A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to receive an ISS Above in my classroom. This is an amazing device that tracks the International Space Station! My students LOVE coming in to my room and checking out where the ISS currently is located, as well as the live views of Earth. This has created a lot of fantastic discussions and sparked curiosity. I highly recommend this device!
My technology department had extra grant money to purchase the device- and had an extra monitor sitting in the back cabinet. A few of my crewmates have received theirs for free through CASIS. Check it out!
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Science Buddies: Four years ago I created this program- it began with my Honors Earth and Space Class partnering with a 1st grade class at the elementary school across the street. We met once a month and completed various STEM activities that related to the topics we were learning in class. This started as an alternative way to assess my students- if you know it, you can teach it.... and they had to modify the content and use a lot of creativity to teach the concepts in a way that 1st graders could understand! They did a fantastic job- definitely exceeded my expectations! The kids (both high school and elementary) learned SO much more than Earth Science. They learned how to effectively collaborate, communicate, and created lasting bonds that even surprised themselves! Members of my department were noticing and hearing all the rage from the students each time we met- so the following year I was able to establish 3 more partnerships between Chemistry and a 5th grade class, Honors Biology and a 1st grade class, and Biology with a 2nd grade class. It has since become a staple in our science curriculum and continues to grow each year! On December 2, 2017 we completed our 3rd annual "Rube Goldberg/Pay it Forward Day". High school students place "nice notes" on EVERY locker of students grades 9-12, as well as EVERY desk K-5 (and teachers!) the night before. Students then start their day with an uplifting message- which continues on throughout the day. Students are encouraged to complete RAKs (random acts of kindness) for others in school and the community. It has went so far as being posted on our community news Facebook page- someone paid for the person's order behind them in the drive-thru line... another person put quarters in the machines at the laundromat. It was an amazing experience for all involved- and it definitely will be something students will remember beyond their school years. The main part of the project was to create a Rube Goldberg machine that dropped a curtain at the end showing a cart full of wrapped gifts that the high school students purchased for their little buddies. Here is the video of our final run through! Students each created a section of the Rube Goldberg and had to use their creativity and engineering skills to connect it to another section. We discussed what a chain reaction is and related that to paying it forward. Students learned that through a generous grant from Generation On and the Community Foundation of White County- that they were going to continue the chain reaction and pay it forward to another student. Over 200 gifts were purchased to give to the entire 1st and 2nd grade classes from the little science buddies! This has quickly become my favorite day of the entire school year!
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Author2019 Alan Shephard Technology in Education Award Winner Archives
January 2018
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