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| Just some of the amazing beauty of Oregon to go with my last post. Pinterest has an amazing collection of beautiful pictures if you are curious. Happy teaching!!! |
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Westward HO!
I bet most of you remember the Oregon Trail game that you played on the computer in school, maybe 4th grade? Well, I was fortunate to grow up in the state of Oregon and went to an excellent school, with an excellent science program. I might have mentioned already in my blog how when I was in elementary school, 4th, 5th and 6th grade, our science study consisted of whole units on the regions of the state and we ended the year with a 4 day, overnight trip to these areas. If you aren't familiar with the state, here is a map that is reminiscent of what you might remember from school.
A common misconception that many people have is that the Cascade Mountains divide the state in half, which is as you can see, is not accurate. Another misconception is that the whole state is lush and green with fern-filled, fir forests. Actually, the dense forests are from the Cascade Mountains west to the coast and the eastern part of the state consists of pine forests and high desert. Also not pictured on this map is the coastal mountain range. The area between the coastal range and the Cascade Mountains, the Willamette Valley, is rich farm land known for grass seed production, hay, wheat and is excellent for growing grapes. The Willamette Valley has tons of vineyards!
As we have been talking about in class, the idea of integrated curriculum and making learning "relevant" for kids really isn't a new idea. This was how I grew up learning science. These units of study in late elementary school were covered over every subject area. Our social studies units related to what we were studying in science, our vocabulary and reading were all related to the science units as was math. A lot of you probably experiences something like this in school as well, but I had the advantage of being able to EXPERIENCE what we were studying, by visiting it, touching it, tasting it, smelling it...DOING it. In fact, these trips left such an impression on me when I was in elementary school, that I volunteered in high school to go on the trips again as a "camp counselor"...my first experiences as a teacher were when I was a Junior and Senior in high school. This might explain why I get so excited about hands on learning. I don't want to read about what kinds of creatures I will find in a pond, I want to be out there with the net fishing them out! I don't want to read about the lava flows that left casts in an ancient forest, I want to climb through the casts and see the log jam for myself. I want to hike to the waterfall and smell the forest. I want to touch the urchins, starfish and crabs in the tide pool with my own hands. I can't even explain all of the amazing things we did on those trips. Trust me...this stuff leaves impressions on kids. If you are ever bored visit some of these places...
http://www.highdesertmuseum.org/
http://www.thegreatoutdoorsoregon.com/lava_cast_forest.php
http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/
http://www.craterlakelodges.com/activities/
I bet most of you remember the Oregon Trail game that you played on the computer in school, maybe 4th grade? Well, I was fortunate to grow up in the state of Oregon and went to an excellent school, with an excellent science program. I might have mentioned already in my blog how when I was in elementary school, 4th, 5th and 6th grade, our science study consisted of whole units on the regions of the state and we ended the year with a 4 day, overnight trip to these areas. If you aren't familiar with the state, here is a map that is reminiscent of what you might remember from school.
A common misconception that many people have is that the Cascade Mountains divide the state in half, which is as you can see, is not accurate. Another misconception is that the whole state is lush and green with fern-filled, fir forests. Actually, the dense forests are from the Cascade Mountains west to the coast and the eastern part of the state consists of pine forests and high desert. Also not pictured on this map is the coastal mountain range. The area between the coastal range and the Cascade Mountains, the Willamette Valley, is rich farm land known for grass seed production, hay, wheat and is excellent for growing grapes. The Willamette Valley has tons of vineyards!
As we have been talking about in class, the idea of integrated curriculum and making learning "relevant" for kids really isn't a new idea. This was how I grew up learning science. These units of study in late elementary school were covered over every subject area. Our social studies units related to what we were studying in science, our vocabulary and reading were all related to the science units as was math. A lot of you probably experiences something like this in school as well, but I had the advantage of being able to EXPERIENCE what we were studying, by visiting it, touching it, tasting it, smelling it...DOING it. In fact, these trips left such an impression on me when I was in elementary school, that I volunteered in high school to go on the trips again as a "camp counselor"...my first experiences as a teacher were when I was a Junior and Senior in high school. This might explain why I get so excited about hands on learning. I don't want to read about what kinds of creatures I will find in a pond, I want to be out there with the net fishing them out! I don't want to read about the lava flows that left casts in an ancient forest, I want to climb through the casts and see the log jam for myself. I want to hike to the waterfall and smell the forest. I want to touch the urchins, starfish and crabs in the tide pool with my own hands. I can't even explain all of the amazing things we did on those trips. Trust me...this stuff leaves impressions on kids. If you are ever bored visit some of these places...
http://www.highdesertmuseum.org/
http://www.thegreatoutdoorsoregon.com/lava_cast_forest.php
http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/
http://www.craterlakelodges.com/activities/
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
What the heck is it?
