#scienceintheclassroom

This past week my lesson plans were inspired by Halloween activities. Let me stress the fact that my class room consists of students that range from gifted to very low functioning. To start off the week my students completed a famous scientist research project. I got this activity from the NSTA web site. You can take the students to the computer lab or print off biographies for them to use in the class room. The activity included a rubric and checklist of research items needed. Students then had the chance to use their creativity by putting their information into the form of a tombstone. It was a great spin on the ordinary famous scientist research project, and my student really got into it.

Next we did an epidemiology inspired zombie out break activity from the CDC. Student read interviews and was introduced to the steps and procedures that epidemiologist go through when studying a epidemic. I’ve included the link. I think next year I might turn this into a role play activity. http://www.cdc.gov/phpr/documents/learn/disease_detectives.pdf

Finally in some of my classes we are studying the different properties of matter and the biochemistry of polymers, so what better way to introduce those lessons than doing a hands on activity with slime! This activity is easy enough that a kindergarten class can do it,but you can beef it up by discussing the monomer and polymer formation of the slime, and also including inquiry questions that students can use in a Mini- laboratory write up. Slime recipe includes the following

Materials- borax soap, water, Elmer’s glue, food coloring, 2 cups and a bowl.

- cup of water with one tsp of borax….you can get at your local dollar general put in container and mix -1/2 of Elmer’s glue and 1/2 of water mixed in a separate cup( add your food coloring to the glue) -get another bowl sizes container and mix the two contents together and you got slime

All of my students really enjoyed this activity, and if permitted they can take their slime home. I saved this activity for Halloween day.