Trick or Treat {A Fun Blog HOP!}

Welcome to this fun Halloween addition to my blog. This is no ordinary post. You will be given the opportunity to look at other "tricks" and "treats" that some of my fellow TpT bloggers have to offer by clicking the link at the bottom of this post. The "HOP" will run from Oct. 24 - Oct. 31st so that you get a chance to pick-up as many "tricks" and download as many "treats" as you would like! Be sure you take advantage of this opportunity, because it's only for a limited time! Once you are finished trick or treating, you should end up back here at my blog.

One of my favorite things that I like to incorporate around Halloween in my science classroom is dry ice. You can find it at most grocery stores (Kroger, Tom Thumb, and sometimes Walmart), but be sure you ask or call around to make sure they carry it! I can't tell you how many times I've "thought" they carried it and was a little discouraged when I found out they didn't.

Due to the fact that dry ice sublimates and you can't really purchase it in advance, I usually do one of two things. I either call the store to be sure they have some the day before and then pick it up before school in the morning, or have a parent helper pick it up for me. I have  a cooler on hand (don't put ice in it) to store it throughout the day. I normally purchase about 10 pounds (it costs a little over $1 a pound). That amount will last me all day for anywhere from 6-8 class periods.

Here are a few other things that are good to have on-hand when dealing with dry ice:

• Dry Cooler (as mentioned above)
• Gloves
• Tongs 
• Hammer (for breaking up the dry ice into smaller pieces)
• Hot Plate or Microwave (to heat your water)
• Containers to store warm water  & demonstrate the effects when adding dry ice to water (buckets, plastic graduated cylinders, small cups, etc.)
• Food Coloring (to give it that extra POP!)
• Dish soap (for good clean fun... add it to a bubbling mixture of dry ice and warm water) 
• Paper towels (to help with any spills)

The Science-Dry Ice Connection
So, how would you incorporate dry ice into a tangible science topic? Here are some things I've done:

• Discuss the topic of sublimation (changing from a solid to a gas). How is it similar or different than some of the more common phase changes of matter (solid to liquid, or liquid to gas)?

• Discuss normal particle movement when an object goes through phase changes. When heat is applied to an object do the particles move slower or faster? Demonstrate (or let the kids experiment with it) this process by placing a piece of dry ice against a metal coin, the metal part of their chairs, or any other metal object. The particles are changing state so fast, that you can hear the vibration of this phase change when you push the dry ice against a metal object. 

• Have students predict what will happen when you place the dry ice in water. Will dry ice sublime more or less than it is outside the water? Why? Will dry ice sublimate faster in warm or cold water?

• Have students predict what will happen when soap is added to a mixture of dry ice and water.

There are many more things you can do and discuss with dry ice. Don't be afraid to let them experiment and get messy with it. Create that memorable experience that will stay with them longer than that lecture you just gave them five minutes ago. 

Halloween is my absolute favorite time of year to teach SCIENCE! Get this exclusive product FREE, ONLY this week ON MY BLOG.  This is a great tool for reviewing the 4 basic parts of blood and works best for grades 4-9. Click on the image below to grab this limited time FREEBIE!

I'm also giving away my newly created "Measuring Mass Task Cards." Great for helping students read a triple beam balance before they practice with the actual balances.

Sign-up below for this great giveaway!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out all the other great "tricks" and "treats" offered on this blog hop by clicking the image below.

Have a great time Trick-or-Treating!

Halloween Blog Hop: Count Down...

This years Halloween Blog Hop is coming quickly! Be sure to HOP by to see all the FREE tricks and treats you can get! Feel free to start at my blog this Saturday, then head to the other amazing  50+ blogs involved with the hop.





Hope to see you all at the HOP!

Friday's Teacher Feature: Trisha Schlachter

Hey everyone! It's Friday TEACHER FEATURE TIME! I would like to welcome Trisha Schlachter from Ohio!

So,  without further ado, here's Trisha!

Classification is a tool used by scientists world-wide to identify fossils, categorize a newly discovered plant, locate an endangered animal, and sort leaves.  A dichotomous key is a type of classification key in which the reader is given two opposing descriptions to choose from in identifying the object.  The reader studies the object and continues to choose descriptions that match the object until the object is completely identified based on its given characteristics. 

 

Many examples of dichotomous keys are available from minions to monsters on the internet for teachers to use in their classrooms.  I personally like to use dichotomous keys around holiday time when students’ attention span is limited but learning is still necessary.  With the upcoming holiday season fast approaching, why not review dichotomous keys by having students create their own!  They can create one using pumpkin faces, monsters, or ghosts. 

