Profile | NSTA

Ryan Towata
Liholiho Elementary

Paleo eater, fitness freak, crossfitter. Teach fourth grade. I integrate science, math, and physical fitness to help the students learn. I want more resources to add to my large science library. I've loved the sciences since my own elementary school days. I have NXT Lego kits in my class and we use them as much as we can.

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Forum Posts
Recent Posts by Ryan

Tue, Dec 04, 2012 3:48 PM in Gravity

The other thing my class will be doing this week is the butter side up or the butter side down toast drop. The students will watch the Mythbusters espisode introduction and determine whether or not a slice of buttered toast will land butter side up or butter side down. The students will explain whether or not the toast will land one way or the other and explain using gravity. My students will pred...

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Tue, Dec 04, 2012 3:43 PM in Nutrition SciPack

Food log update 2: My students are more aware of the things they are eating and putting in their body. At lunch time the fourth and fifth graders can choose what they want to eat. They have to take the main dish but they can choose to eat the vegetables, the fruits, and the breads. My kids after analyzing and reflecting on their choices the week before decide on what they should be adding to thei...

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Tue, Dec 04, 2012 3:28 PM in Gravity

David, Thanks for sharing about your egg drop lab. I do that with my fourth graders too. I too have them design, sketch and label their contraptions. The fourth graders also have to use recyclable materials to create their egg drop vehicle. They also have to be able to easily remove the egg. The students also have a certain volume that their egg drop contraption needs to be no bigger than. I want...

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Reviews
Recent Reviews by Ryan

Earth Structures

Mon, Oct 15, 2012 4:41 PM
Earth Structures review

The Earth Structures SciGuide was a great way for me to gather more information about how the Earth creates changes within itself. One of the most important science benchmarks for fourth graders is understanding how fast processes change the shape of the Earth. The Earth Structures SciGuide helps by focusing on the two fast processes that I focus on, earthquakes and volcanoes. The SciGuide also provides information about platetectonics and how the movement of the plates relates to earthquakes and volcanoes. Hawaii is a very unique place because we have an active volcano over a hot spot and the SciGuide provides ways for me to help explain our situation here in the Pacific. The SciGuide is geared towards high school students but I am able to adjust the lessons and the interactive websites to help my fourth graders understand more about these Earth Structures and how they change the face of the Earth.

Gravity and Orbits

Tue, Sep 18, 2012 2:18 PM
Gravity and Orbits review

The gravity and orbits SciGuide provided me with great additional materials to help me teach about gravity with my fourth graders. The interactive links worked really well on my SMARTBOARD. I had my students come up and try out the different scenarios on with gravity. They enjoyed the process of learning how gravity works on objects. They were very surprised with some of the results just like I was when I did them. The lesson plans are good and they give you good activities. I have my own projects and experiments that I do to teach gravity so this SciGuide helped to supplement what I already do in my own classroom. I gave me more background information and more to talk about and discuss with my students. Discussions on escape velocity and orbits were added to this year's lessons because of the SciGuide. For someone who is not strong in teaching about gravity this is a great place to get lessons and links to help you and your students enjoy the effects of gravity.

Nutrition: Grades K-4

Sat, Sep 15, 2012 5:31 PM
Teaching about Nutrition

The Nutrition SciGuide is a great way for any teacher to get started in having their students think about eating healthy. The lesson plans are very straight forward and can easily be implemented in the classroom. The changes recently made by the government make the lessons easier however, the "plate idea" does not always provide the best ways to teach about nutrition. As an avid crossfitter and "paleo" eater I have different opinions about nutrition and they do differ from this SciGuide. But for any teacher who needs to teach about nutrition this is a great place to start. But as the biggest role model to your students you need to practice what you preach and live a nutritious life so that your students will do the same. The only way to keep our students healthy is for you to eat healthy yourself. So follow the nutritional guidelines yourself and make this a change that all can follow.

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