Arrrrrrr: The 5R Model

Beaker as a pirate

No, I didn't become a pirate.  However, I did just read the summer issue of Science & Children, a publication distributed by the NSTA.  With an NSTA membership, you get your choice of educational journal to have delivered to you each month (highly recommended).  
The article that stood out to me was on vocabulary development for English Language Learners through a science unit.  The authors say, "Through the inquiry-oriented, activity-based science lesson, new language emerges as students discuss the concept being studied."  For a science unit or activity, figure out which words will be new to your students.  Vocabulary can be difficult for all students, especially ELL students.  Thinking about vocabulary instruction through the 5R Model could help.  
Here's the basics from my understanding of the article:
Reveal- Some content vocabulary doesn't have a comparable everyday word.  Reveal the word to your students.
Replace- Replace everyday words or descriptions with the new term.
Reposition- Teach students to use formal science talk rather than informal language through modeling.
Repeat- Throughout the lesson,  repeat the term in context.
Reload- After the lesson, continue to use the new vocabulary term.


Thoughts?


Source: Methods and Strategies: A Science Lesson or a Language Lesson?
If you're a member the article is free.  If not, it's 99 cents.

Tell Me More!

Amy at Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemons is having a linky party.  While I am a super private person, I decided to reveal a few things about myself.  


1. I just moved to Austin about a week ago.  While I made my great room GREAT, the rest of the place looks is awfully boxy and will likely remain that way.
2.  I believe in respectable names for pets.  I named my (female) cats after John Lennon (because she is a peaceful little creature) and Erwin Rommel (because she is sly like a fox).  So my kitties are Lennon and Rommel (not John and Erwin...not that there's anything wrong with that).
3. I haven't cooked or baked in 2012... not even a noodle boiled.
4. In preschool, I hated loud noises so much that I went to hide in the bathroom everyday while the rest of the class sang the days of the week.  They always screamed SATURDAY!
5. I'm really into UT Longhorn football.  I graduated in 2006, but I love going to games when I can.  Hook em!
6. My favorite place in the world is Las Vegas.  Yes, I am that tacky.  And I'm that much fun!
7. I am the embodiment of every stereotype of an only child.  I am aware and try to combat it.
8. I really take pride in gift wrapping presents in a pretty and personalized way.  That includes handmade ceramic gift tags at times.  
9. Before wanting to be a teacher, I wanted to be an architect.  Graph paper and Legos were my best friends as a kid!
10. I have maintained a long distance relationship for over 2 years that ends tomorrow when he moves here to be with me!  Lucky lady in the hizz-ouse!

Science Notebooks

My Experience
I am loving all the email I've been getting lately with fantastic questions about improving science instruction!  The topic I get the most questions about is something that I am always working on as well: science notebooks.  Teachers use science notebooks in different ways using a variety of organization styles.  The "Science Interactive Notebook" is the hot term, although I always say "journal" instead of "notebook" because that was embedded in my brain when I began teaching.  
When I began teaching science, I was scared of the notebook.  Yes, that little black and white piece of cardboard with paper inside.  Scary!  I didn't know what to do with it, but soon I learned.  As my teaching evolved, so did the notebook.  I grew to love that thing and now consider it a valuable tool.

Many teachers use a Left/Right style of science notebooking (it's a word, take away the red squiggle) where the left side is for "output" or student thinking, while the right side is for "input" or teacher-led ideas.  Each day has a left and right component.  

I tried tried TRIED doing that and it honestly didn't work with my style of teaching.  I personally prefer just going through the notebook page by page because sometimes we go over one page for the day or work on one page with a booklet or foldable on it for several days.  Students are still expected to provide that "output" at the end of an activity or lesson.  

Whichever way you choose to format the notebook, the most important part is including an element of student choice.  Students should be able to choose how to display what they've learned and reflect.  

Output Examples:

concept map

personal experience connection

labeled drawing

graphic organizer
questions

quick write

story

sequence chart

Venn diagram

Be sure to provide regular feedback to students and communicate using the journal!  While a rubric score can give some feedback, specific examples and questions are even more important so students can revisit their thinking.

