What's Our Sputnik

“What’s Our Sputnik?” by Thomas Friedman

In 1957 Sputnik was launched from Russia.  This changed the way America saw our future. We did not want anyone to get ahead of us so we put science at the top of the list.  Next, thing we knew America had the first man on the moon.  But what has happened to our country since the age of science.  Have we forgotten how important science is and can be?  What will be our Sputnik?

According to Friedman we would be letting countries such as Afghanistan figure out their own problems (Friedman, 2010).  They would be fighting for their own country and we would not be over in foreign countries fright for everyone but ourselves. 

What are we doing as American’s?  We are more worried about what is going on in other countries, but not our own.  What do we need to do to change this?  As Friedman stated, do we need to follow China, do keep fighting Al Qaeda (Friedman, 2010)? 

I feel like we need to do both, but how do we do this?  First, our government needs to put more money into STEM program as well as any science program. We need to remember what is most important to our country.  I personally feel like we need to get out of everyone else business and take care of ourselves.

In conclusion, many countries are by passing us on technology and science.  What are we to do; I know get to work and put STEM at the front of the list.  We need to like other countries take care of themselves.

Reference

Friedman, T. (2010, January 17). What's our Sputnik. The New York Times, p. 8.

 

 

 

Week 5 Instructional Plan

This week I designed a lesson on plate tectonic and earthquakes.  I knew this was going to be a hard concept to incorporate because I was teaching two topics at one time, but in order for my students to understand earthquakes they had to understand plate tectonic. 

The first topic I taught was plate tectonic.  At first I did not know how I was going to get the students to understand the earth's plates and what they could cause.  So my students could understand I used a model in which the students could eat after they finished their lesson.  The model I used came out of a book called Geology Rocks (Blobaum, 1999).  The students had to use graham crackers and peanut butter or icing and do different experiment to form mountains, volcanoes, rift and earthquake.  The students enjoyed learning with this type of model.  The next model I used was designing an earthquake and the land it sits on.  The students were so engaged with this experiment, but my room was another story.  In other words my students loved working with the models. 

I felt the students learn so much and so did I.  The first thing I learned was to not purchase peanut butter because of the allergy reaction.  The second thing I learned was the earthquake experiment needed to be completed outside because of the dirt. 

Finally, overall this was a wonderful learning experiment and I plan of doing it again, but maybe adding so more activities.

Reference

Blobaum, C. (1999). Geology Rocks! Nashville: Williamson Books.

Natural Disasters

I teach in the southern coal fields of West Virginia, one thing my students are becoming aware of are natural disasters, this is because of having a major flood in the area a couple of years ago.  As for hurricanes, earthquakes or volcano disasters my students do not understand.  I hope this will change in the next couple of weeks because I will be teaching Earth science. 

The way in which I help my students become aware of natural disasters is by letting the students watch Channel One.  In addition, I also research the disaster on YouTube and other sites like the history channel in addition; I show videos on natural disasters.

I hope as I being the Earth science unit I will help my students get a better understand of natural disaster.  In addition, I want to see if I can see up a community group in which the students can donate to an area which has gone through a natural disaster.

Week 3

                                                                 Ask a Scientist

As I explored the Ask a Scientist website I learned about how Stem cells can help our brains.  I also learned we only are born with 100 billion cells.  What I wanted to learn was “If we are only born with 100 billion cells in our brain, and we loss the dopamine, which cause Parkinson’s, how, can brain surgery mimic the dopamine that was lost. Can Stem cells replenish this dopamine?” I have been waiting for the answer to this question, but as of today I still have not heard back from the Ask a Scientist site.  

The ask the scientist is a good site to use and for students to research information they might want to learn about, but overall I still think the best way to learn is through research.  Which ask a scientist is research, but sometimes it gives the students the easy way out by giving them the answers. 

The main problem I had with the Ask a Scientist site is I still do not have an answer to my question and I would like to know the answer.

Blog Week 1

Presentation Tools Web 2.0

This week I had to review presentation tools in which I may choose to use in my class project.  I tried a few of these sites out and chose to review four of the overall sites.

The first one is Prezi I thought this site would be good to use because I feel I would develop the best presentation.  The problem I ran into with this site is it is hard to use.  I feel it will take a lot of practice to develop the presentation, and I do not know if I have the time I need to put into this program.