I don't want to be responsible for spreading a misconception, but it was brought to my attention that I was incorrect in my conclusion that a mushroom was a plant. I was correct when I said that it was a fungi...but that's about it.
Some mushroom info that I found tonight that matches what I learned in Science class tonight...
The Mushroom
Mushrooms are fungi, and are usually placed in a Kingdom of there own apart from plants and animals. Mushrooms contain no chlorophyll and most are considered saprophytes. That is, they obtain their nutrition from metabolizing non living organic matter. This means they break down and "eat" dead plants, like your compost pile does.
The body of the mushroom stores nutrients and other essential compounds, and when enough material is stored and the conditions are right they start to fruit - produce mushrooms. It is a hidden kingdom. The part of the fungus that we see is only the “fruit” of the organism. The living body of the fungus is a mycelium made out of a web of tiny filaments called hyphae. The mycelium is usually hidden in the soil, in wood, or another food source. A mycelium may fill a single ant, or cover many acres. The branching hyphae can add over a half mile (1 km) of total length to the mycelium each day. These webs live unseen until they develop mushrooms, puffballs, truffles, brackets, cups, “birds nests,” “corals” or other fruiting bodies. If the mycelium produces microscopic fruiting bodies, people may never notice the fungus.
Most fungi build their cell walls out of chitin. This is the same material as the hard outer shells of insects and other arthropods. Plants do not make chitin.
Fungi feed by absorbing nutrients from the organic material in which they live. Fungi do not have stomachs. They must digest their food before it can pass through the cell wall into the hyphae. Hyphae secrete acids and enzymes that break the surrounding organic material down into simple molecules they can easily absorb - this is composting. http://www.gmushrooms.com/info.htm
These are pretty amazing looking!
Sleeping like a baby?
I hope I don't sound obsessed with sleep, but I was intrigued with my findings last night so I decided to dig a little deeper for some more facts about sleep. Did you know...
Man is the only mammal that willingly delays sleep.
The higher the altitude, the greater the sleep disruption. Generally, sleep disturbance becomes greater at altitudes of 13,200 feet or more. The disturbance is thought to be caused by diminished oxygen levels and accompanying changes in respiration. Most people adjust to new altitudes in approximately two to three weeks .
In general, exercising regularly makes it easier to fall asleep and contributes to sounder sleep. However, exercising sporadically or right before going to bed will make falling asleep more difficult .
Divorced, widowed and separated people report more insomnia. (I've experienced this!)
Six in ten healthcare professionals do not feel that they have enough time to have a discussion with their patients about insomnia during regular office visits.
More than eight in ten survey respondents think that people often or sometimes misuse prescription sleep aids.
Caffeine has been called the most popular drug in the world. All over the world people consume caffeine on a daily basis in coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, some soft drinks, and some drugs .
In general, most healthy adults need seven to nine hours of sleep a night. However, some individuals are able to function without sleepiness or drowsiness after as little as six hours of sleep. Others can’t perform at their peak unless they’ve slept ten hours .
We naturally feel tired at two different times of the day: about 2:00 AM and 2:00 PM. It is this natural dip in alertness that is primarily responsible for the post-lunch dip .
Sleep is just as important as diet and exercise.
According to the International Classifications of Sleep Disorders, shift workers are at increased risk for a variety of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases.
Newborns sleep a total of 10.5 to 18 hours a day on an irregular schedule with periods of one to three hours spent asleep.
When infants are put to bed drowsy but not asleep, they are more likely to become "self- soothers," which enables them to fall asleep independently at bedtime and put themselves back to sleep during the night.
Eighty-two percent of healthcare professionals believe that it is the responsibility of both the patient and the healthcare professional to bring up symptoms of insomnia during an appointment.
The body never adjusts to shift work!
There are individual differences in the need to nap. Some adults and children need to nap. However, the majority of teenagers probably nap in the afternoon because they are not sleeping enough at night .
Snoring is the primary cause of sleep disruption for approximately 90 million American adults; 37 million on a regular basis .
Scientists still don't know — and probably never will — if animals dream during REM sleep, as humans do.
Some studies show promise for the use of melatonin in shortening the time it takes to fall asleep and reducing the number of awakenings, but not necessarily total sleep time. Other studies show no benefit at all with melatonin .
