Online Science Demos

Part of my current position is integrating technology into the pre-existing Science curriculum. The extra challenge is justifying it to the teachers who have taught (exceedingly well) for years without computers. I think that University of Colorado's Physics site is a great example of a worthy investment, time-wise for the students. My favorite part is that is simulates lots of concepts, and lets you play with variables to really get a good idea of how things work.

You can employ this site in a few ways:

• show it on an LCD projector with the whole class, while discussing/asking for hypotheses as to what will happen next
• You can let the kids loose on computers in groups to play around with it.
• There are also lesson plans for certain demos, if you want to use those as well.

Please feel free to look at the lesson plan I made for the 4th grade Electricity and Magnetism unit.

Classroom Blog

I obviously have been lagging in my posts for this blog, but I wanted to share what I have been spending time on in class. I made a blog specifically for my class and have been encouraging my kids to use it and comment on it. We actually spent some time playing some science games, and then I asked each to comment on the game with a tip, a question, or a statement about the game. It's pretty exciting, and it gets the kids used to computers and teaches them to be responsible about computers and the internet. Plus they love using the laptops!

In my 5th grade classes, I am working on teaching them Power Point by assigning them a few words, and having them use PP as flash cards. They will then teach the words to their classmates. We'll see how it goes, I may post some up here!

How do you integrate teaching technology into your curriculum?

Free Energy Workshop in the Bay Area

PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electricity) is holding free Energy workshops in the bay area on October 4th.

Teachers who attend the 6-hour Solar Schools workshop will receive:

• $100 Saturday stipend for attending K-12 teachers.

• $400 "Science of Energy" Hands-on kit that explores energy

transformations from one form to others (chemical, electrical, motion,

sound, etc.).

• Grade-level Solar Energy Hands-on kit worth up to $350.

• Additional energy curriculum worth approximately $100.

• Strategies for teaching about energy in all content areas!

• Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

• Information on Bright Ideas grants and Solar Installation grants.

What a great deal!