Helpful Websites
These websites are particularly helpful for interactive notebook ideas:
Vocabulary Ideas- I love these strategies for those difficult vocabulary words.
Middle School Science- This site has terrific ideas and examples for setting up a left/right side notebook.
Foldables and Graphic Organizers- This has a lot of ideas for science.
Science the "Write" Way- This is a book and e-book that I bought last year at an NSTA conference.  It's a fantastic resource.

Your Notebook...and My Notebook
For this year, here is what I plan to include in the Interactive Science Notebooks: Cover Page, About the Author, Table of Contents, Glossary, Output Ideas Pages, Big Money Word$ List, and Rubric.  
I hope this post has helped you reflect on your science notebook and how it works for you!  You can get your copy of what I'm using this year at my TpT Store.

Some Pics
Please don't judge--I was barely able to find a spiral, paper, and glue in all of my moving boxes!

Want some ideas to make your science notebooks look GREAT?  Check out my post and product!

<3,

The Science Penguin

Read all New ScienceTeacher posts.  

Your Science Block and Integrating Science and Literacy

I've received a lot of questions from teachers on how I structure science instruction. Because I'm going from departmentalized to self-contained this year, I've been thinking a lot about how to integrate science.  When I first started teaching, I was responsible for 2 classes of science in a tested grade.  This was a scary, scary thought because in Texas, science has a tendency to be the low subject area.  Fear not!  Science can be a very exciting subject to teach!
These ideas come from think sessions with some of you, comments and feedback, and trial and error from my personal experience. 

Integrating Science

Science Content Literacy Station

If you use literacy stations... 
Include a Science Content Station. This includes ideas, posters, etc. to set up your Science Content Station with "I can" statements and student choice. 

If you're short on time...
Use Science Weekly Five to teach a variety of material in different ways. It only takes 15 minutes a day with students completing 5 stations on a particular topic during the week. A lot of teachers have told me they are using this to integrate science into their literacy block.

If you have extra computer lab time... 
Have students work on a science blog. Both you and the students can pose questions, answer, and share their knowledge. It's a fun way to incorporate writing and communication skills while integrating science. Kidblog.org offers a safe and easy way to set up a classroom blog.

If you want to focus on vocabulary...
Include a variety of explicit vocabulary lessons, as well as authentic opportunities to use the new vocabulary terms. In the past, I have focused on a particular concept for the week with 4-7 vocabulary words that related to the topic.  Last year, I used these vocabulary packets to review at the end of a unit: Life Science and Earth Science.  

If you love picture books...
Use nonfiction and fiction read alouds to teach both science concepts and literacy skills.

If project-based learning (PBL) is your thing...
Science provides many topics to choose from as a driving question. Research skills, library skills, writing, nonfiction text features, science, and technology can all be integrated. 

My Science Block
In Ideal Teaching Land, this is what I would do for my science block in addition to other integration ideas I listed above. BEWARE: I have a problem with being overly structured, but this routine has worked very well in the past.  Some of you may swear by the 5E (or 7E) Model.  I utilize 5E, but sometimes use other activities and modes of instruction instead.  

I created this plan based on roughly 50 minutes of science instruction. 
Monday: 
2 minutes- Weekly Warm-Up 
10 minutes- Introduce new vocabulary 
20 minutes- Engage Activity (hands-on, picture book, video clip, etc.) 
20 minutes- Start new Science Weekly Five 
3 minutes- closing/review 

Tuesday: 
2 minutes- Weekly Warm-Up 
15 minutes- Science Weekly Five 
30 minutes- Explore activity, lab, or project 
3 minutes- closing/review 

Wednesday: 
2 minutes- Weekly Warm-Up 
15 minutes- Science Weekly Five 
30 minutes- Explain activity, lab, project, graphic organizer, or group activity 
3 minutes- closing/review 

Thursday: 
2 minutes- Weekly Warm-Up 
15 minutes- Science Weekly Five 
30 minutes- Elaborate activity, project, or review 
3 minutes- closing/ review 

Friday: 
2 minutes- Weekly Warm-Up 
20 minutes- Science Weekly Five (finish up) 
15 minutes- short quiz 
15 minutes- activity to show understanding 

I know that many of you (especially if science isn't tested in your grade) don't have 50 minutes a day to teach just science.  In that case, you can do what you can to integrate science with literacy and math and include science activities when you can!  