One of the primary causes of excessive sleepiness among Americans is self-imposed sleep deprivation.
According to the results of NSF's 2008 Sleep in America poll, 36 percent of American drive drowsy or fall asleep while driving.
According to the results of NSF's 2008 Sleep in America poll, a surprising 34 percent of respondents reported their employer allows them to nap during breaks and 16 percent provide a place to do so.
People who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to have bigger appetites due to the fact that their leptin levels (leptin is an appetite-regulating hormone) fall, promoting appetite increase.
Rates of insomnia increase as a function of age, but most often the sleep disturbance is attributable to some other medical condition.
And did you know seasonal affective disorder is believed to be influenced by the changing patterns of light and darkness that occur with the approach of winter?
http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/25-random-facts-about-sleep/page/0%2C1/
The SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is interesting to me. Coming from the Pacific Northwest, where the winters and cold, wet and gray, I really do think that I suffered from this to a certain degree. Three to four months of gray days and rain can really wear on you. One of the things I love about TN is that the sun shines in the winter! Sun shine does a lot to elevate my mood.
Bottom line...sleep is important and I plan on getting some soon! ;)
I hope I don't sound obsessed with sleep, but I was intrigued with my findings last night so I decided to dig a little deeper for some more facts about sleep. Did you know...
Man is the only mammal that willingly delays sleep.
The higher the altitude, the greater the sleep disruption. Generally, sleep disturbance becomes greater at altitudes of 13,200 feet or more. The disturbance is thought to be caused by diminished oxygen levels and accompanying changes in respiration. Most people adjust to new altitudes in approximately two to three weeks .
In general, exercising regularly makes it easier to fall asleep and contributes to sounder sleep. However, exercising sporadically or right before going to bed will make falling asleep more difficult .
Divorced, widowed and separated people report more insomnia. (I've experienced this!)
Six in ten healthcare professionals do not feel that they have enough time to have a discussion with their patients about insomnia during regular office visits.
More than eight in ten survey respondents think that people often or sometimes misuse prescription sleep aids.
Caffeine has been called the most popular drug in the world. All over the world people consume caffeine on a daily basis in coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate, some soft drinks, and some drugs .
In general, most healthy adults need seven to nine hours of sleep a night. However, some individuals are able to function without sleepiness or drowsiness after as little as six hours of sleep. Others can’t perform at their peak unless they’ve slept ten hours .
We naturally feel tired at two different times of the day: about 2:00 AM and 2:00 PM. It is this natural dip in alertness that is primarily responsible for the post-lunch dip .
Sleep is just as important as diet and exercise.
According to the International Classifications of Sleep Disorders, shift workers are at increased risk for a variety of chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases.
Newborns sleep a total of 10.5 to 18 hours a day on an irregular schedule with periods of one to three hours spent asleep.
When infants are put to bed drowsy but not asleep, they are more likely to become "self- soothers," which enables them to fall asleep independently at bedtime and put themselves back to sleep during the night.
Eighty-two percent of healthcare professionals believe that it is the responsibility of both the patient and the healthcare professional to bring up symptoms of insomnia during an appointment.
The body never adjusts to shift work!
There are individual differences in the need to nap. Some adults and children need to nap. However, the majority of teenagers probably nap in the afternoon because they are not sleeping enough at night .
Snoring is the primary cause of sleep disruption for approximately 90 million American adults; 37 million on a regular basis .
Scientists still don't know — and probably never will — if animals dream during REM sleep, as humans do.
Some studies show promise for the use of melatonin in shortening the time it takes to fall asleep and reducing the number of awakenings, but not necessarily total sleep time. Other studies show no benefit at all with melatonin .
One of the primary causes of excessive sleepiness among Americans is self-imposed sleep deprivation.
According to the results of NSF's 2008 Sleep in America poll, 36 percent of American drive drowsy or fall asleep while driving.
According to the results of NSF's 2008 Sleep in America poll, a surprising 34 percent of respondents reported their employer allows them to nap during breaks and 16 percent provide a place to do so.
People who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to have bigger appetites due to the fact that their leptin levels (leptin is an appetite-regulating hormone) fall, promoting appetite increase.
Rates of insomnia increase as a function of age, but most often the sleep disturbance is attributable to some other medical condition.
And did you know seasonal affective disorder is believed to be influenced by the changing patterns of light and darkness that occur with the approach of winter?
http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/25-random-facts-about-sleep/page/0%2C1/
The SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is interesting to me. Coming from the Pacific Northwest, where the winters and cold, wet and gray, I really do think that I suffered from this to a certain degree. Three to four months of gray days and rain can really wear on you. One of the things I love about TN is that the sun shines in the winter! Sun shine does a lot to elevate my mood.
