MVLA Science Now!

A monthly newsletter that integrates the latest in the Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core, STEM and more!

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Table of Contents

General / Teaching

1. Spectacular Montage of Earth Images - great class opener
2. Have Students Create Mini Posters to Discuss Science Articles

Subject Specific

1.      Earth & Space Science - Ted Talk: Tiny Satellites Show Us the Earth as It Changes In Near-Real-Time

2.      Biology  10 Useless Human Body Parts? Really?

3.      Chemistry - States of Matter Phet Interactive Video

4.      Physics -  Crazy Doppler Effect Demo with Pickup Truck

5.      Environmental Science - Clean Resources

Computer Tip

1.       10 Google Spreadsheet Tricks & Tips

NGSS

1.      Next Generation Science Standards Webinars

Humor

1.      Friendship Algorithm (clip from "Big Bang Theory")  

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General / Teaching

1.

Site Name	Spectacular Montage of Earth Images
Site URL	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_abkDLAF5Q
Site Author	Ivo Raunic
Description	“Clips of earth and the things surrounding it.”  These images would serve as a great ice breaker or intro. activity.

2.

Site Name

Have Students Create Mini Posters to Discuss Science Articles

Description

“Have them create mini-posters to present the article. Do a poster session where half of the class is presenting their posters to students who move from poster to poster. Then reverse roles, those who presented become those who move from poster to poster. Posters include: Bibliography Main idea What they found to be the most interesting, exciting, etc. How this information can be applied to what you are learning Photo, graphic Mini Poster ideas, originally described by Brad and Carol Williamson, (NABT BioBlog April 4, 2012) provide an alternative assessment that also:                        a. Requires students to present and defend their topic                        b. Encourages discussion and student collaboration                        c. Encourages students to evaluate evidence and information                        d. Incorporates authentic peer review and formative assessment                        e. Includes technology through the use of computer generated graphs                              and charts and it can include digital images.                        f. Allows for easy revisions                        g. Can be produced in a minimal amount of time and requires little                            space ‘                    h. Can be assigned either as an individual or team project”

Subject Specific

1.      Earth & Space Science -  

Site Name	Tiny Satellites Show Us The Earth As It Changes In Near-Real-Time
Site URL	http://www.ted.com/talks/will_marshall_teeny_tiny_satellites_that_photograph_the_entire_planet_every_day#t-15969
Site Author	Will Marshall
Suggested by	Robert Ross
Description	“Satellite imaging has revolutionized our knowledge of the Earth, with detailed images of nearly every street corner readily available online. But Planet Labs' Will Marshall says we can do better and go faster — by getting smaller. He introduces his tiny satellites — no bigger than 10 by 10 by 30 centimeters — that, when launched in a cluster, provide high-res images of the entire planet, updated daily.”

2.      Biology -

Site Name	10 Useless Human Body Parts? Really?
Site URL	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hieIDLLfo4I
Site Author	Alltime10s
Suggested by	Mark Francek
Description	“Everyone's got a third eyelid, unfortunately it doesn't do anything. Presenting 10 body parts that are pretty much useless.”  But are these body parts truly “useless”?   Have students challenge the claims made.

3.      Chemistry

Site Name	Tiny Satellites Show Us The Earth As It Changes In Near-Real-Time
Site URL	http://www.ted.com/talks/will_marshall_teeny_tiny_satellites_that_photograph_the_entire_planet_every_day#t-15969
Site Author	Will Marshall
Description	“Satellite imaging has revolutionized our knowledge of the Earth, with detailed images of nearly every street corner readily available online. But Planet Labs' Will Marshall says we can do better and go faster — by getting smaller. He introduces his tiny satellites — no bigger than 10 by 10 by 30 centimeters — that, when launched in a cluster, provide high-res images of the entire planet, updated daily.”

4.      Physics -  

Site Name	Crazy Doppler Effect Demo with Pickup Truck
Site URL	http://youtu.be/cef6fOgHxjQ
Site Author	Rob DeMarco
Description	It worked really well! I did ask my admin permission first. Had a few students record it on their phones. If nothing else, they will remember their crazy science teacher driving past the school laying on the horn...

5.      Environmental Science - Digital Resources for Climate Influence

Site Name	Educational Resources: Search the CLEAN Collection
Site URL	http://www.climate.gov/teaching/resources?keywords=Renewable
Site Author	NOAA
Description	“Find and download scientifically and pedagogically reviewed digital resources for teaching about climate's influence on you and society and your influence on climate.”

Computer Tip   

Site Name	10 Google Spreadsheet Tricks & Tips
Site URL	http://www.lifehack.org/articles/technology/10-google-spreadsheet-tricks-tips-you-probably-didnt-know.html
Site Author	LifeHack
Description	Some help tips in using Google Sheets

NGSS

Site Name	Next Generation Science Standards Webinars
Site URL	http://www.teachtci.com/science/interactive-science-textbooks-and-curriculum/ngss-webinars-and-videos.html
Site Author	The GLOBE Program
Description	“We've compiled some dynamite resources to get you up to speed on NGSS.

Humor

Site Name	Friendship Algorithm -
Site URL	https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=80&v=jWWOM53Zh20
Site Author	YoureInMySpotFBPAGE
Description	This clip from "Big Bang Theory" explains how you create friends using science. (2:45)

MVLA Science Now!

