Generic Anchor Activities

Here is a link to a few ideas for generic science anchor activities designed for grades 2-4.  Just change out the science content.   See the tic-tac-toe blog entry for cards on various topics.

Generic anchor activity instruction pages
Generic anchor activity instrucion pages in Spanish

Articles to use with the Comprehension Toolkit

To save some teaching time, why not use an article about science content during your reading lesson? 

Below are links by grade level with articles about science topics by nine weeks.  I will add more as I compile them.  Also, I intend to post some Spanish articles as I find them.

3rd Nine Weeks
Kindergarten
3rd grade
4th grade

Powerpoint resources

There are many sites out there that offer pre-made powerpoints and slideshows that other teachers have created.  Most of the time you can download them for free.  I would recommend looking over the slideshow and taking out any information that is beyond your grade level's scope and sequence.  You can also add more slides to specifically target your instruction.  It helps to have most of it done already!
Grades K-5 Science powerpoints
Science at PPPST.com

Uses of Water and the Water Cycle

Experiments:
Water cycle in a jar
Easy lesson with jar, sponge, and water
Evaporación
Condensación
Tu propio ciclo de agua

Literature Links:
Uses of Water online audio book
Down Comes the Rain by Franklyn M. Branley
The Watering Hole by Grame Base
The Puddle Pail by Elisa Kleven
The Snowflake: A Water Cycle Story by Neil Waldman

Poem and chants:
English   
Spanish

Student Information sites:
The Water Cycle
USGS for kids - Click the diagram for information about each part.
Water Cycle Interactive

Información en español:
El agua (nivel alto)
La lluvia
El ciclo de agua
Aprender sobre el agua

Soil

What students need to know about soil:

K, 1st, 2nd 
Observe and describe properties of soil such as color and texture.  Give examples of how we use soil.  Plants need soil to grow.

3rd, 4th
Identify and describe the importance of earth materials including soil and classify them as renewable, nonrenewable, or inexhaustible resources. Identify and record properties of soils such as color and texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of plants

Lab Activities
Edible Model of Soil Layers
Size of Particles in Soil to be followed by Soil Sizes
Sponge model of water retention of soil
Soil Filters Ground Water - Also use to show how some soils hold (retain) water better than others.

Online Facts and Readings
Minerals in Soil - Click to see how minerals are in each layer of rock and soil.
Types of Earth's Soils - Click and read about each one.
Facts about Soil
Sammy Soil - As you read the book to the class, ask them to be on the lookout for examples of erosion and how trees are helpful to soil.
Soil Forming Factors
El suelo - SPANISH!!!
Tipos de suelo - SPANISH!!!

Interactive Sites
Soil Safari - Dig inside the soil and explore what you find.

Glaciers

Engage:  Video Segment & Partner Discussion
Watch the video segment “Glaciers” (03 mins 02 seconds) from the United Streaming Video titled “Alaska: Most Extreme.” In partners, have students discuss if  they would like to try the sport of glacier surfing. What dangers are there?

Explore:  Glacial Landforms Lab

Explain:  Glacier Simulation - This is AWESOME!!!!
*  Click "Run Now!"  It will open in Java. 
*  Manipulate variables such as air temperature and amount of snowfall to see their effect on glacier size and flow.  In the "Advanced" tab it will allow you to show graphs of variables and students can observe things like:  as temperature increases, the glacier recedes;  as temperature decreases, the glacier grows.
*  Make sure you decrease the temperature and then increase it.  Notice where the sediments are deposited.
*  Have students draw conclusions about relationships between variables and record them in their science notebooks.

Explain: "Life Cycle" of a Glacier
* Read the story out loud.  Students fold a sheet of paper in fourths.  Stop at the end of each paragraph and let them draw and label with a caption what they have heard/learned about that stage of a glaciers growth.

Elaborate: Glacier Research
Students can research a glacier of their choice.  Is it receding? growing? What do scientists know about their glacier in terms of snowfall? average temperature? What lives on/near their glacier?  What questions do they have about their glacier?
Websites to help:  Glaciers Online, Glacier Runoff Research (includes map links using google earth!)

Math Connection:  Comparing Areas  and/or  Looking at Fractions
Even if you haven't officially taught area yet in math, why not introduce it so students get an idea about it?  Use information from this chart.  Depending on grade level, you may want to pre-round the decimal numbers to the nearest whole number. Use graph paper to cut out scaled areas (for example, each graph square = 10 or 100 square kilometers).  Cut, glue and label them on a sheet of paper so students can compare the area of glaciers. You can also choose one state and shade an area of total glaciers versus a total area of the state.  Then place the glacier area on top of the total state's area.  (If you round to whole squares, you may even turn this into a fraction lesson!  What fraction of of Washington is covered in glaciers?  450 / 184,800 sq. km. 