Bottom line...sleep is important and I plan on getting some soon! ;)
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Zzzzzzzz.......
Over the last two weeks I've been so busy with school, work and graduation activities that I find it hard to have enough time for everything during the course of the day. In order to keep up with my obligations, I've had to give up some precious sleep time. I have always been one of those people that needed to sleep my full 8 hours, I typically don't stay up late (past 11) and I prefer to get up around 6 or 7 and get the day started. Lately, I've been up past midnight, getting up an hour earlier and going from one place to the other with little lag time in between. I know that my kids have been able to tell that lack of sleep makes for a cranky Mama. I was curious about what sleep really does for us and how lack of sleep effects people. Here's what I found out:
Myths and Facts about Sleep
Myth 1: Getting just one hour less sleep per night won’t affect your daytime functioning. You may not be noticeably sleepy during the day, but losing even one hour of sleep can affect your ability to think properly and respond quickly. It also compromises your cardiovascular health, energy balance, and ability to fight infections.
Myth 2: Your body adjusts quickly to different sleep schedules. Most people can reset their biological clock, but only by appropriately timed cues—and even then, by one–two hours per day at best. Consequently, it can take more than a week to adjust after traveling across several time zones or switching to the night shift.
Myth 3: Extra sleep at night can cure you of problems with excessive daytime fatigue. The quantity of sleep you get is important, sure, but it's the quality of your sleep that you really have to pay attention to. Some people sleep eight or nine hours a night but don’t feel well rested when they wake up because the quality of their sleep is poor.
Myth 4: You can make up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping more on the weekends. Although this sleeping pattern will help relieve part of a sleep debt, it will not completely make up for the lack of sleep. Furthermore, sleeping later on the weekends can affect your sleep-wake cycle so that it is much harder to go to sleep at the right time on Sunday nights and get up early on Monday mornings. http://www.helpguide.org/life/sleeping.htm
I really thought that sleeping late on the weekends was helping me, but according to this information, it's not. On the days that I sleep late, I tend to feel more tired late in the afternoon and almost want to take a nap. So...since it's late now, past my bedtime as a matter of fact, I'm going to bed to hopefully get a QUALITY 7 hours in before tomorrow morning. ;) Night, night!
Science is everywhere!
I was a little disappointed to discover that I had accidently deleted this post. :( I still don't have the hang of blogging. So, for my friends who already read this, or something similar, I apologize for the repeat.
Saturday my 17 year old son graduated from high school. It's been a busy weekend with parties and all of the festivities that go into a graduation, but I was excited that I found something to blog about in the midst of the chaos. Saturday night, we went to a crawfish boil. I've been to one before, but had never seen the crawfish before they became supper. I was the only nerdy person that was remotely interested in the crawfish before going into the pot!
The little guy in my hand was the one that got away! He somehow climbed out of the pool and was halfway across the yard before he was discovered. We let him go to the creek so maybe he'll breed with a TN crawfish. These crawfish came from Mississippi and apparently if you ice them, they go into "hibernation" until they thaw out. Other crawfish facts:
"Crayfish, also known as crawfish, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, or mudbugs, are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related; taxonomically, they are members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea. They breathe through feather-like gills and are found in bodies of water that do not freeze to the bottom. They are mostly found in brooks and streams where there is fresh water running, and which have shelter against predators. Most crayfish cannot tolerate polluted water, although some species such as the invasive Procambarus clarkii are hardier. Crayfish feed on living and dead animals and plants."
Clyde, as we named him, is living free in Mill Creek!
I was a little disappointed to discover that I had accidently deleted this post. :( I still don't have the hang of blogging. So, for my friends who already read this, or something similar, I apologize for the repeat.
Saturday my 17 year old son graduated from high school. It's been a busy weekend with parties and all of the festivities that go into a graduation, but I was excited that I found something to blog about in the midst of the chaos. Saturday night, we went to a crawfish boil. I've been to one before, but had never seen the crawfish before they became supper. I was the only nerdy person that was remotely interested in the crawfish before going into the pot!
