BigBrainofScience
112 Followers
San Antonio, Texas, United States
About the store
I'm now retired from teaching. But in my 12 years in the classroom I created and accumulated a lot of resources. Although my experience spanned multiple subjects and grade levels, the bulk of my teaching career was spent as a middle school science teacher and Gifted & Talented science teacher. (My 8th grade GT students took 9th grade Biology, too. That's why you'll find a bunch of Biology assignments in my store, too.) And yes, you'll find novel reading, writing and even math resources in my store, too...because, well, I taught those subjects as well. (That happens when you have six Texas teacher certifications.)
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Programs & methods
Microscope Mini-lesson and Quiz
This one-page, self-guided lesson teaches Biology students how to use a a basic monocular optical microscope. I typically hand it out prior to our first lab using microscopes. I ask students to read and review the hand-out and then glue it into their lab notebooks for reference. During our first day of of microscope lab work, I walk the room and orally quiz students on the parts of a microscope and proper use. At the beginning of the second day of microscope lab work, I ask students to partner u
6th - 10th, Higher Education
Biology, Earth Sciences, General Science
Parts of a Chemical Equation Interactive Notebook Strip
I had students fill in the blanks and glue this Parts of a Chemical Equation note strip into their science notebooks. It served as a reference tool during our unit on chemical reactions. There are 4 note strips to a page to help save paper.
7th - 8th
Chemistry
Popcorn Thermal Transfer Lesson with Quiz (Conduction, Convection & Radiation)
Here's a one- or two-day lesson on the three kinds of thermal transfer that affect our atmosphere. To really make the lesson "pop," I suggest you bring in a hot plate and fry pan to cook popcorn by conduction, a hot air popper to cook popcorn by convection, and a microwave to cook popcorn by radiation. Students can "clean up" the experimental mess at the end of the lesson (coffee filters make cheap, disposable bowls). Another teaching tip: Surprise your students with the quiz again about two wee
5th - 8th
Basic Principles, Earth Sciences, Environment
4 Signs of a Chemical Reaction lab with photos
Help your students remember the SIGNS OF A CHEMICAL REACTION with this fun lab with a keep-for-review lab sheet that includes memory-tickling photos. My students loved this lab for all its surprises, fire and smoke. But I loved the fact they could glue the lab sheet into their INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOKS and review its photos to help them remember the signs of a chemical reaction prior to year-end testing!
This package includes a lab sheet, answer sheet, plus a materials and procedures page that wal
7th - 10th
Basic Principles, Chemistry, Science
3 kinds of investigations worksheet
This worksheet was built to accompany my PowerPointTM presentation of the same name. However, it also works as a stand-alone worksheet or assessment of a student's ability to identify a sceintific investigation as a DESCRIPTIVE, COMPARATIVE or EXPERIMENTAL investigation.
6th - 9th
General Science, Science
3 Kinds of Investigations PowerPoint with Quiz
This powerpoint introduces and explains the three kind of scientific investigations: descriptive, comparative and experimental. A built-in experimental scenario QUIZ with "fly-in" answers allows you to immediately assess students understanding of the concept. (An accompanying worksheet can also be found in my store.)
6th - 9th
General Science
First Day Student Information Sheet for Middle School Reading
As a one-time 7th grade reading teacher, I really wanted to get a preview of my student's reading attitudes and abilities. so I made this student profile sheet.
The top three sections gave me basic information about my student and his or her family. And the emergency number was handy, whether I had to reach a parent about a sudden illness or a sudden drop in grades!
The Favorites section gave me lots of information for building a relationship with a new students. (For example, if a student love
4th - 8th
Reading
Sloppy Story Editing Quiz
Want to give your Writing students practice editing a story using Editor's or Proofreader's marks? Here's a quick one-page editing quiz that I gave my middle school writing students during a unit on newspaper writing.
(NOTE: I gave my students an Editor's Marks reference bookmark to use while they did their edits. These bookmarks can be found in several online teacher supply stores.)
