SciFly

I use this to introduce my Physical Science class and get acquainted with my students as well as use later when teaching about the Periodic Table. Each student is assigned a different element and personalizes it with facts about themselves which includes an acrostic poem. I post everyone's element tile on the wall for back to school night in the formation of a huge wall sized class Periodic Table up to Radon 86. This activity serves a dual purpose for the reason above and then later when actu

This activity helps students to review and remember the 8th grade California biochemistry 8.6b by creating an artistic mnemonic to connect the main elements which make up all living things. It includes conclusion questions to help students reflect why these elements are important to all organisms as well as five student examples.

Students will dissect a pink jasmine flower to review structure and function of plant reproduction parts. Included is a student handout that organizes student dissection as well as has an alternative virtual dissection website for those allergic to pollen. Students further demonstrate their understanding by creating similes for each structure and function of each flower part. Included are teaching tips and dissection tips gathered from 15 years of teaching experience. When my principal evalu

Students will test 3 different road materials of teacher's choice to discover the affect of friction opposing motion by calculating the average distance traveled by a toy car. For road materials, you can use the cheapest materials like poster paper, table top, or use the cement outside your classroom by I invest in buying different grades of sandpaper so that students can use tactile observations of road surfaces. Instructions are illustrated, data table included, and has checkpoints for the t

Powerpoint includes visuals for signs students wear to represent parts of the flower, instruction tips, and diagram of the student formed flower. This activity of students acting out each part of the flower is meant to be a class review before actually dissecting a flower. Teacher asks for volunteers for each flower part reviewing their location and function with visuals provided and a few easy to find, inexpensive, & common place props. After the entire student formed flower is completed, tea

Students demonstrate their understanding of the atomic structure of a Carbon atom by making a model out of pinto beans, split peas, and white beans as well as reseach several teacher approved interactive websites for the element's importance but teacher may modify and delete this if there is no access to the web or reference a textbook. This hands on activity helps students visualize the atom's structure and function of each part as well as distinguish key scientific terms like proton, neutron,

Students will review microscope skills by viewing their own cells as well as a plant sample of elodea leaf or you may substitute with the inside skin of an onion to compare cell structures and functions. For conclusion, students will compare and contrast animal and plant cells to review key concepts.

Students will choose two of three virtual heredity simulation websites to practice their Punnett square genetic skills in breeding lemmings, fies, and norns (cartoon character) to distinguish the difference between genotypes and phenotypes as well as calculate probability.

Students will be able to physically and chemically extract DNA from a strawberry, afterwards viewing the sample through the microscope. The purpose is to teach students that structure of DNA is too small to view however in the chromosome format it becomes visible. The other objective is to have students review cell parts by recognizing that the mechanical force of crushing the strawberry breaks the cell walls and using the buffer solution dissolves the phospholipids of the cell membrane & nucl

Students will create a 3D cube to learn the 6 aspects of observation step of the scientific method while building classroom community by introducing themselves through their favorite observations. The cube can be later used as an anticipation set when beginning science lessons by rolling it as a dice to revisit and practice the scientific processing skills to call on students to answer one of the 6 aspects of observation. The cube can also be used to later guess which student the cube belongs

Anticipation set demonstration where three student volunteers dress up in costume to reinforce, apply, and visually understand & distinguish between the scientific terms such as genotype, phenotype, allele, gene, inherited trait, dominant trait and recessive trait. This assignment is the student data table worksheet to follow the demonstration of inheriting traits from mom and dad to the super hero child. Super Hero Genetics PowerPoint which is not included here has the signs "mom" and "dad" we

This PowerPoint includes all the visuals for the Super Hero Genetics Worksheet data table (not included separate product) that students fill out during this anticipation set demonstration where three student volunteers are chosen for the role as super hero mom, dad, and child. PowerPoint includes signs for mom and dad to wear to remind class the parental traits are passed down to the child. As mom and dad pick out one allele from each trait envelope, depending on the resulting child's genotype

Students will demonstrate to themselves what the light is made of by observing the visible light spectrum through diffraction gratings, then illustrating and labeling their observations. This activity is effective in eliminating misconceptions about the visible light spectrum when viewing different light sources through the diffraction gratings.

This is a generalized but organized format in which students can apply various experiments and visually distinguish the steps of the scientific method. This activity worksheet also includes teaching tips for conducting one simple and cheap experiment involving ladybugs. Don't worry, I give tips to preserve all ladybugs' lives and students usually take them home.

This is the best lesson to kick off the year in science and usually draws a little science student crowd hounding you for more answers to their questions but the best part is that it is a quick & cheap demonstration while reviewing the scientific method process as a class. I give teacher instructions on how to make a mystery substance that will cause a dollar bill to burn but stop burning without damaging the dollar bill itself as well as many other teaching tips. Believe me, this is worth mor

This is a generalized safety guide that I give my students in the beginning of the year to ensure that I legally informed students in writing basic safety rules for the science laboratory which is extremely pertinent for a science teacher's responsibility when handling science equipment. This also includes a Spanish translation version. I attach this safety guide document in my welcome packet (not included) which has my rubric, expectations, procedures, student/parent welcome letter, etc. and

Please see my detailed description and teacher tips for "Atom Model Level 1" as this hands on activity is the last part of a series of three that has an optional webquest research of the different elements for each atom choice. Editable if you do not have web access.

See my "Atom Model Level 1" detailed description with teacher tips as this is part two of three hands on activity series and optional webquest of each element on interactive periodic table websites. Editable if you have no access to the web.

Students will evaluate the order and prioritize monumental life events as well as levels of inimacy in order to set future goals and more importantly to see the value of abstaining till the appropriate time. This activity includes student/parent discussion so that students discover their own individual family values and expectations. The timeline activity is also translated into spanish. I use this tool before teaching Family Life (Sex Education) Unit to build a case for abstinence and encoura