I have a Halloween Candy Sort activity in which students sort various types of candy: chocolate and non-chocolate, fruit-flavored and not fruit-flavored, with nuts or without nuts, etc…  I provide each partner group a bag of the candy to touch and talk about the different characteristics.  This also allows for all types of learners to be engaged (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic).  As students are working, if you need some “differentiation” for those “fast” learners, add a gum drop or another chocolate and ask how that would change their keys. Hope you find this activity fun yet educational, too!  Happy Sorting! 

Be sure to check out Trisha's Teachers Pay Teachers Store by clicking on the image below.

Fill out my Google form if you would like to be the next teacher featured on my blog!

Happy Friday!

Markdown Monday Linky Party! (October 5th - 9th)

Today I'm joining Kelly & Kim for a special Monday Markdown!

Please check out the fabulous discounted products in the linky party by clicking the image above! Be sure to check back again, as teachers may be adding products throughout the week. We don't want you to miss any of these great deals!

Today I am featuring:

It is 20% off!

Click on the picture above to check it out in my store.

My "Science Tools Bundle" is jam-packed with all types of goodies! These task cards and assessment pages have recently been upgraded and been given a face-lift.

The three item featured in this bundle are:

My Science Tools Assessment Pages

My Science Tools Task Cards

And Lastly....

My Science Tools Task Cards with QR Codes

These task cards & assessments highlight the following science tools: goggles, triple beam balance, flask, beaker, graduated cylinder, test tube, hot plate, bunsen burner, medicine dropper, lab coat, spring scale & magnifying glass. There are three different sets of 12 task cards to help you differentiate your instruction. One set has definitions of the science tools only, another has just the pictures of the science tools, and the last set has both the definition and picture of the science tool on the card. You also get this set of task cards with QR Codes and the same set without the codes. 


Thanks for coming to visit me today! 

I hope you enjoy my Science Tools Bundle

Super Science Sunday: Spook-tacular Fall & Halloween Science Ideas

Welcome to "Super Science Sundays;" where each month I will highlight some of the TOP Science Freebies offered by the very best Teachers pay Teachers authors. Each month has a different science theme. This month I will highlight some of the best  Halloween & Fall Science Resources offered to the K-12 classroom.

FALL FREEBIE #1

First off, we have Promoting Success.  They have put together an amazing lesson revolving around SPIDERS! This lesson is great for fall or anytime you want to fit in a little extra entomology in. I am positive your students will enjoy!

               

  Click any of the images to download it at their store!

FALL FREEBIE #2

Next, my friend  from Education to the Core, has another fantastic lesson for you! She has a great mini-book that perfect for the little ones and really integrates writing and science into this lesson. This is perfect for the Halloween season, being that it's all about BATS.

Click the image to download it at her store!

FALL FREEBIE #3

Next is Addie Williams. This moon phases lesson she put together is not only great for fall and for studying moon phases... but also pretty SWEET! I've seen this lesson on Pinterest, but Addie takes it to a whole new level of learning. Your upper grade students will really love this lesson!

Click the image to download it at her store!

FALL FREEBIE #4

My dear friend Elly Thorsen is next and she is all in with her Halloween lesson. This free Halloween Genetics lesson will have your students SCREAMING for more. Be sure to grab this upper grade goody before Halloween gets here!

   

Click the image to download it at her store!

FALL FREEBIE #5

Next is Christina at her TpT Store titled Miss DeCarbo. She has this amazing pumpkin themed freebie that includes a tally chart math activity, a pumpkin KWL chart, two reading comprehension and fluency passages (fiction and nonfiction), an informational writing activity, and a word work center. It works best for first and second grade! 

Click the image to download it at her store!


FALL FREEBIE #6

Lastly, I (Science Girl Lessons) have been working on a few new products just in time for Halloween! This one I've been dying to show you.... With blood transfusions on the brain, why not explore a little of how the process works with your students with my Blood Donor Dominoes. Match the dominoes that make a good donor ----> recipient pair. This lesson works best for grades 4-9.

Click the image to download it at my store!

Be sure to check back with me NEXT MONTH for some free Physical Science & more Fall Resources! Fill out my Google form if you would like to submit your own science freebies. Comment below if you would like to see more upper or lower grade featured freebies. 

Happy Sunday!

Some of my friends want to also let you know about some of their products they have created especially for Fall & Halloween Science. Click on the links below to find out more about these great Fall/Halloween Science Resources!