I hope this answers any questions you may have.  If not, feel free to ask!  :)

Read all New ScienceTeacher posts.  

Small Group Strategy: Photo Cards

If you're anything like me, you've been all over the Target dollar bins.  I've picked up their cards for space, landforms, and animals.  The cards have a photo on the front and some information on the back.  

Here's some ideas for how to use them:

1. Give each student a card and have them describe the card.  For animals, they might describe the adaptations, inherited traits and learned behaviors, or its classification.  For landforms, they may describe how that landform can be formed.  For space, you might have students describe the picture.

2. Give a pair of students two cards and have them compare and contrast their pictures/terms.

3. As a small group, sort the cards.  For animals, it might be into certain types of adaptations or traits.  For space, it may be by star, planet, or moon.  For landforms, it might be if they are formed constructively, destructively, or both.

4. As a group, look at one of the photo cards and make a list of all the ways you would describe the photo.  Using the list, have studente generate a description that would be great for the back of the card.  Then, compare it to the description on the card.

5. Create a writing prompt based on the photo that calls on students to use their scientific knowledge and what they observe in the photo.

6. Have students write 3 questions based on a photo, then have a partner answer them.

7. Sort the cards into different categories.  See if the students can figure out how they are classified.  Then, have students work together to classify the cards in a different way.

8. Look at a card and come up with a way to create a model to represent the process.  For example, if you have a picture of a canyon, work together to decide how you might model the creation of a canyon.   (Then, you can create the model during the next meeting!)

You can also get cards from Creative Teaching Press, Edupress, or print off photos you find online!

 I will be adding to this list from time to time with more great ideas.  Do you use photo cards?  How do you use them with small groups?

Check out my post on 10 Small Group Ideas!

Science Content Literacy Station :)

Science Content Station Tri-Fold

Do you have a Science Content station as part of your literacy stations?
This school year, I will be self-contained, so I was looking at how to integrate science and literacy.  As part of my literacy work stations, I will have a Science Content Station.  
I wanted to include a variety of activities students can choose from.  On the board I made, I have the "I can" activities so they can be changed out or added to over time as students learn how to do each activity and what is expected.
I've been working very hard and am so excited to offer this Science Content Station Pack!  I know everyone sets up their centers differently, so you can use a bulletin board, Tri-Fold board, or use binder rings to keep these in a small bin or basket.
Included:
~Title Card
~"I can" Card
~13 activity cards and 2 blank activity cards
~advice on what to include in each station
~Scientific Method Display Cards
~Physical Science Topics list
~Earth Science Topics list
~Life Science Topics list
~Measurement Tool Chart
~Displaying Data Card (Choosing the appropriate graph)
~Vocabulary Cards sample
~On Your Mural sample
~Blank Our Science Station Procedures Card (for listing your classroom's specific procedures)
~Sample Mini-Lab Card
~Reproducible Student Sheet: Picture Book Planner
~Reproducible Student Sheets: 3 Text Response Sheets
~Reproducible Student Sheet: Front/Back Student Inquiry Guide

You can purchase your Science Content Station Pack at my TpT Store.

Here are the things I am using in my Science Content Station:
A LOT of nonfiction science books (either purchased or from the school library)
Can Do! Science Games (for games)
Comprehension Cards (for answering questions)
supplies for inquiry project
science magazines
science articles printed from the web
white paper, index cards, lined paper, large white paper

Science Weekly Five: Properties of Matter

I don't know about you, but we always start the year with properties of matter.  Science Weekly Five for Properties of Matter is now available.  These stations focus on magnetism, states of matter, changing states, determining mass, and vocabulary.  SW5 station units are perfect for 3rd-5th grade!  


Get it at my TpT Store.
Get it at my TN Store.  

