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Saba Polakovic
Waialae Elementary
HI

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I love movies.

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Recent Posts by Saba

Thu, Nov 15, 2012 12:25 AM in Science in the Average Day

This is a very interesting thread and very informative. We can all relate to the challenges of "fitting" Science and Social Studies into our curriculum. I also find thematic units to be the most effective way of incorporating Sci/Soc. Studies into the school day. It helps to plan units out with your grade level team and bounce ideas off one another. For my 2nd graders it seems that writi...

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Wed, Nov 14, 2012 10:50 PM in Plate Tectonics

I'm also in the throws of this SciPac and feel I learned a lot from it. Veronica mentioned the maps, I found the interactive ones really helpful and was struck by the volcano/earthquake relationship. How interesting that so much "earth changing" activity is concentrated on the tectonic plate lines. I guess I must have missed all that when I was a kid in school (probably did not find it so inter...

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Fri, Oct 26, 2012 7:20 PM in Erosion in Lower El.

Hi Lori, Your comment about "food approach" is very intriguing. In addition to your french bread & sandpaper activity, do you have any other ideas about using food to show the effects of erosion? I don't think I've ever heard of that but it sounds really great. Thanks, Saba

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Reviews
Recent Reviews by Saba

Rocks

Thu, Nov 22, 2012 1:05 AM
Rocks SciGuide

This SciGuide about Rocks has many of the NSTA resources (media/simulations) found in the Rocks SciPack. This is both reassuring and a little disappointing. There are however many other web resources which are quite interesting and useful. I particularly like the sections on "misconceptions" and clarifying points about what rocks are not and how they are not classified. This SciGuide is broken down into three comprehensive sections: Formation of Rocks, History of Rocks, and Soil. Each section is full of useful teacher resources as well as resources for students. There is a nice mix of "hands-on" activities, reading, and some virtual media; sources from around the globe as well as information on a collaborative project with NASA and AZ. State's Mars Education program. This SciGuide is worth checking out.

Interdependence of Life

Wed, Nov 21, 2012 1:19 AM
Interdependence of Life

This SciGuide is packed with information, web resources, and lesson plans. I appreciated the layout and cohesiveness of each sub-heading. Most interesting to me is the "Species Relationships" section as it enables learners to glean an understanding of how species depend and relate to one another. I like the emphasis on food and the fact that life depends on life for survival. There is a nice mix of hands-on, virtual, audio, and video resource links. Though as a Lower Elementary teacher my only criticism would be that there aren't enough resources directly targeting Lower Elementary levels. But this ScieGuide is stated as being for upper and middle school-aged grade levels, so perhaps it's not a criticism as much as wishful thinking.

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