An InLinkz Link-up

Friday's Teacher Feature: Liezel Pienaar

Hey everyone! I'm proud to announce the start of our Friday Teacher Feature! To start things off, I would like to welcome Liezel Pienaar from South Africa!

Grades Taught: Grade 8 - 12 Biology, Chemistry & Physics
Her TpT Store: The Lab
Her teaching style: Practical
Her most memorable teaching experience: When she got the chance to design her own lab!
The funniest thing her students have every said to her: They keep calling her Mom!

A little about Liezel: She's been teaching for 1 3 years, and has a degree in Biochemistry. She has taught in London as well as South Africa. At the moment she is teaching at a private school in South Africa that follows the Cambridge syllabus.

She is married and has a very busy 2 year old little girl and an equally busy Jack Russell (her dog). She loves reading, knitting, painting and watching TV. Her favorite author is Kathy Reichs. Music wise, she likes anything from Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen to Classical.

She's useless at any form of sport but she loves watching them! She especially loves swimming, rugby, cricket, tennis, etc.

So,  without further ado, here's Liezel!

Me, Myself & My Lab

      I always have a little giggle when the CEO of our school introduces me as “The Head of Science”. A very interesting “title” since I am the whole Science Department! I am teaching at a relatively small private school and I am the only permanent Science teacher in the Middle and High School. I have a colleague who has taken over the grade 7 class and a part time teacher who comes in for 6 grade 12 Chemistry and Physics lessons.

      Being by myself and without a lab assistant means that I need to be extremely organized. Luckily I have a very bad case of OCD when it comes to organizing my classroom. I love labels! My students joke that I should have been a kindergarten teacher. Everything is color coded and labeled. I have found that even High school students need order. They need to know where to find things like graph paper and laminated periodic tables in the classroom without having to ask me every time.

Our students have a few study lessons every day, so it is not uncommon for a Senior to sneak into my room for some graph paper or revision activities while I’m teaching another class. Since they know exactly where everything is, they do not disturb my lesson and they can get on with the work that they wanted to complete.

     At the start of the school year I am that teacher who collects empty boxes from everyone! I use them for everything – storing games, “ketchup” boxes for students who were absent, magazines, paper. The possibilities are endless!

      We are moving into “exam season” here in the southern hemisphere. This means that the main focus in lessons is on revision. I have decided to revise my revision lessons this year. Instead of me re-teaching certain topics, I have allowed students to work on problem areas that they have identified themselves. Every student is busy with a different topic and revising it in a different way.

      I have set up a revision center in my lab. I have folders for Biology, Chemistry and Physics. In these are different activities on a variety of topics. Students can choose which they want to use. It is not unusual in any lesson to have students working on task cards, crossword puzzles, card sorts or past exam papers. They are all learning at their own pace, focusing on what they need to work on. I can walk around and answer questions as needed. Every activity has a laminated answer key so that they are able to check their own work. Mark schemes for exam papers are kept in files and students work through these once I have marked their papers.

      This method of revision has proven to be a great success. The students are actively engaged in every lesson and they do not get bored. They also come and “check-out” activities during their study lessons. We have now reached a point where some students are even requesting task cards, etc. that I need to create! I have a “Physical Science Request Form" in the corridor outside my lab.

      Practical lab sessions form an integral part of my Science curriculum in all my classes. Sometimes I have up to three different labs in one day. Preparing for these can be quite a challenge. I use my Lab Prep Forms to organize my lists of equipment, etc. I found these awesome plastic trays to set up the equipment and chemicals for each group. Each group will come and get their tray at the start of a session and it is easy to clear away everything at the end, especially if I have back to back lab sessions.

      For me the critical part of running an effective Science department is to find a system that works for you and stick to it! It does take a lot of organizing initially but it is definitely worth it in the end.

Work smarter, not harder!
-Liezel

Be sure to check out Liezel's Teachers Pay Teachers Store by clicking on the image below.

Fill out my Google form if you would like to be the next teacher featured on my blog!

Happy Friday!

Teacher Feature... Coming Soon :)

Hey guys!

I've been working hard (now that things are a little settled) and am excited to reveal a new blog series I will be starting in September (maybe earlier) Called...

I plan on posting these features on Fridays, anywhere from once or twice a month. I am so excited to introduce some of these amazing teachers and their wonderful wisdom.

If you are interested in being a teacher featured on my blog, please fill out this form and I will be in touch.


Happy Wednesday!