My 6th grade physical science class recently completed their year end roller coaster project. This is one of my favorite projects each year. Students combine their understanding of forces and Newton's Laws to create a paper coaster with the goal of incorporating as many "point earning" elements as possible. While I do love a good … Continue reading Lessons From a Roller Coaster
Recently, my 6th graders were learning about mixtures, compounds and solutions. A simple lab included with this content tests solubility. How much sugar and salt can water hold at varying temperatures? As science teaches, my students found that the cold water held less than the hot water. We see this often in day to day … Continue reading Finding the Solution
This week while finishing up our unit on Evolution vs. Creation in 7th grade Life Science, I added a lesson I have never before taught. Within in the realm of Creation Science, there are varying beliefs on exactly how the earth was created and how long that creation took. While I am not sharing my … Continue reading Does it Matter What We Believe?
Growing up in the Christian culture of the 80's and 90's, I thought I understood faith and the God that I loved. As a teen, I thought I had all of the answers and knew the way to live a life that served God. Being in the south, I thought that being a Christian was … Continue reading My Case For A Creator
One of my favorite times of the year- The Week of The Roller Coasters! This has become close to a national holiday in my classroom. Students from previous years check in on the progress regularly. "Have they started their roller coasters yet?" "Can we see them when they are done?" "I'm sure you have never … Continue reading The Week of the Roller Coasters
In a world that is ever changing, there are still many things that are consistent and never change. Potential is one of those things. In the science world, potential energy is known as "stored energy" and is often partnered with the term kinetic energy (energy of motion). These two forms of energy follow the Law … Continue reading Meeting Your Potential?
As students enter my science class for the very first time, they often ask "When will I ever use this?" or "Why do I need to learn this?" While part of my job is the help students understand why they need to learn something, it is also my job to be sure that what … Continue reading When Science Meets The Real-World
Teaching Beyond the Norm 