The second one Google Sites, this is a wonderful tool to use in a classroom or for a family site.  I think this is a site I could learn very easily. It is a simple way to set up a place to share websites, pictures, videos, and more.

The third site I evaluated was authorStream; overall it is an easy site to use.  In fact all you have to do is know how to use PowerPoint.  Everything you design on PowerPoint can be uploaded to this site and be presented using authorStream.  It is a very easy site to use.  I do have to review the site some more, but overall I do like this site.

The final one in which I am thinking about using is SlideRocket. This site is as easy to use as PowerPoint, the only difference is the site is online and it does not have to be uploaded.  The only things you will need to upload are your videos and pictures unless they are online.

References:

http://www.authorstream.com/

https://sites.google.com/

http://prezi.com/

http://www.sliderocket.com/

State of Matter

This week I decided to investigate the state of matter this is my “big idea.”  The reason I chose to look at this topic is due to I am being the Physical Science Unit next week and the first part the students will be learning about is matter.   One of the best sites I found in which I will be able to use in my classroom is the on Discovery Education.  The name of the video is called Matter and its Properties: Observing the Properties of Matter.  This video has a pretest as well as a post test.  It also has a lesson plan which is designed to go along with the video.  In addition the video is broken up into six segments.  The only problem I see about anyone using this site is you have to have a subscription to the site.  I am very lucky to say my school purchased this subscription for me a few years ago.  Another good site in which I found which can be used every day by teachers is YouTube.  YouTube has some wonderful video which teach the States of Matter.   There are many sites online about matter, from videos to lesson plans.  If a teacher wants to find the sites all they have to do is look. One of my favorite sites I found was The Phantom's Portrait Parlor this site can be used as a science investigates in the classroom. These are just a few sites I have found and I would say there are many more. 

The way in which my students will get prepared for the 21^st century by using these type of sites is through investigate each site and using them in their research and or science inquiry.  The type of activity I would plan around these sites in a guided inquiry lesson, in which the students would have research as well as complete an experiment. 

The biggest challenge I would have in using some of these sites is money.  One of the best sites I found in which I can use does cost money.  The way I could get around this is by using the site in the classroom as a whole class lesson.

 Sites:

http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Graduate/TI/pages/LEWIS/matterweb.htm

http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_intro.html

http://www.nyu.edu/pages/mathmol/textbook/whatismatter.html

http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/matter/

http://www.factmonster.com/dk/science/encyclopedia/matter.html

http://www.miamisci.org/af/sln/phases/nitrogengas.html

www.discoveryeducation.com  looks for the video Matter and its Properties: Observing the Properties of Matter.

Teachers guide

Video

Pre and Post Test.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9WYweBA6vA

 

The Heat is On

 

This week I had to complete and experiment about heat.  This experiment involved using four identical cups.  I chose to use Fiesta mugs for this experiment because I felt they would hold the most heat.  Next, I had to heat water and place the same amount in each mug.  When I placed the water in the mugs it measured 50 ° C.  Next, I had to place different coverings on top of the mugs.  I chose to place foil on the first mug, paper on a mug, dish towel on another mug and a Smart wool sock on the last one.  Then I made my hypothesis as to which one would be the best insulator. My hypothesis was the mug which was covered with the Smart Wool sock would remain the warmest.

 

Then I waited for thirty minutes before I took the temperature of each cup.  The one covered with paper only measured 35 ° C. The one covered in foil measured 44° C, Next, the one covered with a cotton dish towel measured 45°C and finally the one covered with the Smart Wool sock measured 38° C.  When I saw the results of the temperature change I was surprised.  I thought the Smart Wool would hold the heat the best, but it did not. The one which held the heat the best was the one covered in a cotton dish towel.  Why was this?  Why did my sock not hold the heat in the best?  I finally thought of the reason behind this, it was because the material which the sock was made from.  Yes, the Smart Wool sock does keep my feet warm in the winter, but it also keeps my feet dry and comfortable in the summer.  This means the sock is made to work both ways. 

 

As to how I could use this experiment in my classroom, it would work well as I am teaching temperature.  I could have the students complete the experiment, but instead of taking the temperature one at a time, each person in the group would check the temperature at the same time.  This might make the results a little different.