Christina Hong
University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Science 101: What Causes Major Wind Patterns, Such as Trade Winds?

Tue, Oct 21, 2014 11:10 AM
Excellent, Easy Read on Trade Winds

This article was a great summary of trade winds and how they occur. The water/vegetable oil demonstration is a great way to introduce the concept of convection cells and air density to children. This was a clear, concise synopsis. Because the water is denser than the oil, gravity pushes the oil up when submerged. This is the same for trade winds. Cold air is denser than warm air, resulting in rising warm air. Eventually it loses energy and cools down, sinking and pushing up more hot air. The visuals in the article are great and really show the process of convection cells. Thanks for the refresher!

Methods and Strategies: Gather 'Round

Mon, Oct 20, 2014 10:43 AM
Incorporating Literature: So Important

“Gather Round” by Sally Mayberry is a great article that describes how effective incorporating trade books can be when teaching children. It is especially effective when discussing science topics that may be difficult to understand, particularly the scientific vocabulary. Reading aloud can also peak the interests of the students while enhancing their reading and comprehension skills. I love that it also tells you how to pick appropriate trade books, making sure all information is current and valid and avoids all biases such as race, gender, and SES. The idea of having a science A-Z chart can also be a great tool for the classroom. Vocabulary, especially in Science, can be difficult to understand. Having a visual in the class would make the vocabulary available to all the students to use when they would otherwise not be exposed to it. Integrating Science and language arts helps support literacy in science content while enhancing reading.