The little guy in my hand was the one that got away! He somehow climbed out of the pool and was halfway across the yard before he was discovered. We let him go to the creek so maybe he'll breed with a TN crawfish. These crawfish came from Mississippi and apparently if you ice them, they go into "hibernation" until they thaw out. Other crawfish facts:
"Crayfish, also known as crawfish, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, or mudbugs, are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related; taxonomically, they are members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea. They breathe through feather-like gills and are found in bodies of water that do not freeze to the bottom. They are mostly found in brooks and streams where there is fresh water running, and which have shelter against predators. Most crayfish cannot tolerate polluted water, although some species such as the invasive Procambarus clarkii are hardier. Crayfish feed on living and dead animals and plants."
Clyde, as we named him, is living free in Mill Creek!
Misconceptions...
I've seen all the adds for Miracle Grow products and the special potting soils for your plants. My daughter even asked me when we bought flowers recently if I was going to get more potting soil. I said no, because my pots already had soil in them. She said, "But Miracle Grow is better for the plants." Why did she think that? Was it just based on what she had heard on TV or did she really think that they plants "ate" the soil?
I found some explanation to that question. http://www.ncagr.gov/cyber/kidswrld/plant/nutrient.htm
"In general, most plants grow by absorbing nutrients from the soil. Their ability to do this depends on the nature of the soil. Depending on its location, a soil contains some combination of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter. The makeup of a soil (soil texture) and its acidity (pH) determine the extent to which nutrients are available to plants."
Ok...so that explains why when I mix up "plant food" in my watering can and it dissolves in the water, I'm feeding my plants, because they are getting the dissolved minerals from the water...BUT the soil isn't necessary for the plant's food. I've sprouted beans in a wet paper towel. There was no soil. The purpose of soil is to support the plant and stabilize the roots.
I hope that I have correctly concluded that plants do not require soil to get their food, as many plants don't require soil at all, but that plants have the ability to make their own food through photosynthesis and nutrients that a plant needs would be delivered to the plant by the water that it absorbs.
I've seen all the adds for Miracle Grow products and the special potting soils for your plants. My daughter even asked me when we bought flowers recently if I was going to get more potting soil. I said no, because my pots already had soil in them. She said, "But Miracle Grow is better for the plants." Why did she think that? Was it just based on what she had heard on TV or did she really think that they plants "ate" the soil?
I found some explanation to that question. http://www.ncagr.gov/cyber/kidswrld/plant/nutrient.htm
"In general, most plants grow by absorbing nutrients from the soil. Their ability to do this depends on the nature of the soil. Depending on its location, a soil contains some combination of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter. The makeup of a soil (soil texture) and its acidity (pH) determine the extent to which nutrients are available to plants."
Ok...so that explains why when I mix up "plant food" in my watering can and it dissolves in the water, I'm feeding my plants, because they are getting the dissolved minerals from the water...BUT the soil isn't necessary for the plant's food. I've sprouted beans in a wet paper towel. There was no soil. The purpose of soil is to support the plant and stabilize the roots.
I hope that I have correctly concluded that plants do not require soil to get their food, as many plants don't require soil at all, but that plants have the ability to make their own food through photosynthesis and nutrients that a plant needs would be delivered to the plant by the water that it absorbs.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Another misconception....
Male animals are always bigger and stronger than female animals. This was a quiz question that I thought mine have a lot of misconceptions associated with it. As a true or false question, I answered "false" only because it said "ALWAYS" and I knew that couldn't possibly be true. From the website http://science-at-home.org/men-bigger-than-women/ I found out that:
"Ironically, mammals and birds are backwards to most other organisms. We’re just biased because they are the ones we see the most, but in insects and sea creatures (and even some plants) females are almost always bigger than males. This has a very practical reason – females produce the eggs for the next generation. Eggs are much bigger and more energy intensive than sperm, so females need to be able to get more energy to put into producing and protecting them."
Again...it just goes to show that we have to be careful what we say to children even in general statements like "the male is the bigger and stronger animal". It's not a false statement to say that about animals and birds, but it's incorrect to suggest that ALL male animals are bigger than females.
Male animals are always bigger and stronger than female animals. This was a quiz question that I thought mine have a lot of misconceptions associated with it. As a true or false question, I answered "false" only because it said "ALWAYS" and I knew that couldn't possibly be true. From the website http://science-at-home.org/men-bigger-than-women/ I found out that:
"Ironically, mammals and birds are backwards to most other organisms. We’re just biased because they are the ones we see the most, but in insects and sea creatures (and even some plants) females are almost always bigger than males. This has a very practical reason – females produce the eggs for the next generation. Eggs are much bigger and more energy intensive than sperm, so females need to be able to get more energy to put into producing and protecting them."
