Recently I was scrolling through Facebook when a post from a popular teacher group caught my eye...Colorful, grid style artwork that appears as students type in correct answers! I was immediately captivated with this new fad known as Pixel Art. As I scrolled through pages of beautiful education activities, I couldn't help but feel a… Continue reading Pixel Art Science Tutorial: Hidden Picture, Obvious Fun
Teaching dichotomous keys to students can be a dry topic but it doesn't have to be! You may not have noticed this about me...but I love science AND art. I try to find cross curricular opportunities when possible with ALL other subjects. But by far, my favorite combination is Science + Art as I find… Continue reading Dichotomous Key Worksheets and Activities
I never thought I would be a teacher. I never thought I would be a mom. Yet, here I am, 33 years old and I am a freaking TEACHER MOM. Isn't life funny? (I wouldn't change a thing, though.) Most people would assume that if I have the skills to manage a classroom of hormonal… Continue reading Teacher Mom Truths: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Guest Post by Christine Weis | For the Love of Teachers There’s no crazy like back to school crazy so I like to start off the year with some fun and easy activities that build classroom community and allows us all to get to know each other quickly. I’ve grown to love these activities and… Continue reading 5 Back to School Activities You Don’t Want to Skip
Once upon a time, I was a boring science teacher. Back to school science activities consisted of stale icebreakers, rules, procedures, lab safety and "getting to know you" worksheets. I was not confident enough go "hands on" in the first week of school before my students understood my classroom expectations and lab procedures. Too much… Continue reading Ideas for Back to School Science Activities
As I have mentioned before, GOING BIG at the beginning of the year sets you up for success in the months to come. Pulling off something amazing will give you confidence in yourself, and also give students confidence in you as an instructor. Some teachers may feel that doing "too much too soon" sets unrealistic… Continue reading First Day of School Science Demo – WOW your students from day one!
Students ask so many questions. As teachers, we don't always have the answers. What is the temperature in space? How many plants are carnivorous? Why is the ocean salty? The first time a student asked me this question, I honestly had no idea how to answer it. However, the great thing about being a science… Continue reading What’s in the Lab? Investigating Why the Ocean is Salty
As testing season and the end of the year approach, I get butterflies in my stomach. Not because I am nervous about the assessments or student behavior, but because I know spring is coming. It can be one of the toughest times of the year for student engagement, but with the right attitude, it can… Continue reading Spring Science Activities for the End of the Year
The 5th Grade Science STAAR test has higher standards for passing and obtaining mastery than any other subject. It's a tough test, too. For years, I have been working on a strategy to help my students master this test without "teaching the test". No one likes to think about standardized testing every. single. day. Focusing… Continue reading 5th Grade Science STAAR: Test Prep and Review Strategies
The first year I taught science, I must admit we did way too many illustrations...not that there is anything wrong with doing them AT ALL! However, my fear of messing up lab day was holding me back. I was new to the subject, overwhelmed, and terrified of activities. I am now able to put on… Continue reading Space Science Activities to Shake Up Your Routine
Sockmonkey Science 