by Tomie DePoala
LANGUAGE ARTS: Act out a popcorn skit from aims lesson plan called "pop!pop!pop!". In the book you will find a skit called "Popcorn Story" and a page of popcorn kernels and a popcorn maker. I xeroxed three pages off so I would have 10 kernels and xeroxedthe popcorn maker off and colored them, laminated them and velcroed them together on a piece of cardboard. As I read the name of the person they would come to the board and take one off as if they were eating it.
READING: read the book "Popcorn" (about a Halloween party)
ART: You could have them make a popcorn necklace or a popcorn collage with popped and unpopped kernels.
I taught this to a group of kindergartners and they really enjoyed it very much!!! (especially eating the popcorn) This lesson takes abou a week to do so you don't have to rush it all in one day.
submitted by
HEATHER ENGSTROM
WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
MACOMB, IL
HE-Engstrom@wiu.edu
