Yolanda Rodriguez

CA

Thought for Food: Students learn science with healthy eating

Thu, Feb 07, 2019 1:56 AM
Science Unit

The article is about an investigation conducted at Norwood School. The school does a yearly schoolwide science unit. That particular year the students learned about nutrition. The unit focused on students using their critical thinking and decision making skills in specific to healthy eating. The activities were used with first through sixth graders. The activities ranged from surveys to investigating food choices and advertisements. They used all the information to analyze and gather data that they later graphed. I like the way that they did further investigations that allow students to create advertisements of their own and explore taste with food items that the students had heard of before but not had. At the end it provides a simple hands-on activity that involves making a dip. It gives teachers an idea of how to incorporate a schoolwide science unit as it also gives examples of the activities done within the unit that is able to be used with a wide range of ages.

Teaching Through Trade Books: Focusing on Earth’s Features

Thu, Feb 07, 2019 1:18 AM
Wonders of the Earth

The article uses literature to explore the Earth’s features. The lessons and the books within the article allow students to begin to explore and construct an understanding of the different regions of the Earth’s features which contains different landforms. I like the way the article has two books that connect to each of the two lessons presented. One of the lessons is intended for grades K-2 and the other lesson is intended for grades 3-5. The lessons are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) therefore for kindergarten to second grade the lesson incorporates a hands-on experience were the information learned is used to build models that identifies and represents the shapes, kind of land, and bodies of water were water is found on Earth. Whereas for older kids the concept is more complex and they are asked to apply their understanding of landforms by identifying the patterns of Earth’s features using a map. It is useful for teachers since it gives them lessons that apply the 5E model step by step and also aligns it to the NGSS standards.

Teaching Through Trade Books: Wonderful Water

Thu, Feb 07, 2019 12:48 AM
Water Cycle

The article explores the water cycle. Literature is used to connect to the concept. The books are given to assist students in understanding the concept under study. It also gives a lesson that is able to be used with kindergartners to second graders and another lesson that can be used with third to fifth graders. I like the fact that the article states the way the lessons are building the students knowledge and the complexity of the subject is developed as the age increases. The lessons provide the 5E inquiry model which includes engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. The lessons are also aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS.) It gives an opportunity for teachers to utilize and practice using the 5E model in a lesson as well as it helps teacher better understand how to connect the lesson to the NGSS standards. A the end of the article it contains the connection to the English Language Art and/or Math Common Core Standards which can be beneficial for teachers since it allows them to utilize cross-curricular integration and planning.