Please post a comment with ideas, suggestions, questions, or share what you like to do to teach about glaciers!

Choice Boards

In working on choice boards, students are being productive and applying skills they have learned in reading, writing, and science. Make sure students understand what is expected on the choice board. Projects shouldn't require a lot of explanation. For example, if it has "pamphlet" as an option, students need to know what a pamphlet is.

Vocabulary My Way - created by Carolyn Dawson
4-Choice Vocabulary - created by Carolyn Dawson
States of Matter - created by Carolyn Dawson
Energy - created by Carolyn Dawson
Energy Sources - created by Stephanie Means
Earth, Sun, and Moon - created by Stephanie Means
This book has project ideas to use Differentiating Instruction with Menus: Science by Laurie E. WestPhal

Do you have any choice boards you would like to share? Please post a comment with your advice, questions, or ideas  :-)

Musical/Rhythmic Intelligence in Science

In an effort to reach all your learners, here are some ideas of how to reach the muscial/rhythmic intelligence with science.  Also, using songs and poems can improve reading fluency and expression.

Free science lyrics/poems:
Kids Know It
Science Raps (grades 4-12) (Note: lyrics and clips are free, songs available for purchase)
Force and Motion Poem - The Door
Magnetism Poems and Song
Body Systems Poems
Electricity Chant

Songs to Purchase/Download:
Kid-style:  Musically Aligned  (K-5)  Earth -  Physical -  Life 
Various styles (mostly kid-style):  Songs for Teaching (K-5)
Rap-style: Educational Rap (grades 3-12)
Rap-style: Flocabulary  (gr. 4-12)

Anchor Activities and Choice Boards:
As one choice on your choice board or as an anchor activity, students can choose to create a poem or song about a science concept.  Here are some criteria to use as a guide to making a rubric.
1.  Science concept is clearly represented and explained
2.  Song has a rhythm or melody.  Poem has appropriate format.
3.  has auditory appeal (can be sung or chanted)
4.  rich science vocabulary

Rockin' out!

Rock Cycle lessons:
Tasty Rocks * (Thanks, Doris!)
Ride the Rock Cycle
Rock and Rap CD - Elaboration activity

Websites:
Rock Hounds
Identifying Rocks - Info for Teachers
Minerology 4 Kids: The Rock Cycle
Online Rock Cycle Diagram Labeling
Uses of Minerals

Rock Cycle Animations:
Rock Cycle with Volcano
Metamorphic Rock Formation
Sedimentary Rock Formation

Rock Cycle Songs:
Rock Cycle Song - to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Ricky the Rapping Rock - Slideshow with a beat.  Rap to the beat.

Rock Cycle literature links:
Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth by Joanna Cole
Rocks in his Head by Carol Otis Hurst
Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor  (** Then, go rock hunting with your students outside and have them observe and describe the physical properties of their rock.)

PBS Kids - Sid the Science Kid

 Sid the Science Kid  is a television show on PBS geared towards preschool and kindergarten.  (But I think 1st and 2nd graders would like it, too!)   Every episode follows the scientific method.  Sid starts every episode with a question he is wondering about.  He takes his question to school and he and his classmates investigate and explore the concept.  His teacher, Miss Susie, then explains the concept (usually through song) and real world connections.  When Sid returns home, he tells his grandma and parents what he learned.  At bedtime, he reflects on what he learned about science today.

They don't have full episodes online but here are many songs and investigations played in Flash to go along with science content.   There are songs and investigations on tools & measurement, transformations of matter, senses, health, simple machines, backyard science, human body, and weather.

How do you fit science in? - 4th grade

This one goes out to 4th grade teachers!   So, I know this post isn't directly about science content.  But by injecting social studies into language arts anchor activities, you will have more time for hands-on science later in the day.  If your partner teaches social studies and you don't, please share this. There is no sense in working any harder than we already do!  These activities address the 4th grade Social Studies TEKS.  The anchor activities target reading skills, the use of graphic organizers, and critical thinking.  The projects align with multiple intelligences. 

Texas Geography and Regions
        7 activities and 9 project choices

The First Texans and Native Americans
        7 actvities, 8 project choices, 10 articles for Toolkit.

Texas Exploration and Colonization
        8 activities, 9 project choices

If they build it, they will learn!

TEKS K.6DE, 1.6CD, 2.6AB, 3.5AB, 4.5AB

Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade focus using parts of objects to make a whole.  Other grades go on to use that knowledge to conclude things about systems when parts are removed. I thought these were some neat toys (for rainy-day recess or reward time for your students, or even as an anchor activity with structured question cards).  While they build, ask them questions about what they build and which parts are essential.  Also, ask about how parts can be rearranged to build something new.

