What is this organism's structural adaptation?

What is this plant's structural (physical parts) adaptations? What is the purpose for having these structures? 

5 Common Mistakes that Will Lead to an Out-of-Control Classroom

http://corkboardconnections.blogspot.com/2014/06/5-common-mistakes.html?m=1

Since a majority of our teachers this year are first year teachers or new to grade levels, I found an article to help. Blogspot article to help with advice for classroom management. 

What kind of metamorphosis is shown?

Adaptations for plants and animals

Short video explaining adaptations along with learned behavior for animals and plants. 

http://youtu.be/-IiP-9VzY9w

Learned and Innate behavior

Great video for you, as a teacher, to become familiar with the TEKS, vocabulary, and examples. 

http://youtu.be/7ol6ravKe60

Complete and Incomplete Metamorphosis

Checkout this explanation of incomplete and compete metamorphosis. 

http://youtu.be/Ka3q7bj45x0

Checkout this cool website explaining and practicing identifying metamorphosis cycles. 

http://www.midlandisd.net/cms/lib01/TX01000898/Centricity/Domain/454/Metamorphosis.pptx

Plant adaptation for survival

Check out out how the Lima Bean plant defends itself against insects. 

http://youtu.be/155gvl-5tMg

What does your Science Notebook look like?

We need to be reflective of not only our student journals but also our journals. As we lesson plan for upcoming units and STAAR preparation, ensure that you plan what is expected to be in student journals. Model what a proper journal should look like and how to use it for review. Journals should be uniform not identical (not just copying off the board). 

Online planning session

Online planning session (Google) is scheduled for Tuesday, March 1st, at 3:30. We will be reviewing the unit: cycles in environment. 

Topics will include: 

TEKS resource system

TEKS deconstruction

Vocabulary

Misconceptions

Resources

Performance assessments 

Next unit: Cycles in the Environment

Food webs & food chains

Photosynthesis 

Carbon dioxide cycle 

Ecosystem performance assessment examples

Just a few student examples. 

Be on the look out for more Running with Science

Cody and I will be back burning calories and taking a look at ecosystems, food chains/webs, types of animals, and adaptations. So keep on the look out for our new videos. 

Don't forget about Edusmart

As we follow the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) model, remember that you have many resources made available to you to incorporate into your classroom. Today's resource spotlight focus is....EDUSMART! 

Edusmart has videos with stopping points, interactive lessons, open ended questions, assessments, teacher resource pages and much more. Use them to engage your classroom, review a topic, or in a small tutoring group. Plus, the best part is that the program is FREE till the end of the year!

E-Connect PD

Make sure to sign up for the Adobe E-Connect PD on Euphoria. 

Thursday February 18

4-5pm

The Science Dept. will be holding an online professional development for the second part of ecosystems. 

Crash Course Kids links

Great video resource that explains ecosystems and food chains/webs!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9TIlM96lT8&list=PLpdG7PR0LKdSCj-6YJtbL9e9LxPCAutFO

Explain how these layers were made.

Cody found an example of sedimentary layers. He is a bit confused (just look at his ears) about why they are different layers and colors.  Explain to Cody how the layers were made. 

Sunday quote

How do we assess our students?

To assess our students at the end of a unit happens two ways.

1. We have a formal assessment with questions and open response/multiple choice answers. Student should show all their annotations and justify their selections. 

2. We have students complete a performance assessment. It includes writing, art, and science. Student are to create a product that students use to show all the knowledge they've aquired in the unit and communicate it to others. 

Performance Assessment for Ecosystems

Ideas for ecosystem anchor charts

What is population, community, and ecosystems?

What are the roles within the ecosystem?

What's the difference between food chains and food webs? 

Want to make your bulletin board a learning tool?

Next Unit: Ecosystems Interactions

5.9

By the end of this unit, along with the unit assessment, students will be able to create a model ecosystem and communicate it's different components. Though the diagram is important, the major component is the writing. 

Together We Achieve More-Something to keep in mind

My Performance Assessment example for Sedimentary Rock and Fossil Fuels

Students show what they have learned by explaining the process for creating sedimentary rock and fossil fuels. Have the students be as creative as possible in their booklet. Students must have: illustrations, explanations, proper vocabulary, and correct sequence. 

Ecosystem observations

https://youtu.be/-XJLfbPIlJs

Sedimentary Layers and Fossil Fuel anchor charts

Some examples for anchor charts

Happy Monday! As you go through this week remember...

Can ice break a brick?

STEMScopes sedimentary rock and fossil fuels

Materials for sedimentary lab

The STEMScopes investigation requires some consumable materials:

Fruit loops

Cheerios

Bran flakes
Coco Pebbles
Coffee Grounds

Plastic cups

Zip lock bags

Goldfish *optional- to represent the decayed living material 

Sand dune QCE examples

Good use of additional vocabulary: sediment and indentation 

Another QCE example.

This QCE has a good start, but has areas to improve. They are on the right track just need some additional practice with the Claim (answering the question) and the Evidence (explaining their experience that helped them answer the question). 

Looking forward to the next unit

Coming Soon: Sedimentary Rock & Fossil Fuels 

Edusmart turtorial

Here is a walkthrough of how to navigate through the Edusmart resource site. Please start integrating the resource in your planning and classroom.

New Video!

Running with Science- Soils

Here is a video I shot, with my dog Cody, in my neighborhood showing soil types, weathering, erosion, and deposition.