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Table of Contents

General

1.      Accelerated Model Course Maps Development Update

2.      Message for the Field – Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking

3.      EQuIP Rubric for Lessons & Units

Subject Specific

1.      Earth & Space Science - PhET Interactive for Plate Tectonics

2.      Biology Real-World Example of Hydrophobic (video)

3.      Chemistry

4.      Physics - PHET Interactive Physics Simulations

Computer Tip

1.      Shortcut Cheat-sheet for Chromebooks

Humor

1. Bear Does Laundry: Hilarious Samsung Washing Machine Commercial

1. Accelerated Model Course Maps Development Update

The Accelerated Model Course Maps are in the final stages of development! These course maps provide examples of how the NGSS can be arranged for accelerated students. Created by Advanced Placement teachers, these models are designed to help schools and districts envision pathways for students intending to take advanced science courses in their junior year. Schools and districts can customize these models to provide curricular options that offer maximum opportunity to access advanced coursework in all areas of student interest.

2. Science and Engineering Practice 5: Using mathematical and computational thinking

For many high school students, there is disconnects between mathematics in science. The NGSS strives to have students make those connections. The first time that Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking is used in a Performance Expectation is in the 5^th grade (5-PS-1-2). As students’ progress through middle school, they are asked by the NGSS to apply mathematical knowledge by using words and symbols through algebraic thinking. Into high school students are using mathematics and computation to analyze, describe, predict, use as evidence and draw conclusions.

Our students should also be given the opportunity to use computer programs to help them change their data into graphs to help them identify patterns in their data. Using data analysis programs such as spreadsheets and creating graphs allows students to visually see patterns in their data and allows them to draw conclusions about their experiments and real world examples to draw understanding out of complexscience concepts. Visual learners can sometimes get lost in the numbers, but graphing their data allows them to make sense of those concepts so they can SEE the big picture.

Simulations found on the University of Colorado’s PhET website help students visually comprehend concepts by animating what is invisible to the eye through the use of graphics and intuitive controls such as click-and-drag manipulation, sliders and radio buttons. In order to further encourage quantitative exploration, the simulations also offer measurement instruments including rulers, stop-watches, voltmeters and thermometers. As the user manipulates these interactive tools, responses are immediately animated thus effectively illustrating cause-and-effect relationships as well as multiple linked representations (motion of the objects, graphs, number readouts, etc.).

Using mathematics can be scary for students. But it is the mathematical relationships that allow students to delve deeper into science topics. Allowing and reinforcing these mathematical and computational concepts helps paint a picture for our students, gives them the chance to make real world connections to what they are learning and forge that important knowledge in their long term memory so it can be used in the future.

Visit University of Colorado PhET: http://phet.colorado.edu to explore simulations in your field.

3. EQuIP Rubric for Lessons & Units

Site Name	NGSS Resources
Site URL	http://www.nextgenscience.org/resources
Site Author	Paul Andersen
Description	The NGSS EQuIP rubric is built to help evaluate lessons and units. Using the rubric can give opportunity to fully understand what high-quality materials aligned to the NGSS should look like, but also to better understand the standards.  In the future, the rubric will include scoring guidelines.

Subject Specific

1. Earth & Space Science - Phet Interactive for Plate Tectonics

Site Name	PHET Interactive Simulations
Site URL	http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/plate-tectonics
Site Author	University of Colorado, Boulder
Description	Explore how plates move on the surface of the earth. Change temperature, composition, and thickness of plates. Discover how to create new mountains, volcanoes, or oceans!

2. Biology - Real-World Example-  Super Water Resistant Spray Video (Hydrophobic)

Site Name	The Official Ultra-Ever Dry Video
Site URL	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPM8OR6W6WE
Site Author	UltraTech International
Description	Do you need an engagement clip for water?  Check this out for a super hydrophobic substance.  Lots of "fair tests" using this material are shown in the video.  Be sure to scroll down to see the video.

3. Chemistry

Site Name	NGSS Chemistry Resources
Site URL	http://ngsschemistry.wordpress.com/
Site Author	Wanda Battaglia
Description	A chemistry teacher who created an amazing website on NGSS resources, lessons, examples and so much more!!

4.  Physics - PHET Interactive Physics Simulations

Site Name	PHET Interactive Simulations
Site URL	http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/physics
Site Author	University of Colorado, Boulder
Description	Explore static electricity, battery-resistor circuits, bending light, calculus graphs, energy skate parks, forces and motion, magnets, Ohm’s Laws and much, much more with this fun, interactive, research-based high school simulations of the PhET™ project at the University of Colorado.

Computer Tip

Site Name	Chromebook Shortcuts Cheat-sheet
Site Author	Google Support
Description	Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keyboard strokes and clicks that you can use to perform specific actions, such as taking a screenshot. Knowing some of these shortcuts can help save you time. Not sure what the keyboard short cuts are? On Chromebooks – you have a built in cheat-sheet!! Press Ctrl+Alt+? whenever you are signed in on a Chromebook to see a map of these shortcuts directly on the screen.

Humor

Site Name	Bear Does Laundry: Hilarious Samsung Washing Machine Commercial
Site URL	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT4ikdAS-P0
Site Author	Adpressive
Description	“This new Samsung commercial is quite interesting. Watch while a real bear washes his clothes in the new EcoBubble washing machine. Good humor and creativity are on display in this commercial, but who knew bears wore boxers?”