Back to School Welcome Baggies

On the first day of school, I have gallon bags made with everything the students will need for the day to set up supplies, take care of textbooks, get to know each other, etc.  It works very well and the first day is often flawless and organized, setting an appropriate tone for the rest of the year.  

In the Welcome Baggie

~What Good Readers Do bookmark

~name tag

~textbook card to record the book numbers (most times I've done this for  the kids; one time they did it...works either way)

~sharpened Welcome to __ Grade pencil with cap eraser

~enough labels for them to label all folders, spirals, etc.

~Behavior Folder (or however you communicate)

~Take Home Folder (poly folder with labels on it and assignment sheets inside)

~Welcome Packet with coloring pages, word searches, etc. they can do as students arrive and any time you need to gather something or deal with an issue

~Welcome letter to parents

~Classroom Procedures Packet (includes what to do and how to handle pretty much any situation)

They don't have supplies!

Each year has really varied as to how many students brought all/some/no supplies, so I have a lot of things on hand in case they are needed.  As we are labeling, I walk around and check, then give supplies like notebooks and folders as needed.  I usually hold off on giving out supply bags, crayons, and markers because I do provide community supplies and students can use the baggie as a supply bag until they get one.  

Labeling Fun

For labeling folders and spirals with pre-printed labels, I make a baggie for each group that holds how many they need of each one, then hand those out as we are going over it.

Welcome Baggies for New Students

The best part that I started doing 2 years ago is making Welcome Baggies for students who come in later in the year.  After that first day, I gather all the extra baggies (I usually make about 5 extra), labels, folders, and spirals and put together Welcome Baggies.  This makes it super easy when new students come in later that week all the way up until the last week of school!

Do you use a Welcome Baggie or something like it?

Science Weekly Five Gets Some Style!

Hello to my Science Weekly Five users.  I have experienced so much success in the past few months with SW5 materials all because of you!  When I first started blogging and creating materials, I had no idea where it would take me.  It was a hobby, but now it's so much more.  I revised the Science Weekly Five Start-Up Kit so it is more attractive and useful.  While feedback has been tremendous, these are some changes I wanted to make.  


Changes made: 
The old version of the Start-Up Kit will no longer be available.
Our Solar System will now be a separate product.  This shouldn't affect the version you already own if you purchased this previously and you won't need to buy Our Solar System again.
Directions Posters and Station Signs contain the EXACT same information.  The only difference is the appearance.
The old booklet style of the Student Recording Packet is still included, but I also included a second Student Recording Packet that can be copied front/back and stapled like a normal packet.

Basic Info for New Users:
SW5 is for 3rd-5th, but can definitely be applied to other grades (although you would have to make your own units).  The Science Weekly Five Start-Up Kit provides signs and student directions to make the 5 Station folders/baskets to hold your materials.  It also includes several pages of tips and management ideas, as well as Grouping Bookmarks for random grouping.  There are two types of Student Recording Packets to choose from.  Once I finish moving, I will post pics of what the stations look like.


The stations for SW5 stay the same...you just trade out the materials for the new unit.  I offer a variety of units in my stores and am working on more!


Get the Start-Up Kit at my TpT Store.
Get the Start-Up Kit at my TN Store.   

I hope you enjoy the new style and please let me know if you need anything.  I am here to help!
thesciencepenguin@yahoo.com
Read all New ScienceTeacher posts.  


What do you think?

Science Freebie! :)

This Science Interest Inventory Freebie is designed for upper elementary grades.  I love using interest inventories to find out my students' attitudes toward science and their preferred methods of instruction. 
While it doesn't affect WHAT is taught, it does affect HOW I teach it.  If no one finds landforms interesting, I know that I will have to find a more engaging way to teach that concept.  If everyone enjoys working in groups, I can use cooperative learning more often.
After I collect the Interest Inventories, I make some notes about what it popular and unpopular and how each student feels about science.  I  try to revisit this information every few months.


Get yours at my Teachers Notebook Store.
Get yours at my TpT Store.  
How do you use interest inventories?