mom sectionmom section
Experiments are important components of the science curriculum. School officials in some states, such as Georgia, require science teachers at all levels of teaching to spend a minimum of 25 percent of the weekly class time in the laboratory completing experiments. Experiments performed in life sciences, chemistry, physical sciences, earth sciences and general science is important for students in junior and senior high schools. Some schools, especially junior high schools, also require students to perform experiments for science fairs.
Activating the rocket in "Call of Duty: Black Ops: Ascension" is something you do in one of the zombie maps. Get a walk-through for how to activate the rocket in "Call of Duty: Black Ops: Ascension" with help from a video games expert in this free video clip.
Science is a major subject in middle school, but specific science courses vary depending school district and state requirements. According to The National Science Teachers Association, the core sciences are physical, Earth, space and interdisciplinary sciences as well as biology. Some middle school classes may not focus on one of these exclusively but employ a mix of sciences to engage students.
Certain sensory art activities are great for kids between the ages of birth and the third grade. Learn about sensory art activities for kids ages birth to the third grade with help from an elementary art teacher in this free video clip.
You can make a wide variety of different Earth Day crafts for preschool kids using a few basic tools you probably already have access to. Learn about Earth Day crafts and activities for preschool kids with help from a published children's writer and illustrator in this free video clip.
Games and activities are sometimes the best way to teach students about things like sentences and sentence fragments in an engaging way. Learn about fourth-grade games and activities on sentences and sentence fragments with help from a professional reading and English tutor in this free video clip.
Kinetic theory refers to molecules that are in constant motion and collide with each other often. This, in turn, affects the mass, momentum and energy of a molecule. High school students study this concept in detail. Experiments in a lab situation reinforce the topic and allow high school children to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject. Always follow safety guidelines to prevent injury in a lab setting.
Many people are concerned with the possibility of a commercial oil spill in the ocean and the lasting environmental impact that such spills can have. Second grade students can help their classmates understand oil spills by creating a oil spill simulator with water and common cooking oil. This project provides a strong visual element and is simple enough for younger children to understand.
Even third graders can get in on the fun of tactile and kinesthetic mathematics. Discover some interesting tactile and kinesthetic activities for third grade math with help from a mathematics educator in this free video clip.
There are probably more than a more than a million species of insects, making them the most diverse animals on earth. Science activities exploring how scientists who study insects, called entomologists, perform the unenviable task of dividing insects into categories can help children understand the broader concept of animal classification.
When your third-graders learn about being good citizens, they are more likely to make a positive difference in the world around them. Telling your third-graders what to do has only a small impact on their citizenship efforts. Instead, introduce hands-on activities into your classroom so that your third-graders grasp the concept of being a good citizen and take their citizenship efforts outside of the classroom. Over time, you will be proud to see your third-graders helping others, caring for the planet and doing what they can to make the world a better place.
Although the Stanford prison experiment or the causes of the U.S. Civil War may be a bit complex for second graders, there are a variety of age-appropriate topics that will begin to introduce them to the basics of the social sciences. Effective social science topics for second graders will emphasize the different ways in which they interact with their social environment.
Children in the third grade are often deeply interested in science. They are at that stage of their lives where they have learned a bit about the world in previous grades, and their curiosity is piqued. From the sky above, to the sea below, children want to know everything about how the world works. When teaching gravity and the manner in which objects are affected by it, teachers can create enjoyable lessons using the concepts of weight and mass.
Whether you're driving across the country or across the state, traveling with children requires strategy and diversion tactics. By third grade, children have the attention span for more challenging and creative activities on car trips and airplane rides. Art-based projects exercise your child's creativity and imagination on these longer, tedious trips. Tempera paint, is a non-toxic, water-based paint available in several forms that helps prevent mess and clothing stains.
