WHAT AM I DOING TO HELP KIDS ACHIEVE?
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN THEY ARE THERE?
WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE?
This week I introduced the students to the particulate, the macroscopic and the symbolic with a new activity from the TIMU project (Here is the LINK). The data is still out but the feeling is that it is promising. It also provided me as a teacher a way to characterize everything as one of the three lenses we will use...macroscopic, particulate and symbolic...The goal is to provide a framework for the kids for the rest of the year.
This week in science...finish up the "Tool Chest" activity and jump into measuring. Students will have to do it on paper and with instruments. In another class we are going to start with chemical changes. The lab we will be doing will be in the "story telling" format of a tri fold. I have many kids doing science fair so this should help them. The biggest change from last year is that the question should NOT be in a "yes" or "no" format. So instead of saying, "Did a chemical change occur?", we are going to ask "What would happen if we compare and contrast physical and chemical changes and can we provide support through experiments and observations?" Also, I want the hypothesis to be a reasonable testable prediction, not an educated guess.
Finally, just want to give a shout out to the newly formed American Association of Chemistry Teachers. (LINK) I here there is a wonderful article in the online periodical "Solutions" by yours truly....(sorry for the shameless plug).
Hope to have some cool drawings for you from the work the kids did next week on particulate models....
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