Andy Tran

CA

Interdependence of Life: Agents of Change in Ecosystems

Fri, Feb 08, 2019 10:52 PM
Good Resource on Ecosystems!

This science object is a good resource for teachers to learn about what can change an ecosystem. The introduction clearly outlines what concepts will be explored and the expectations for what knowledge should be acquired by the end of the science object. It also goes into detail about natural disasters as well as human impacts on ecosystems. Moreover, the science object contains a glossary with definitions for all of the vocabulary terms involved within this topic. It also has visuals to go along with a lot of the information, which will help teachers learn about the content Lastly, it has an assessment at the end with multiple choice questions to test for learning. This science object receives a rating of 3 out of 5 stars from me because there is a lot of organized information and assessment questions about this topic. However, it is not that interactive nor does it come with links to interactive activities or websites to further reinforce learning. Thus, while teachers may find this resource to be useful, there may also be better science objects on the NSTA website.

Podcast: Teaching NGSS in Elementary School—Kindergarten

Fri, Feb 08, 2019 10:51 PM
Great Comprehensive Resource for Teaching NGSS!

This podcast brought multiple professionals in the field of teaching science together to talk about how to teach NGSS in elementary schools, focusing specifically on kindergarten. These experts consisted of a: professor of science, K-5 science coordinator, and an executive director of a math and science center. This podcast is a valuable resource to elementary school teachers because it summarizes the core principles of NGSS and provides an in-depth analysis of how to teach NGSS in kindergarten using weather as an example. The first part of the podcast is great for teachers because it provides a brief summary of NGSS and how to teach scientific and engineering practices which is good for those who need a reminder of what NGSS is. Furthermore, the experts explained that while hands-on activities are good for planning and carrying out investigations and collecting data, they do not help students learn how to develop explanations and engage in arguments. So, they explained that open-ended and challenging questions are important for helping students engage in arguments and use evidence to develop their explanations. This podcast receives a rating of 5 out of 5 stars from me because it provides a deep explanation of how to teach weather in kindergarten. The experts presented an example of a lesson plan and a coherent storyline. Furthermore, they went into detail on how to make interdisciplinary connections to math. Lastly, the professionals on the podcast gave specific examples on how to scaffold student learning and engage students with the phenomena, which are both very important for teachers to learn how to do when teaching NGSS.

Organisms: Grades K-4

Fri, Feb 08, 2019 10:50 PM
Useful SciGuide on Organisms K-4!

This SciGuide is useful for teachers because it is a collection of lesson plans and web-based resources that can help support teachers around a specific science theme or concept. This specific SciGuide is all about organisms, ecosystems, and environments. Thus, it will be useful for any teachers who need additional information to support their lessons surrounding organisms and where they live. One useful aspect of this SciGuide is that the information in it is very detailed and organized. For example, many of the key vocabulary terms come with definitions, examples, summaries, and additional resources to further support teachers and students regarding this topic. Moreover, this SciGuide is also helpful for teachers because the supplemental resources it comes with are very diverse. For instance, there are case studies, audio clips, and samples of student work in this SciGuide. This helps give teachers clear direction and expectations on what types of information can be presented to students and what student work might look like. This SciGuide receives a rating of 5 out of 5 stars from me because it provides a rich amount of information while remaining organized and easy-to-read. Moreover, the summaries, facts, examples, and supplemental resources for all of the key terms are invaluable to teachers because it will help them learn the content knowledge in great detail before they create and implement their lesson plans.