Raquel Prado
University of Texas at Tyler
TX

Tue, Apr 14, 2020 11:40 PM
The Early Years: Animal Adventures:

I like this short article because it gives a small lesson that we can do to help students understand animals and their environment. This article does not necessary introduce new information, but it gives out great information as to how we can teach students about animals and their environments with hands on activities. I will use this article to introduce organisms and environment to a Kindergarten class using the TEKS K.10(B). I plan on using the small lesson, Invent an Animal on the Expand section of a 5E lesson plan. I think it will be great for students to design their own animal, describe the parts and how they contribute to the environment. I totally agree that the best way to learn about animals and their environment is do hand on activities or take field trips to zoos, aquarium, farm and etc. Nice article.

Tue, Apr 14, 2020 10:18 PM
The Reasons for the Seasons:

I really like this short article because not only it gives us some facts about why we have seasons but also includes a 5E lesson. From this articles I learned that Perigee (the point in Earth’s orbit at which it closest to the Sun’s center) occurs in January, corresponding with the Northern Hemisphere’s winter, and the apogee (the point in Earth’s orbit at which it is farthest from the Sun’s center) occurs in June, corresponding with the Northern Hemisphere’s summer. I would use this article in a 4th grade class to introduce seasons (TEKS: 4.8(C)). I would defiantly take advantage of the 5E lesson, Explaining Seasons with Tilting Toothpicks. To demonstrate what causes the seasons using the model. Great article but I do wonder what will the author do for the last part of the 5E lesson, Evaluation. The 5E lesson described Engage, Explore, Explain, and Expand in great detail but I do wonder what would she do for the last part. I have a few suggestions that I could do to check for students understanding. Overall, great article.

Tue, Apr 14, 2020 9:40 PM
The Poetry of Science:

I really enjoyed this short article because it helps educators teach students about force and motion using both subjects, science and language arts. This articles does not necessary teach anything new, but gives different ways on how we can incorporate the poem in a lesson. I would use this article in a kindergarten class to teach about force and motion (TEKS: K.6(D)) I am planning on reading the poem and every time the students hears a motion term, they will raise their hand. After reading the poem, I will ask students to discuss with their should partner one of the motions that they heard and then I will randomly chose three partners to share with the whole class. I really like this poem because is short and easy to understand especially for younger students but it will be highly beneficial if there more motions terms included, such as straight line, fast, slow, back, forth and etc. Since the poem is talking about a wagon this could easily be included. Overall, great article