Rader's Physics for Kids

Hello All,

There is a terrific site called Rader’s Physics for Kids.   Many physics concepts are introduced here without relying heavily on mathematics.  While the site name states for kids, it proves to be of value for secondary students who need to review or need clarification on material being learned.  Major concepts covered include motion and mechanics, electricity and magnetism, heat and thermodynamics, light and optics, and modern physics (nuclear, quantum, etc.).  Rader’s Physics for Kids also offers a number of quizzes for students to self-check for understanding.  The site relies heavily on text; reading comprehension may be a challenge for some students.  The content ranks mostly between a 7th to 10th grade level according to Readability-Score.com.

Andrew Rader with the help of volunteers created Rader’s Physics for Kids along with many sites including Chem4Kids, Biology4Kids, Geography4Kids (Earth science), Cosmos4Kids, and NumberNut.com.  All of these science sites and the math site can be found at Kapili.com.  The sites have received various recognitions since 1997.

Happy exploring,

Mrs. A

Clean Science Humor

Hello All,

I read a blurb about Pedro Martinez handing out Good Humor ice cream to Red Sox fans and for some reason it reminded me about the power of humor in teaching.  It also reminded me, sports references have aided me in the classroom with connecting students to content.  Here are a few references for science jokes.  Check out this video from Coma Niddy with some Really Bad Science Jokes at the secondary level.  Looking for something geared more toward all ages, try Science Kids Science Jokes.  Jokes and Science is a wonderful site with jokes divided into topics for use with students K-12.   There are numerous science joke sites out there, due to content or title not all are appropriate to be referenced in the classroom.
Hmm...perhaps a science-sports posting to come in the future.

May you laugh some each day,

Mrs. A

If you are too busy to laugh, you are too busy.  Proverb

The M in STEM.

Hello All,

Math and science are beautifully intertwined.  No surprise, I have a great appreciation for many things STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) related.  The University of Cambridge NRICH is a wonderful resource for math and STEM activities.  There are elementary and secondary offerings for both students and teachers.  Curious, I clicked the lower level secondary link and followed the STEM link at the top of the page. This led to some interesting math based STEM activities under the Living World and Physical World.  I especially enjoyed exploring the genetics option.

Alcumus is another site that caught my attention in the online world of mathematics. If you are familiar with Math Counts, Math Counts Minis are available here. Students can compete with other students through AoPS for the Win, FTW!  FTW! encourages students development of skills for middle school level math competitions. Students can also take advantage of the adaptive curriculum that chooses questions based on the students previous performance.  There is quite the selection of short math videos.  If one prefers, there are math and programming courses that may be paid for as well.

Happy calculating,

Mrs. A

Where to Draw the Line: ADHD or Creativity and Imagination

Hello All,

There is much labeling in the educational system.  I understand the need for having systems of classification for the purpose of communicating.  Sometimes I’ve wondered if the labels lead to limitations and excuses for students, families, and those in the educational system.  Don’t get me wrong, sometimes these labels lead to students and families receiving much needed services from exceptional professionals and programs.  The last two months I’ve run across the article Why French Kids Don’t Have ADHD in a variety of publications.  I’m not here to argue on the matter, I rather you form your own educated opinion.  It reminded me of a great TEDTalk from a few years ago, Sir Ken Robinson: Do Schools Kill Creativity.  Don’t worry, it is upbeat and relevant to teaching today no matter the grade level or subject area one has vested interest.  If anything, I hope you walk away with an appreciation for TEDTalks, a wonderful resource for educators.  Matter of fact, I recommend listening to the TEDTalk if you only have time to view either the article or the video.

Celebrating human creativity and imagination,

Mrs. A

Modern Technology or More 'Traditional' Paper Based Methods

Hello All,

Humor is important.  I believe both modern electronic technology and more 'traditional' paper based methods can be effective in the classroom. 

Happy viewing,

Mrs. A

Secondary Content Review...

On and off, it’s good to brush up on content.  Sometimes it is more a matter of looking for a source that will better reach students or to save the teacher time in creating videos/presentations for flipping lessons. Online learning is a great place to start.   Two sites I like that cover a variety of subject areas including science are Khan academy and  Hippocampus.  SparkNotes is another outstanding site covering many branches of science and other subject areas.  While the first two sites have video presentations, SparkNotes is truly in a written note format. 

Happy learning,

Mrs. A 

Lab Safety Training

Hello all,

The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI) and BioRAFT are offering a free lab safety webinar on June 25 from 1-2PM EDT with James Kaufmann, PhD presenting.  View the link for more information on topics to be covered.

The use of Flinn Safety Contracts and tests are popular in school districts around this area.  Flinn offers free online high school and middle school laboratory safety courses with a certificate option.  The site includes other safety related courses and PD opportunities as well.

Stay safe!

Mrs. A