Kindergarten teachers face special challenges in creating science lessons for their students. The lessons must adhere to state and district guidelines while engaging students with limited reading comprehension. According to the National Committee on Science Education Standards and Assessment, kindergarten teachers should focus on teaching science as inquiry, a standard that promotes understanding of the scientific process as well as logic and critical thinking skills. Upper grade levels build upon that concept, increasing students' knowledge of scientific terms and principles.
Approximating the relative density of liquids can be accomplished by a fifth grader through comparison of various liquids. Several experiments make it possible for a fifth grader to see how density affects whether liquids merge, float or sink when mixed together. Just as a rock and piece of wood of the same size have different densities, certain liquids are lighter than others.
Latitude and longitude are imaginary coordinates that help locate places on Earth. Latitude lines are drawn from east to west, the most important being the equator that separates the Earth into two hemispheres. Longitude, or meridian, lines are drawn from north to south and intersect at the Earth's poles. The most important longitude line is the prime meridian that runs through Greenwich, England. Teach fifth-grade students how to pinpoint places on a map through activities that encourage them to use latitude and longitude.
Out of all grade levels for science education, middle school is perhaps the most vital. According to the National Science Teachers Association, if teachers don’t sufficiently catch students’ interests by the end of seventh grade, they may have lost their biggest chance to get students interested. Don’t waste your position as a middle school science teacher by getting bogged down in curriculum and exams. Encourage your students’ natural curiosity and enthusiasm for learning by starting an extracurricular science club.
When 9th graders are disruptive in class, they impact the learning experience of others. Disruptive students alter the mood of classrooms, causing teachers to spend more time dealing with behavioral management issues and less time teaching the academic curriculum. Ninth grade teachers must know how to teach disruptive students and keep a balance in the classroom so that the kids who want to learn aren't cheated out of a proper education.
Invented in 1662 by Sir Christopher Wren, the tipping bucket rain gauge is the oldest remotely operated, automated design that does not require direct observation to compile a record of rainfall. Modern tipping buckets employ a funnel to collect rainfall and channel it into one of two buckets on opposite ends of a balanced seesaw. When the amount of rain in bucket 1 reaches a pre-set volume sufficient to unbalance the seesaw, the bucket tips, actuating a micro-switch, which records the tip on a graph, a paper punch tape or transmits it wirelessly. As bucket 1 drains its contents, bucket…
Businesses use advertising to spread the word about the benefits of their products and services. Teaching students about advertising will make them aware of the promotional techniques that may or may not say the truth about the products. Advertising activities give students a first-hand experience in creating ads to target specific audiences.
Chemistry is to many ninth-graders what oil is to water -- not an agreeable subject. Teachers often rely on traditional learning techniques, such as lectures and homework assignments, for instruction on chemistry's fundamentals, such as orbitals. Exciting activities, however, can galvanize learning more effectively than a textbook. Art and drama are two creative outlets that can improve comprehension of orbitals.
Stories provide a large part of the educational experience of first-graders. Teachers use stories to introduce new words, and to explore historical facts and social concepts. Teachers use familiar stories in nursery rhymes and fairy tales, as well as new stories in classroom readers and those read during story time. Students may interact with the stories in various ways, including comparing elements in similar stories and writing their own version of stories.
One life skill students from the 8th to 12th grade need to learn is how to collaborate with members in a group. A way to accomplish this skill is through group activities. Group work activities require the students to work together to solve a problem. With your imagination and a few ideas, you can organize team activities to encourage learning in the classroom.
For sixth-grade teachers, finding the proper reading fluency activities for students struggling with reading is essential for their future academic success. According to Literacy First, reading fluency is the ability to read with speed, accuracy and proper expression. By the end of sixth grade, students need to be able to read fluently so they can concentrate on comprehending text and not on decoding each word. Use age-appropriate activities that focus on the core components of reading fluency -- accuracy, speed and expression -- in order to help struggling students improve their reading skills.
