Science Challenge

Voice Threads I Viewed and Commented On:
1. Alyssa Hipps
2. Lauren MacDonald
3. Chelsie McCage

I learned that almost any science topic can be taught by using fun programs and tools. There were a variety of science topics and tools used in the voice threads I viewed. Kidspiration could be used to make activities for most science topics. The digital microscope is a great tool for observing things that are too small for the eye to see: soil, cells, small insects, etc. Stellarium is great for learning about stars, planets, Moon phases,etc. There are also a lot of different probes that just plug into the computer that would be very beneficial for experiments or observations of temperature, weight, etc.

Science is not one of my strong subjects and by exploring these different tools I was learning science.If I would have had access to tools like this when I was in elementary school I may have understood science a little better. I see how beneficial these tools can be in the classroom for students. They help the students to be engaged and take control of their own learning. I realized that the science tools are relatively easy to use and implement. If applied effectively in the classroom, students and teachers can learn and internalize the material.

Phases of the Moon, by: Elizabeth Rodriguez & Natalee Biggs

Science Challenge

Activity: Students will use Stellarium to help them create a chart of the changes in the moon's appearance during a month.

Content:
6th Grade Science
Standard 1: Students will understand that the appearance of the moon changes in a predictable cycle as it orbits Earth, and as Earth rotates on its axis.
Objective 1: Explain patterns of changes in the appearance of the moon as it orbits Earth.
Indicator a: Describe changes in appearance of the moon during a month.

Pedagogy:
Observing, Analyzing Data, Processing data
How it fits Content: Observing- The students will observe the moon to be able to chart its changes.
Analyzing data- The students need to be able to interpret what they are looking at on Stellarium.
Processing data- The students need to process what they learned in order to see the pattern in the changes of the moon’s appearance.

Technology:
Stellarium

How it fits Content: The night sky cannot always be observed and during some times of the year, the moon is not able to be seen at night. Stellarium allows students to be able to see the changes at any time during the day and if the moon is not able to be seen where they are, they can look at the night sky from another location on the Earth. Using this technology also saves time because they can use the program at any time and the program shows them exactly what the moon looks like. It takes out the worrying about forgetting to go out and look for the moon or not being able to see it clearly.

How it fits Pedagogy: To be able to observe, analyze, and process data, then the students need access to data about the changes of the moon. Stellarium is a great tool to do this.

Upsides and Downsides to Implementing a Tour

The virtual tours are a great way to put a lot of information into one place. It is very helpful for students to see where things are in relation to each other on the map. Virtual tours also are a great way for students to take charge of their own learning. They will retain more of the information because they are exploring it using Google Earth. The teacher may have to devote some time to teaching the students how to use Google Earth and how to access the tour, etc. A downside may be the time it takes to create a tour. It may be quicker for a teacher to put together a PowerPoint or a lecture.

Virtual Tours I Viewed

1. Alyssa Hipps
2. Markie Franc
3. Audrey Sanders
4. Emily Carr

Here is my link Civil War

This is my virtual tour:

Standard and Objective for Virtual Tour

5th Grade Social Studies:
Standard 4: Students will understand that the 19th century was a time of incredible change for the United States, including geographic expansion, constitutional crisis, and economic growth.
Objective 2: Assess the geographic, cultural, political, and economic divisions between regions that contributed to the Civil War.
a. Describe the impact of physical geography on the cultures of the northern and southern regions (e.g. industrial resources, agriculture, climate).
Objective 3: Evaluate the course of events of the Civil War and its impact both immediate and long-term.
a.Identify the key ideas, events, and leaders of the Civil War using primary sources (e.g. Gettysburg Address, Emancipation Proclamation, news accounts, photographic records, diaries).

My partner and I chose to do a virtual tour on the Civil War because there are many different battle sites in the United States. I have always loved learning about the Civil War and there is so much to learn about it. The tour allows for a lot of information in one place. It will make it easier for students to organize in their minds where these battles took place if they can see it on a map and read information about it. Most of the spots on the virtual tour are battles where there will be pictures with a brief description.There will also be an activity for students to find out important things that happened at that battle, important people, comparing casualties between battles and other things. A couple of the places we chose are important places-the Lincoln memorial where the students will learn about the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg address, the Appomattox Court house where the surrender took place, and the Arlington Cemetery where many soldiers were buried.

A virtual tour organizes all of this information into one place and that makes it much easier to work with. If I wasn't able to use a virtual tour I may use PowerPoint or some kind of lecture with lots of pictures and examples to show the students, but with the virtual tour I think it makes the learning more student owned. They can learn about the Civil War by following the directions on the tour and I think they will take more away from it.

Civil War Virtual Tour Outline

Location	Activity Description	Google Earth Content
1. Fort Sumter	Look at the pictures and watch the video about Fort Sumter. Research using Google the names of the generals involved in both the Union and the South.	Gigapxl Photo Youtube
2.Bull Run (Manassas)	Research using Google which states were part of the Union and which states were part of the Confederacy. Compare the numbers.	Gigapxl Photo
3. Battle of Vicksburg	Research using Google how long the Battle of Vicksburg lasted and which side won.	Gigapxl Photo
4. Gettysburg	Research using Google how many casualties there were at Gettysburg.	Gigapxl Photo

Location	Activity Description	Google Earth Content
5. Lincoln Memorial	Watch a video of the Gettysburg Address . Research on Google the date of when Gettysburg was fought and the date that the Gettysburg Address was given.	Gigapxl Photo Youtube
6. Battle of Atlanta	Research using Google the name of the Union general and how many miles of the South he burned on his way to Atlanta.	Gigapxl Photo
7. Appomattox Court House (Lee's Surrender)	Research using Google what date Lee surrendered to the Union Army and how his army surrendered.	Gigapxl Photo
8. Arlington Cemetary	Research using Google how many estimated casualties in total for the Civil War and compare that number to how many casualties for the Battle at Gettysburg.	Gigapxl Photo