K'NEX vehicle kits - $3 each +tax/shipping from their website
Toys R' Us website - legos/block kits starting at $7
Lego Crazy Action Contraptions $15+ on Amazon
Klutz Lego Action Contractions $15 on Amazon
SuperStructs -kits from $20+ from their website

Science Contests

Watershed Poetry & Art: http://www.riverofwords.org/contest/index.html
Enter by December 1, 2009 ~ Ages 5-19
River of Words is conducting a free international poetry and art contest for youth on the theme of WATERSHEDS. The contest is designed to help youth explore the natural and cultural history of the place they live, and to express, through poetry and art, what they discover.

Inventing Future Techology: http://www.exploravision.org/
Enter by February 2, 2010 ~ Grades K-12
ExploraVision can help all students — even those who haven't been high achievers — become interested in science and technology as they apply to everyday life.

Science Essay Contest http://www.popsci.com/sciencecontest
Enter by June 30, 2010 ~ Grades K-12
Rules: http://www.popsci.com/files/ScienceContestRules.pdf

Forces that Shape the Earth

NEW!!! C.I.S.D. Lesson plans for Earthquakes and Volcanoes  - with anchor activities!
NEW!!! Volcanoes are a Constructive Force - slideshow for use with above lab

NEW!!! Edible Ice Cream Model of Volcanoes *

*  Note: for ice cream lab see Texas Law and FMNV


General Sites on Earth Science
Earth: Our World in Motion
Research Project
Video Clips
Annenberg - Click on VOD icon next to the video you want to watch.

Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition
Weathering & Erosion ppt
Picture Practice & Simon Says
Animated Weathering - Be sure to click "Next" to see all of them!
Free Brainpop video on Weathering
If video is small, change % size of screen in the lower right of your browser.

Rivers & Water Cycle
Posters, Scrapbook, and banner

Earthquakes, Volcanoes, & Glaciers
Volcano Cross-section
Build your own Volcano
Kid-Friendly Information about Volcanoes
USGS earthquake information
Hawaii - Search for "volcano" and click on "Dragonfly TV Hawaii's Hot Spot"
Glaciers - Search for "glacier" and click on "Dragonfly TV Alaska"

Layers of the Earth
Layers of the Earth ppt
Plate Techtonics ppt

Rocks & Rock Cycle
Word Wall, Banner, and Scrapbook
Find the Earth Materials --> Click words below for pictures!
Idioms that have to do with stones, rocks, and minerals

Online Science Readers - HOLY COW!!!

All I have to say is I feel like I've hit the motherload of narrated science books!!! 

You can print these (or parts of these).  But, if your students read it a computer, there is a speaker icon on each page and it will read the page out loud.  I can see this as a science reading activity (either on the computer or with a paper copy depending on the needs of your students.) There are also follow up activities (usually writing assignments.)  Given how awesome this resource is, I would save the ones you like to your computer... just in case!

Words

http://metaatem.net/words/
You could use this for science words (sight words, spelling words, etc.)... but I just thought it was cool!


http://www.wordle.net/create
Also if you haven't played with Wordle, it has lots of possibilities beyond just practicing spelling.  I entered a article I found online about Erosion.  The more frequently the word appears, the larger it is in the wordle picture.  So, this article is mostly about water erosion.

Human Body Systems & Health

Lesson Plans:
Functions of Body Systems - ScienceNetLinks
Model of Respiratory System - ScienceNetLinks
Measuring the Digestive System
Integration Ideas

Resources:
Amazing Heart Facts
Comparing Skeletons
Articles on Body Parts in English (in Spanish, too!)
Body Part Idioms
Body Part Poetry and Rhymes

Video Clips:
Free Brainpop video on Nutrition in English
Free Brainpop video on Sangre in Spanish

Interactive Websites:
The Amazing Human Body
Bones of the Body

Word Walls

Science word walls are a critical component of increasing the amount of "science talk" using proper science vocabulary in your classroom.  They provide a reference for students during science learning and discussion.  When used correctly, they are also part of Marzano's 6-step vocabulary process.

I understand that wall space is limited, but it helps students if words from the entire year of science can be posted as it is taught and left up for the rest of the year.  In bilingual classrooms especially space is limited.  Some of the word wall lists posted below are on sheets of paper.  Bilingual teachers print English on one side and Spanish on the other and then flip the page over depending on the language of instruction that day.

Kindergarten - English **
Kindergarten - Spanish **
** Thank you for sharing these with me, Tori!

1st Grade - English
1o grado - espanol

3rd grade - English
   --> Look in the C&I folder in First Class.  There are words with pictures for the entire year!

See HELP! if you have questions about downloading/printing.
I will add more as I make them.  Unfortunately, it's not a quick process.

Similarities & Differences

According to Marzano's research-based instructional practices, "Identifying Similarities and Differences" is the most effective way to increase student achievement.  Games that look at examples and non-examples are a great way to practice this skill.