Since preschool children are naturally curious, particularly when it comes to the world around them, a well-equipped science room is a must. At this age, attention spans can be short, so it's crucial that you provide stimulating experiences for your students. Hands-on activities and interactive projects are ways to engage your students and help them learn. The planning you put into your preschool science room now will pay off in the long run -- helping it serve as a valuable educational environment.
In first grade, students focus on a mix of physical, life and earth sciences, learning basic skills for investigating phenomena and carrying out experiments. When teaching your first-graders about magnetism, include plenty of activities in which they can work collaboratively, gather data, use simple scientific tools, and make connections between magnetism and other science lessons.
Kids are easily distracted and they may lose interest in science topics that they consider boring. Adding a little fun into the mix can keep them interested and help them succeed in their studies of things such as geology. Get them involved by engaging their imaginations through interactive exercises, both inside of the classroom and at home.
Many small children absorb science facts best when teachers incorporate investigative opportunities with traditional lessons. Ordinary table salt provides many opportunities for children to learn science concepts. For example, children can learn about the effect of salt on ice from basic, safe experiments. Many hands-on lessons are even simple enough for a parent to perform with his child at home.
A Smart Board is an interactive whiteboard designed by Smart Technologies to be used in place of a chalk or standard white board in classrooms. While preset lessons are available online, many teachers choose to create their own smart board lessons using their computers and Power Point technology. They then synthesize them with the touch-screen technology of the Smart Board.
The power of wind has been used by ancient mariners to sail their ships and by farmers to grind their grains and to pump water. The generation of wind power has quadrupled between the years 2000 to 2006, and at this growth rate, wind power will account for one-third of the world’s energy needs by 2050 says the "National Geographic." There are several experiments and projects that can demonstrate the functioning of a wind power generator. Although some of these projects are complicated, a few may be appropriate for young third graders as well.
Time is an important part of our daily lives, and it's vital that young children understand the concept and learn to tell time by using both analog and digital clocks. As with most educational practices, teaching about time works best when you use hands-on activities that emphasize how time is used in the real world.
Sixth-grade students do not have to stick to the textbook when learning about light and sound. Both of these concepts provide an opportunity for teachers to bring hands-on lessons into the classroom. Provide students with the opportunity to conduct experiments and play games that will allow them to recognize firsthand how light and sound play a role in their daily lives.
Students in the third grade are learning to gather information from their reading and to convey information in their writing. Part of this developing skill set is the ability to tell fact from fiction; equally important is the ability to recognize linear story sequences and logical progressions. Students can practice these skills by connecting fictional stories to factual information, researching topics of interest to them and writing fictional and non-fictional stories based on their research.
Fourth grade is one of the pivotal years in the education of most children. It's the year when students and teachers begin to build on the basic concepts laid down in earlier grades, equipping the children with more sophisticated intellectual tools. Part of this process is introducing them to the scientific method and establishing a basic understanding of scientific principles. Simple physics demonstrations, including the transfer of heat by convection and conduction, can be very effective at this age.
Library skills are important, even with the digital options for finding information that are now available. Second- and third-graders need to learn how to use the library to find what they need and learn about the resources that are available through the library. A skilled librarian can help with this process.
Third graders start to learn some geometry skills in math, which includes learning about three-dimensional shapes such as spheres, cubes, rectangular prisms, cones, cylinders and pyramids. Hands-on activities can make learning about three-dimensional shapes easier than simply doing problems in a math book or on worksheets and are also more enjoyable for students.
Understanding congruent angles is key to a student's success in fourth-grade math; the concept acts as the foundation for more difficult study to come. Educators should ensure that children comprehend angles and congruence before considering how the ideas combine. Activities to reinforce the lesson, whether indoors or out, should entertain the kids.
Handwriting is an important though sometimes neglected skill that is many times regarded as unnecessary because of the easy and cheap access to computers with printers. School papers no longer have to be handwritten, and a student may not be willing to put the effort into learning how to write by hand. However, there are some fun activities -- although a little messy -- you can arrange to encourage your fourth-graders to practice their cursive handwriting skills.
