Transcript Methods of Teaching Science

Methods of Teaching
Science
By: Jessica Dailey
INQUIRY PROJECT
Question:
Do the hairs on a spider’s legs help it
move across its web?
Hypothesis:
Yes, the spiders legs help the spider
move across the web.
Materials
•Spider
Web Pattern
•Regular tape
•Double-stick tape
•Eraser
•Toothbrush
Procedure
1. Make a model of ¼ of the web of a
garden spider. Use the Spider web
pattern.
2. First put down double-stick tape where
shown. The double stick tape is a
model of the sticky threads of a
spider’s web.
Procedure
3. Next, put down regular tape. The
regular tape is a model of the nonsticky threads of a spider’s web.
4. Put an eraser on one of the sticky
outer pieces of tape. The eraser is a
model of a spider’s prey.
Procedure
5. Start your “spider” at the center point
of the web. Tap the side of the
toothbrush without the brush along one
of the non-sticky pieces of tape. Move
from the center toward the prey.
Record what happens.
Procedure
6. When you reach the outer ring, rap
across the sticky tape. Record what
happens.
7. Repeat steps 4 and 5, but this time use
the other side of the toothbrush.
8. Collect and record your data.
Results
Conclusion
The stiff hairs of the spider helps it move
across the web.
Reflection
The overall experience was wonderful.
My mentor teacher is over the Science
Fair at Marlton Elementary. So, she
aloud me to do the Sample Science
Experiment for the school. The students
truly enjoyed this hands-on experience.
The only set back was that it was a little
time consuming.
Science Teacher Interview
Q: How do you feel about
science?
A: Science was never my favorite
subject in school but now with testing I
think that science allows me to be
creative with my students.. I try to make
Science the subject that the students
cannot wait to participate in. I try to
incorporate a hands on activity in all of
the units that we cover.
Q: How does the district
support you?
A:The district is somewhat supportive of
science. With no child left behind the
district only really looks at reading and
math at the elementary school level.
Q: How do you fit science
into their day/week?
A:I do science, social studies and health
on a three-day cycle. The lesson usually
last about 30 minutes. If the students
have an mini experiment to complete I
have to run into the language arts block.
Q: How do your children
feel about science?
A: When I surveyed my students in the
being of the year on how they felt about
science a lot of the students expressed a
dislike for science. But, as the year
progressed I saw that the students
enjoyed doing the hands-on activity,
allowing them to be part of the
experiment.
Q: Where do you find the
best science resources?
A: Honestly, there are not a lot of science
resources for K-4 so I made friends with
one of the fifth grade science teachers
and she allows me to borrow supplies. A
lot of the supplies that we use I have
went and purchased myself.
Q: What advice do you
have for me?
A: The only advice I would give to you is
to allow your students to be apart of
science. Foster a love for science that
you may not even have for science.
Q: Is there anything else I
should know about teaching
elementary science?
A: If you teach science understand that
you may have to purchase something for
your class to make it interesting to your
students.
Reflections
I am a person that really does not like Science but,
from interviewing my teacher I realize that I should put
just as much interest in teaching Science as I do
Mathematics. If I show my students that I have a
dislike for Science I will not give them the opportunity
they deserve to like Science. I think that my teacher is
an exciting teacher and that transfers through on her
lessons. I think I am truly learning what I need to
know in this class. Now, I am going to try to look at
Science in a positive light.
Trackstar
http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/ts
/viewTrackMembersFrames.do?number=3
68354&password=
Reflection
Using Trackstar I believe can be a very
valuable tool in my classroom. By using
trackstar I give my students a chance to
get on the internet to reach
information. But, by using track star I
can make sure the places that they are
getting the information is correct and
from a valuable source.