GAMES
Gatekeeper - Colors and Shapes (2 player)
Gatekeeper - Colors and Shapes (3 players)

Zookeeper - Animal Attibutes (Black & White cards)
Zookeeper - Animal Attributes (Color cards)

EXAMPLE / NON-EXAMPLE
a.k.a. "Which doesn't belong and why?"
States of Matter & Natural Resources

Electricity

Students only need to know how to make a complete simple circuit.  They do not need to know the difference between series and parallel.  They need to know that the circuit can do more than just light a light, it can also produce motion, create sound, etc.  In grades 4 and 5, students should be able to identify conductors and insulators of electricity.

Cheerios and Static Electricity
Lessons from BBC - Circuits
Simple Lesson using Christmas Lights
Lesson from BBC - Conductors/Insulators
Conductor or Insulator Data Table
Lemon Battery - How-to

Online Activities
Circuit Builder

Sound: Hear all about it!

Remember that the only information students are held responsible for on the Elementary Science TAKS test is that sound is caused by vibration.

Adult background knowledge about sound

Six Stations on Sound Exploration - Suitable for all grades.

Read aloud book that I like (and was recommended by Debbie Silver!) 
I have a Sister, My Sister is Deaf

Force & Motion Resources

Lesson Plans/Ideas:
Look at this! List of Force and Motion Experiments for many levels
Many Ideas for 1st
Analyzing Parts of Simple Machines - 3rd
Build a Catapult - 4th

Readings:
The Wheel
Bicycle Gears
Braking and Steering
Simple Machines
http://www.iknowthat.com/
You will need to create a log-in and then look for "Gravity"  and "Magnetism" in the Science topics.

Online Force & Motion Simulations:
Push and Pull
Ramp and movement
Changing Friction
Balanced Forces - Using Mass
Skateboard Science

Online Activities for Simple Machines:
Edheads - Simple Machines
Harcourt - Simple Machines

Printing and dowloading...Help!

Several people have had trouble printing the cards and games linked below.  Hopefully, this post will help.

1.  Click the link you want.

2.  It will load in your window.  You can see the game or cards you want.

3.  For pdf or doc files, look just above and to the left of the game or cards.  There are 3 options: share, download, or print.  For some game files it will open in google ppt, look an the bottom left for "Actions."

4.  Click "download" to save a copy to your computer. Click "print" to print. 

5.  After clicking "download" or "print" a new window will load prompting you to log in to your Conroe I.S.D. Google Docs account.  Each employee in Conroe ISD has one automatically. 

       Username: Same as your firstclass (ex: jsmith)
       Password:  Asterisk and last 5 of social (ex: *12345)

For more about your ConroeISD Google account, see the tech help page here.

Capture the Wheel Games

Capture the Wheel - Earth Science (gr 4-6)
Capture the Wheel - Measuring Weather (gr 2-3)
Capture the Wheel - Water, Rocks, Soil (gr K-1)

Game Boards

Lab Safety Scenarios
States of Matter
Color Generic science gameboard
Black and White Generic science gameboard
Print the file as slides. Glue in a folder and laminate. The regular size library pocket, plastic baggie, or envelope works for storing the cards. You could also make a generic board and change the cards out.

Kindergarten Science Books

I have had a request to create or find kindergarten level science books to go with certain areas in the scope and sequence.  I will add more as I make them. 
What is hot? What is not? - EASY
What is hot? What is not? - HARD
Dressing for the Weather
The Sky - EASY
The Sky - HARD

Tic-Tac-Toe Cards

Tic-Tac-Toe Cards
If your kids don't know how to use the tic-tac-toe board, send me an email so I can come help!
Here are some cards, I'll add links to more in the future.

English

Lower Levels:
Five Senses 
Water, Rocks, and Soil
Natural Resources - How do we use them? 
Push or Pull? 
Solid or Liquid? 
Solid, liquid, or gas? *
Living or Non-Living? *
 

Middle Levels:
Water Cycle
Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition
Forces that Shape the Earth and Rock Cycle - NEW!!! *
What's the Matter?
Heat and Light
The Moon and its Phases
  * Thanks for sharing, Tori!


Spanish
Jalar o empujar - 1o grado
Calor y luz - 3o y 4o grado
La materia - 4o grado

They should come up in Google as pdfs or docs.  If you want higher quality pictures, email me. 
MORE SPANISH IS COMING SOON!!!  If you find mistakes in my Spanish (I am not a native speaker), please email me at cdawson@conroeisd.net and I will fix them.

Beginning of School

School's off to a great start!  I am so fortunate to be part of a district that has such caring teachers.  Thank you to those teachers who gave up some of your time last week to meet with me.  I want to reiterate that if you think of any needs you have for your science instruction , please let me know!  (Other than  to have more time, I don't have that kind of power...... yet.)