Language arts standards and curriculums vary from state to state, but there are unifying elements. By fourth grade, students are expected to have reading comprehension skills that are sophisticated enough to understand the emotional lives of the characters and how these feelings influence the character’s actions. Students should also be capable of writing fictional stories, as well as book “reviews.” Writing activities that use characters in books as a starting point give a student a chance to further develop both reading comprehension and writing skills.
Teachers want students to learn and use principles taught. Today’s math lesson builds on yesterday’s instructions and provides the platform for tomorrow’s lessons. Therefore, it is crucial that students review previously learned information through enrichment activities and utilize remedial activities to remedy deficiencies. After-school programs, tutors and parents can use enrichment and remedial materials to encourage second-grade students to succeed in math.
Set up a science center in your home for your preschooler. Use household items to fill your science center and keep your little one exploring for hours. Preschoolers can start to get a handle on complex scientific concepts though play and exploration. You can use items around the home and create a fun learning center. Supervise them and ask pertinent questions. Keep explanations short and let kids discover things for themselves.
The C.S. Lewis' series, "The Chronicles on Narnia," is captivating to readers of all ages. Fifth graders who attempt the books are reaching a skill level that enables them to read and comprehend the books on their own. Many students will already be familiar with the stories from watching the films based on the novels, and the action will keep them riveted. The books can be read as children's stories about talking animals, or interpreted more deeply as metaphors for many elements of society. Design a unit for your fifth-grade classroom around one of the novels or the entire series.
Sharpies can provide fun and interesting science experiments that will teach you about the various properties of the marker. Science experiments involving Sharpies will vary in complexity and purpose, but will only require a few household materials to complete. These experiments can be a helpful tool for students in the classroom or for project ideas.
File folder activities include any type of activity that a teacher can place in a file folder for a child to work on. They give students a break from traditional classroom work and give them the opportunity to practice math skills. The variety helps a child approach a concept they struggle with from a different point of view or just helps him with additional practice in that area. Eighth grade students are getting ready to begin high school and need to prepare with pre-algebra and pre-geometry skills. File folder math activities provide reinforcement in different and creative ways that supplement…
Understanding sequential order can make the difference between comprehending a story and misinterpreting it. Second graders need frequent practice with sequencing. Teachers and parents should encourage students to reiterate events that come at the beginning, middle and end of a story. The children must retell stories and sequence various tasks for practice. All curriculum areas require sequencing skills. When students understand sequencing, the knowledge carries over to subjects such as writing, math and science.
Fourth graders can study the pH levels of fruit to gain a better understanding of the composition of foods and the importance of what we eat. Fourth-grade science projects include the background information, question or hypothesis, method, materials, results and conclusion. For example, a study on the pH levels of different fruit would provide basic background knowledge of the fruit, a guess as to which one is most or least acidic, the method used to test the fruit, materials such as fruits and pH sticks, a recorded list of the pH balance results and a written conclusion of the findings.
Although evaporation and condensation are simple concepts if you're already familiar with them, a person with limited scientific knowledge -- such as a third grader -- might find the topics quite complex. Using engaging activities that relate to students' everyday lives will simplify the concepts and foster understanding. Because students learn in different ways, use several activities to ensure all students successfully grasp the concepts.
Cooperative activities in a fifth grade class can make the difference between a positive and a negative classroom environment. When fifth graders work together, they experience higher levels of self esteem and academic achievement. Spend time teaching your students the importance of working cooperatively. Conduct activities in which pairs, small groups and the entire class must depend on each other. Collaborative exercises prepare young people to work with team members in various settings, including future workplaces.
Most teachers know that it is hard to get a class of fifth graders to settle down around Christmas time. However, incorporating Christmas activities into your reading comprehension activities can help you channel some of that pre-Christmas excitement into learning. From reading and writing about the holiday to investigating Christmas vocabulary, your students can have fun while improving their reading skills.