Again...it just goes to show that we have to be careful what we say to children even in general statements like "the male is the bigger and stronger animal". It's not a false statement to say that about animals and birds, but it's incorrect to suggest that ALL male animals are bigger than females.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Snips and snails and puppy dog tails?
Today I started a new job at a daycare just for the summer months. First days at anything are a little unnerving in general, but my "thing" is working with kids, so it doesn't take long for me to feel like I'm in my groove. I was lucky to have only 7 kids today so I got to know them pretty well in a matter of hours. I could tell which little guy was going to test me today from the second that he walked in and I could tell which one was going to be my special helper. The little boy that took one look at me and thought "umm...you aren't Ms. Sondra" warmed up to me and was chatting away by lunch time did wonders for my self esteem. My new job is different, but I can tell that it's going to be fun and I'm excited to kick it into full swing June 2.
So in the classroom I was subbing in today, there was a plastic box with a lid full of dirt in the science center and I asked the kids what it was. It's worms! They have a box of worms in the classroom for the kids to just check out whenever they want. Absolutely brilliant! I only wish that I would have thought of that this last school year. Contrary to what you might think...it was not the boys that were digging in the worm box, but the girls! I was loving every minute of watching these precious five year old girls with perfect curls and bows in their hair, digging in a box of dirt and pulling out worms and squealing with delight as the worms wiggled about on their hands. A common misconception that some teachers may have...girls don't enjoy science or that science related careers are jobs for men. As teachers, we need to do encourage both boys and girls to get dirty, explore and discover in a field that has many opportunities for both men and women.
Plant or not?
I have few misconceptions to investigate, the first being what is a plant. Out of the choices tree, flower, mushroom, fern and moss, the one that I didn't indicate as a plant was a mushroom. According to the definition of plant via Dictionary.com,
I have few misconceptions to investigate, the first being what is a plant. Out of the choices tree, flower, mushroom, fern and moss, the one that I didn't indicate as a plant was a mushroom. According to the definition of plant via Dictionary.com,
plant
[plant, plahnt] Show IPA
noun
1.
any member of the kingdom Plantae, comprising multicellular organisms that typically produce their own food from inorganic matter by the process of photosynthesis and that have more or less rigid cell walls containing cellulose, including vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, and hornworts: some classification schemes may include fungi, algae, bacteria, blue-green algae, and certain single-celled eukaryotes that have plantlike qualities, as rigid cell walls or photosynthesis.
2.
an herb or other small vegetable growth, in contrast with a tree or a shrub.
3.
a seedling or a growing slip, especially one ready for transplanting.
4.
the equipment, including the fixtures, machinery, tools, etc., and often the buildings, necessary to carry on any industrial business: a manufacturing plant.
5.
the complete equipment or apparatus for a particular mechanical process or operation: the heating plant for a home.
According to the definition, a mushroom is a plant. I knew that it fell into the fungi category and if I had thought about it a moment longer I would have realized that I knew the answer and was merely second guessing myself, because I know that a fungi IS a plant. It's clearly NOT an animal or a mineral.
I think this is another key as to why science is so difficult. At times, what seems like the logical answer isn't and others, what you perceive to be a "trick question" is very obvious. This is the reason why we have to build safe communities in our classrooms where kids are comfortable sharing their thoughts without judgment in at atmosphere where it's okay to be wrong. I think it was Socrates (pronounced So-crates if you ever watched Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure) that said "I know enough to know that I know nothing".
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
To the Moon and Back....
The model of the phases of the moon that we did in class was the coolest thing...even for your little guys in pre-k and up. All you need is a flashlight, a Styrofoam ball, a pencil and a dark room. You are the earth, the ball is the moon and the flashlight simulates the sun. It's cool just to watch, but to get the full effect, everyone really needs to take a turn to be the earth. This is a great explanation to young children why the moon looks different every night and when we see the moon in the sky, you know exactly what you are seeing. I was amazed!
The diagram below is basically what we looked at in class, but the Styrofoam model really makes the most impact. In fact, for your younger elementary kiddos, the diagram is really a little too abstract, but the will get the model.
I am mentally planning a unit on the phases of the moon. It would be really fun to have THE MOON be a theme for all subjects for a couple weeks...journaling about the moon phases, books with a moon theme, how the moon effects the tides on earth, moon related art, calculations about gravity on the moon and distance from the earth, folklore and myths regarding the moon. Maybe even start with a KWL to see what the kids want to learn? Totally brainstorming....
