You Don't Have to Reinvent the Wheel

A current teacher in one of my grad classes told us the other night that if she could give us any advice it would be to not reinvent the wheel.  With internet access at our fingertips, there is no reason for us to have to ponder (for long hours) on how we can teach a certain concept.  With websites like Teachers Pay Teachers and others similar to it, there is a plethora of great ideas to find and use in your classroom.

In that same class I mentioned earlier, we had to construct a Problem Investigation and solve it with our group members.  A couple of the groups came up with their own problems, however the remaining groups turned to the MythBusters site.  There are a ton of great ideas on the site for projects you can do with your kiddos, either to scaffold on to what you are learning, or just for educational fun!  I'm sure you all have heard of MythBusters, but I thought I would remind you of how great a resource it could be for your classroom!

Farm Animals

So, as I was looking through some pictures from this past summer & I came across these beauties:

This got me thinking about how I would love to incorporate nearby farms in my kiddos learning.  These cows are two of the many that reside at the MTSU Dairy Farm and probably some that contribute to that yummy chocolate milk they serve on campus.  I think it would be a great idea (if time and resources allow) to take your kiddos on an adventure to a local farm so they could meet some different farm animals that you may be learning about in your study of animals (or the life cycle).  You could also learn about fruits and vegetables (like I mentioned in a previous post) if the farm you visit has gardens.

  You could take it one step further and have them look up specific animals and get more information and either present on their specific animal or have them do a project (also could be great for group work).  Another option would be (for English Language Arts) to "write through a mask".  Have your kiddos pick an animal, and after researching about them, have them write a piece about the daily routine for their certain animal through the animal's perspective.

Tons of great ideas can stem from this trip to the farm.  I hope you can enjoy something similar to this in your classrooms!

Science Annotated Bibliography

Hi Y'all!

As we all know, "sharing is caring", so I wanted to share a list of science books that would be great literary devices for the classroom!  I know I previously shared my Integrated Curriculum Annotated Bibliography with you all, but I also had to construct a 25-book annotated bibliography for my science class, and since they are all great resources I thought it would be rude of me not to share!

So, here it is!  Enjoy!

Current Issues: "Thirst for Water Moves and Shakes California"

I was skimming through Facebook a while back and came across this article on the Student Science website about how the lack of water in California is causing tiny earthquakes and the mountains/land to shift. I thought it was an interesting read.  You can read the article here!

This would be a great article and current issue to tie into many different lessons in science.  It relates to all five elementary state standard topics: Embedded Inquiry, Embedded Technology and Engineering, Life Science, Physical Science and Earth and Space Science.

I think it is a great idea to tie current issues into learning, especially when the students can relate to what they are learning.  If the students have a personal connection, the information is more likely to be retained.  So, use both local and national topics and issues to help make personal connections for your students!

Integrated Curriculum Annotated Bibliography

We had to do an annotated bibliography for my Integrated Curriculum class and I figured I would share the books and information I collected so that you could possibly use them in your (current or future) classroom.  Not only does the bibliography give information about the books, but it also has aligned state standards with each book as well!

Click here to see the annotated bibliography! Enjoy!

It's Fall Y'all!

This is definitely my favorite time of year! Cooler weather, football & foliage!  What's not to love?  While I was driving one day and admiring the turning of the trees, I thought it would be interesting to study (and maybe do a time lapse video/project with your students) of the whole process.  Also, for younger students you could tie in a literary connection with the book Why Do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro.  For older students, you could have them do more of the research behind why the leaves change color on their own, and as a class you could document the color changing process.  I literally cannot say enough about how much I love to just drive and look at all the trees and their different vibrant colors.  When my husband and I visit our Nany in the Smoky Mountains during this time of year I HAVE to take several hikes or drives through Cades Cove and through the scenic routes just so I can see all of God's beauty unfold before me.  This time of year (especially the transitioning of the leaves) symbolizes so much more than just the changing of the seasons... it symbolizes changes in life, and it really makes you think about all aspects of life.

Cooking is Science!

I was reading one of my classmates blogs and she posted about cooking being a science, and I honestly had not thought about that up until this point.  My husband and I LOVE to cook and try new things, so I definitely would love to take that aspect of my life into the classroom.  As soon as I read the post on my classmates' blog I immediately thought of the reaction that yeast causes when mixed with warm water.  There are so many different reactions that take place in the kitchen, so there are many options to explore with your kiddos.

Blue Flame University

At the end of our science class this past weekend, our professor's husband came in to talk to us about the FREE services that his company does for the schools in the surrounding area.  Their program is targeted for 4th grade, but can be adaptable to most any elementary classrooms if you are interested.  