This is one of several quizzes that helped my students become better proofreaders of not just other people's wor
6th - 12th
Writing
First Day of Middle School Science Info Gathering Sheet
Use this handy sheet to learn a little bit about your students as well as collect valuable information for contacting parents/guardians during the year.
It's divided into sections for ease of use and I've kept it as an MSWord file so you can modify it to your needs. (Please see the preview as the Thumbnail file does not display correctly!)
The Tell Me About You and Favorites sections will help you learn about and make connections with your students;
The Science Memories section will help you q
6th - 8th
Science
First Day 'Easy A' Science Quiz
Every student starts the year with an "Easy A" after they complete this"1st Day Easy A Science Quiz," because there are no wrong answers!
Hand out this "Quiz" to your students as you greet them on the first day of class. The quiz is chock full of questions to help you learn about your students. Don't be surprised if many students want to share many of their answers with classmates, before turning in the quiz. Keep them in a binder to reference and revisit on other days during the first week. The
5th - 8th
Science
5E Moon Phases Lesson & Moons of Jupiter Activity
Your students will love this very interactive Moon Phases classroom lesson and Moons of Jupiter web-based learning activity. The Moons of Jupiter can also work as a stand-alone activity, but I strongly suggest you use it with the Moon Phases lesson as it asks students to apply what they've learned about moon phases! You'll need to purchase the UNCLE MILTON remote-controlled Moon on My Wall to facilitate this moon phases lesson, but you'll find it's a worthwhile investment. I could barely get my
6th - 8th
Science
Chemical symbol-formula-equation Interactive Notebook strips
Help students remember the difference between a chemical symbol, formula and equation with these handy interactive notebook strips. As you project a strip on your front whiteboard or smart board, ask students to fill in the "This is a" column blanks. Then have students glue these into their science notebooks for future reference!
Several weeks later, project it on your whiteboard again and have students write the terms on their desks with dry erase markers. Use it as a year-end review before te
6th - 8th
Basic Principles, Chemistry, Science
Showing 1-12 of 12 results
About the store
Experience
I'm now retired from teaching. But in my 12 years in the classroom I created and accumulated a lot of resources. Although my experience spanned multiple subjects and grade levels, the bulk of my teaching career was spent as a middle school science teacher and Gifted & Talented science teacher. (My 8th grade GT students took 9th grade Biology, too. That's why you'll find a bunch of Biology assignments in my store, too.) And yes, you'll find novel reading, writing and even math resources in my store, too...because, well, I taught those subjects as well. (That happens when you have six Texas teacher certifications.)
Teaching style
I typically followed a 5E lesson plan. I piled on the rigor and really tried to fit in labs wherever possible. I thought my kids earned best by DOING science, so my lesson plans typically had my students doing a lot of hands-on activities. I liked to use matching games to help my students (especially ESL students) build vocabulary and retain material. As I slowly build my TpT store, you'll see me adding more and more materials in this vein. You'll also find that many of my lessons are self-guided. Again, this is because I really think kids learn best by DOING, not listening to me (or any teacher) talk.
Awards & shining teacher moments
Twice nominated for teacher of the year by my peers.
First teacher at my school to take a Destination Imagination team to the state tournament.
Accepted into the UT Southwestern STARS summer internship for teachers in 2010. (I conducted research into regrowing nerve cells in the Li Lab of the Neurology Dept.)
Invited for a second UT Southwestern STARS summer internship in 2012.
My own education history
Earned a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin in 1982. Began as a pre-med student, so I had quite a bit of coursework in biology as well.
Worked as professional writer for 14 years.
Obtained my Texas alternative teacher certification in 2015.
I currently hold certifications in six areas: 8-12 Composite Science, 4-8 Science, Gifted & Talented, ELS supplemental, 4-8 Generalist, K-4 Generalist.
Additional biographical information
I've also taught photography to adults at a local community college. And I've taught continuing education courses in basic and advanced woodworking. My father was an English teacher for 30+ years. Teaching runs in my blood. I'm now retired from teaching, but miss it. Still sifting through years of lessons to share on TpT. If you need a resource and can't find it, email me. Time permitting, I'll build you what you need...send it to you for free and put in my store for others!
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