The model of the phases of the moon that we did in class was the coolest thing...even for your little guys in pre-k and up. All you need is a flashlight, a Styrofoam ball, a pencil and a dark room. You are the earth, the ball is the moon and the flashlight simulates the sun. It's cool just to watch, but to get the full effect, everyone really needs to take a turn to be the earth. This is a great explanation to young children why the moon looks different every night and when we see the moon in the sky, you know exactly what you are seeing. I was amazed!
The diagram below is basically what we looked at in class, but the Styrofoam model really makes the most impact. In fact, for your younger elementary kiddos, the diagram is really a little too abstract, but the will get the model.
I am mentally planning a unit on the phases of the moon. It would be really fun to have THE MOON be a theme for all subjects for a couple weeks...journaling about the moon phases, books with a moon theme, how the moon effects the tides on earth, moon related art, calculations about gravity on the moon and distance from the earth, folklore and myths regarding the moon. Maybe even start with a KWL to see what the kids want to learn? Totally brainstorming....
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Does a broom really stand on end during the Equinox?
I have to admit, I totally fell for this! But thanks to this website, http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/2012/03/07/how-to-stand-a-broom-on-end-on-the-equinox.htm, that was totally debunked! Of course, had I just thought logically about it for a few minutes, I probably would have realized that it didn't really make any sense. Some other misconceptions about science that I have, thanks to Dr. Kat's quiz..
Darwin did NOT suggest that man evolved from apes, but that man and apes had a common ancestor.
SOS does NOT mean Save Our Ship (although it could, right?), it doesn't stand for anything. It was used because it wasn't easily mistakes in Morse code, with the 3 dashes, 3 dots, 3 dashes.
Toilets don't flow in different directions in the southern hemisphere.
Penicillin merely stops bacteria from multiplying, it does not kill it.
Moths fly by navigation of the stars! What? yep...read this http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question69625.html
But I did get 20 out of 25 correct so I guess that's pretty good. ;)
So...just goes to show, that everyone has misconceptions about science and even though you may not remember where you heard them, they do stick with you. Kids coming into our classes will have misconceptions as well and it's difficult to get them to let go of those without some serious debunking!
How Do Children Learn?
So my question for the day...how do children learn? As a teacher of preschool children for the last eight years, this has been a question that I ask myself all the time. When I started at the school I was working at, we used a curriculum that was very scripted with lots of worksheets (I know, I know...it was horrible!). This curriculum was very vocabulary rich, I will give it that much, but as far as being age appropriate, it wasn't even close. Kids between the ages of 3 and 5 are very active, have short attention spans and have a need to be creative and "color outside of the lines". In the last eight years, with continuing education and the benefit of having an employee in grad school (me!), the school curriculum has been changed to a more child driven, teacher directed, play centered curriculum. It's still high quality, we still do the same kids of things, more actually, and it works!. Children are engaged, excited and learning! The reason that it works...because it is age appropriate. Pre-k kids aren't meant to sit in little desks and do worksheet after worksheet coloring all the stars yellow, because it's outlined in yellow. They need to play, explore, touch, experiment, question, be encouraged and make a mess in order to create meaning from their environment. Check out this article. Great information not only for the little guys, but for every age group.
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/bingschool/aboutbing_philosophy_learn.html
After our Lit Circle discussion last night in class, what I took away from it is that passive listening = BORING. Children need to be active, they need to see relevance and be able to make real connections, and build on their prior knowledge in order to really learn.
So my question for the day...how do children learn? As a teacher of preschool children for the last eight years, this has been a question that I ask myself all the time. When I started at the school I was working at, we used a curriculum that was very scripted with lots of worksheets (I know, I know...it was horrible!). This curriculum was very vocabulary rich, I will give it that much, but as far as being age appropriate, it wasn't even close. Kids between the ages of 3 and 5 are very active, have short attention spans and have a need to be creative and "color outside of the lines". In the last eight years, with continuing education and the benefit of having an employee in grad school (me!), the school curriculum has been changed to a more child driven, teacher directed, play centered curriculum. It's still high quality, we still do the same kids of things, more actually, and it works!. Children are engaged, excited and learning! The reason that it works...because it is age appropriate. Pre-k kids aren't meant to sit in little desks and do worksheet after worksheet coloring all the stars yellow, because it's outlined in yellow. They need to play, explore, touch, experiment, question, be encouraged and make a mess in order to create meaning from their environment. Check out this article. Great information not only for the little guys, but for every age group.
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/bingschool/aboutbing_philosophy_learn.html
After our Lit Circle discussion last night in class, what I took away from it is that passive listening = BORING. Children need to be active, they need to see relevance and be able to make real connections, and build on their prior knowledge in order to really learn.