So, what is Blue Flame University, you ask?  

It is an informational session and demonstration done by Middle Tennessee Natural Gas to educate students (and adults) on natural gas.  The session lasts about 45 minutes to an hour and includes science, math, history and social studies skills.  (Yay for integration!)

*You can find out more details about Blue Flame University on their website.  Also, FYI, the gas company will come out and inspect your residential property and check to make sure that when you start digging for your garden or start the foundation for your new home that that you don't hit any natural gas lines.  All you have to do is dial "811" (at least three days prior to your planned digging)!  For more information on that service you can look here.

Experiment: Milk, Food Coloring & Dish Soap

In my Integrated Curriculum class we were brainstorming fun educational activities to do with children at an event coming up and one of my classmates mentioned a "milk food coloring activity".  So, naturally my curiosity peaked and I had to check out this neat-sounding experiment.  I went to YouTube and found this video: 

Cool, huh?  I thought so!  I will definitely be doing this fun little experiment in my classroom!

Hiking 101

While exploring on our nature walk at the Discovery Center, I thought about another fun, science related activity that would be great to do (as a field trip) with my future class: HIKING!  Since my husband and I are contemplating moving back to East Tennessee once I complete my program, I thought it would be so neat to take my class on a field trip to hike through Cades Cove (or anywhere in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park) and let them experience the great outdoors while also learning about natural science.

Since my husband and I love to hike so much, I figured I would share some pictures of hikes we have taken in the Great Smoky Mountains!

Mt. Leconte (near Gatlinburg, TN)

To get information about Mt. Leconte you can look here!  Also, you can stay in the lodge at the top of Mt. Leconte, and if you are interested in reading about that then you can look here!  To sum it up, the hike we took up to the top (the Alum Cove Trail) was 11 miles roundtrip, which wouldn't have been bad had our 72-year old grandmother not injured herself on the way back down.  It ended up taking us 13 hours to get out of there, and it was PITCH BLACK DARK when we made it to the car!  We all felt like we were on the Blair Witch Project, and you could hear a pin drop with how quiet we all were.  Once we got to the car we all explained how terrified we were and how we could have walked up on a panther, bear, snake or anything else that could have had us for a late night snack!  We didn't think to pack flashlights because we figured we would be off the trail long before dark, however with our set back we were in the dark for over an hour.  We had one cell phone battery left (that was fading fast), and the head lamp of a lodge worker that he so graciously gave us.  The craziest part was that two lodge workers passed us on the way back down the mountain, and clearly saw that our grandmother was hurt, but they just offered us their head lamp and kept trucking down the mountain!  What great customer service, huh?!  Anyway, we made it out alive, obviously, and we did see some breathtaking views and we have a story to pass down for generations to come.  It's a "fond" memory that we still joke about to this day when we go visit our aunt and grandmother over in East Tennessee!  If you aren't afraid of heights (i.e. scaling the side of a cliff, hanging on to a cable that is bolted into the mountain) then you should definitely give this hike a try!  I definitely had to fight my fear of heights that day (on several occasions)!  It tested faith, fears and relationships, but we are all more "well rounded individuals" because of it! :)

Trey and I at the beginning of the hike.

Aunt Tia and Nany at the beginning of the hike.

Isn't she the cutest?!  She tears up the trails like she is our age!  I hope and pray I am in as great of condition as she is at her age!

Trey and I climbing the Alum Cave steps.

Trey and I mid-hike.

A before and after shot (13 hours apart).  We were screaming praises when we finally crossed the last bridge before our car.  *Funny side note:  Our other aunt had already called the Park Ranger and sent him looking for us, and we passed him as soon as we pulled out of the parking lot.

Cosby Campground & Low Gap Trail (Cosby, TN)

This would be interesting to research with the children after the field trip to find out what this was and information about it.  Even us "old folks" were curious about what it was.

I thought it might also be fun (if possible) to picnic with the children.  This could integrate curriculum by using math, history and science.  You could talk with the children about how to build the fire, who throughout history used this as their main form of eating (meal prep), and also you could tie in math in many different ways.

Cades Cove (Great Smoky Mountains National Park)

There are so many wonderful activities that you could do with the children in Cades Cove.  You could hike (or go on nature walks), ride bikes, horseback ride, picnic, walk through the historical buildings in the Cove and learn all about the people who settled there long ago, and many other fun activities.  To learn more about what you can do at Cades Cove look here!  Below are a few pictures taken by me and my husband while hiking and enjoying Cades Cove.