Friday, May 16, 2014
I was thinking this morning how much I'm looking forward to the summer...long, warm days, sitting outside at night. One of my favorite things to do is listen to the cicadas and watch the lightning bugs at night. I'm not really a fan of bugs, but I don't mind them. I guess that's a good thing, because the warm climate in TN is ideal for lots of bugs...in comparison to what I grew up with in Oregon. A few years ago, I did a summer camp for Pre-k kids and our theme was bugs. We did bug crafts, read bug books, went outside and investigated bugs and made bug themes snacks for every day. The kids loved it and the possibilities are really endless.
Can't wait for summer!
Some cool pictures that I've collected from my Pinterest board...Enjoy!
Can't wait for summer!
Some cool pictures that I've collected from my Pinterest board...Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Loved my trip to the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Murfreesboro TN this evening. What fun! Nice to know that there is a quality, affordable place to take kids that will stimulate their minds and that is appropriate for young kids as well as older ones. Admission is $6 and kids under 2 are free. That's basically less than the cost of taking your kid to the movies.
And let me tell you...adults enjoy it just as much as the kids! I got to scoop tadpoles with a net, wade in the creek, listen to the birds, see some amazing animals and do some fun experiments/projects geared toward making kids aware of the world around them. This experience reminds me of my elementary days in 4th, 5th and 6th grade. I was fortunate to go to a school in Oregon that had a fantastic "outdoor education" program. In each grade, the entire school year was devoted to an area of study, 4th grade was the Ocean, 5th grade was the forest, and 6th grade was the high dessert. After extensive study in each of those areas, we got to take a 3 day overnight trip to the places that we studied for hands on exploration. Those trips are some of my favorite memories from school and to this day I remember much of what I learned. Just goes to show how very important it is to have hands on, active learning for kids in every way possible.
And let me tell you...adults enjoy it just as much as the kids! I got to scoop tadpoles with a net, wade in the creek, listen to the birds, see some amazing animals and do some fun experiments/projects geared toward making kids aware of the world around them. This experience reminds me of my elementary days in 4th, 5th and 6th grade. I was fortunate to go to a school in Oregon that had a fantastic "outdoor education" program. In each grade, the entire school year was devoted to an area of study, 4th grade was the Ocean, 5th grade was the forest, and 6th grade was the high dessert. After extensive study in each of those areas, we got to take a 3 day overnight trip to the places that we studied for hands on exploration. Those trips are some of my favorite memories from school and to this day I remember much of what I learned. Just goes to show how very important it is to have hands on, active learning for kids in every way possible.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
I was talking to someone I know that other day and I was telling her about my job. In case you don't know, I am a preschool teacher and have taught for the last 8 years. Before that, I had a daycare business in my home when my kids were little. So my friend and I were talking about how "easy" it must be to teach 5 year olds. I laughed and said no, it's not really easy, but it's fun. She said yes, but you just get to play and color all day right? I said no. I work in a PRESCHOOL, not a daycare. We have the kids for three hours a day, but it's school, not just play time. So she said, yes but you don't teach REAL subjects like science.
Don't I? Of course I do! I do teach those subjects in a manner that is appropriate for 5 year olds. When we plant seeds in our classroom, we are doing a science experiment to observe the outcome. When we read books about animals, both fiction and nonfiction, the children are using their prior knowledge to create more meaning out of what we are learning about. When they are playing with magnets to see which items the magnet will pick up, the kids are learning about science. When we made ice cream, apple pies and gingerbread cookies we were learning about science and math. When we learned about the lifecycle of a caterpillar and were able to watch real caterpillars grow, build a chrysalis and become butterflies we were learning science. When we do the calendar every morning and talk about the seasons and check the weather, we are learning about science.
Needless to say...once I pointed that out, she didn't have much more to say. LOL!
Don't I? Of course I do! I do teach those subjects in a manner that is appropriate for 5 year olds. When we plant seeds in our classroom, we are doing a science experiment to observe the outcome. When we read books about animals, both fiction and nonfiction, the children are using their prior knowledge to create more meaning out of what we are learning about. When they are playing with magnets to see which items the magnet will pick up, the kids are learning about science. When we made ice cream, apple pies and gingerbread cookies we were learning about science and math. When we learned about the lifecycle of a caterpillar and were able to watch real caterpillars grow, build a chrysalis and become butterflies we were learning science. When we do the calendar every morning and talk about the seasons and check the weather, we are learning about science.
Needless to say...once I pointed that out, she didn't have much more to say. LOL!
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