I definitely encourage you to check out the Tennessee State Parks website, because there are great state parks all around and there is much fun to be had and science to be learned at all of them!

Gardening 101

So, I'm going to start this post off with a conversation between my (now) father-in-law and myself when I first started dating my husband over five years ago!  Keep in mind this one of the first dinners I had with my future in-laws and they knew I was a "city girl" (and certainly confirmed that label after this conversation).

Father-in-law:  "What kind of vegetables do you like, Ashlynn?"

Me:  "Uhhh, canned ones!?"

Father-in-law:  (Laughing hysterically)  "No, I mean fresh vegetables."

Me:  "Ohhhhh, I don't know.  I don't eat fresh vegetables.  We rarely eat at home, because we don't have time to cook.  We definitely don't have time to grow and cook vegetables, plus my mom would probably butcher them."

God bless my mother's heart, but she can burn rolls without even trying.  So the thought at trying to locate fresh vegetables and then cook them would just be a little too much for her to conquer.  Since she, my sister and I stayed so busy while we were growing up, most of our meals consisted of a drive-thru or something that was cooked in the microwave.  Fortunately, I have seen the light, and my life is completely opposite these days.  I am not a huge fan of the drive-thru (and neither are my thunder thighs), and microwave meals make me nauseous!  I don't judge others who eat that way, I have just learned to cook (all thanks to my husband), and would much prefer fresh ingredients than processed ones. 

So, for this post I decided to let y'all in on mine and Trey's first ever garden together.  We have talked about doing this for a couple years, but living in an apartment has prohibited that.  We have had little herb gardens on our window sill, but never a garden producing vegetables.  So, without further ado, here is a look at our garden:

This is a look at our garden that is in our backyard.  We planted several different types of herbs, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, bell peppers and tomatoes.  Unfortunately, our squash, cucumbers and bell peppers never produced vegetables.  They actually never sprouted after being planted. 

This is picture of one of our zucchini that came from our garden.  It is great for making zucchini bread and it's also yummy in stir fry.

Here is a picture of some more zucchini, as well as some of our tomatoes.

There are definitely things we have learned from our garden this year, such as planting earlier, where we should and shouldn't buy the "baby plants" as I call them, and purchasing a water barrel (to help out the environment and our water bill).  We love learning more and more about our garden, and I even had my mother inform me that she wants me to give her tips for starting a small garden next year!  I consider that a HUGE win!

I think a class (or school) garden would be a great idea to start with your kiddos.  On one of the videos we were assigned to watch in my science class it talked about how if children are in charge of their project (in that case it was maintaining and measuring plants) then they will take ownership and take care of the project.  That also could apply to to a class (or school) garden.  This idea is also a great way to integrate multiple content areas, such as science, math, geography, art, etc.

Also, if there are not the funds or resources for a class (or school) garden, you could take your kiddos on a field trip to a local farmers market.  They could each purchase items, and maybe even talk to the farmers about the items they purchased, and then a project/report could stem from that field trip.  I love going to farmers markets and watching the changes of my own garden, and I can't wait to learn, interact and engage with my future (biological and class) children!

Teaching Science Class: First Weekend (September 5th and 6th)

The first weekend of our Teaching Science class started out with a bang!  Our class got to participate in many different fun activities that could certainly cater to our future classrooms.

Friday night we got the opportunity to attend the First Friday Star Party that the Department of Physics & Astronomy puts on each semester.  If you are interested in attending any of the other star parties this semester you can find out information about that here.

Saturday we got to channel our inner child and go to the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring.  We actually attended two different workshops in one day, Growing Up Wild and Project Learning Tree.  We were showered with great tips, materials and learning guides, and we also got to do many hands-on activities!  Below are some pictures I snapped while at the Discovery Center.

 They had an amazing water tank with all sorts of creatures in it, including this cool dude!  

We got to make some awesome hats for our explorations outside!

Of course, for us sweet, sensitive-skin folks bug repellent is a must when exploring the great outdoors!

Here are some of our findings for our leafy picture frame that our group was assigned to make!

Overall, the first weekend of our Teaching Science class was a blast!  It's so cool to be able to learn new things (even as the "future teacher") that you didn't already know about the subject.  I'm pretty sure I can speak for my class in saying that we definitely enjoyed learning tips, ideas and activities of ways to teach content to our future kiddos!

Under Construction

"You'll have to forgive the crudeness of this model. I didn't have time to paint it or build it to scale."  -Dr. Emmett Brown (Back to the Future)

Sorry guys! I'm currently working on my posts!  Check back tomorrow for some great "science shenanigans"!!