Planning Resources
These are some of the resources that I use when planning lessons:
Edmodo
http://www.edmodo.com/
Edmodo is a social media site for Education. Although many teachers use it to connect with students, I have used Edmodo to also connect with Educators all over the world. I am part of several professional groups on Edmodo where we collaborate on lab and lesson ideas. I am part of a group called “Inquiry in Science Classrooms.” I was looking for a new force and motion lab idea, so I posted to the group what I was looking for and I got 10 detailed responses with original lab ideas from teachers all around the country. I have also been able to share my own successful lab ideas with other educators. I recommend that all teachers to sign up for Edmodo, even if it is just to collaborate with other teachers.
your own PLN (Professional Learning Network).
http://summit.cecs.ucf.edu/lessons.php
This site is wonderful. Educations can explore the website to find numerous inquiry lessons and labs tied directly to each of the NGSSS standards. Registered teachers can also submit their own inquiry lessons. The Science curriculum is becoming very strictly tied to the standards, and this site helps me to keep my lessons aligned.
McRel Lesson Plans
http://www2.mcrel.org/lesson-plans/science/sciencelessons.asp
These are Science lesson plans organized by topic.
Discovery Education
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/
Many teachers utilizing the video streaming on the Discovery Education website, but they also have great lesson ideas that are searchable by subject, topic and/or grade level.
NASA Education
http://search.nasa.gov/search/edFilterSearch.jsp?empty=true
Searchable database of lessons and resources.
Interactive Digital Resources for the Classroom
The Periodic Table of Videos
http://www.periodicvideos.com/index.htm
Chemists at the University of Nottingham created a video for each element of the periodic table. It is a great resource for introducing students to the elements.
TED Talks
http://www.ted.com/talks
The TED website contains “great talks to stir your curiosity”. I use these talks to inspire my students and teach them about how our content relates to the world and their future. These videos are relevant to many different content areas.
iTunesU
There are numerous media and lesson resources available through iTunes.
NOVA Education
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/
There are numerous current videos and resources available on this PBS affiliated website.
NASA: For Students
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/index.html
This is an awesome web resource. I used this website frequently while teaching Earth and Space Science last year. There are so many interactive activities for students to complete. They can watch video podcasts or listen to real-time transmissions from the ISS. Students can also play games, view photographs from space, interact with satellite data and research various space topics. I occasionally show the eclips in my class to reinforce content.
PhET Interactive Simulations
http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/category/new
This is a free resource for research-based Science simulations on various topics. This site is very comprehensive and you can search for simulations or browse by subject or grade level.
Science Daily
http://www.sciencedaily.com/
This is a news site with current research news. I try to find news stories that relate to the curriculum and have students read and analyze them for bellwork.
Apps for Students and Educators
GoSkyWatch Planetarium
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/goskywatch-planetarium-for/id364209241?mt=8
This is an astronomy app for star gazing and mapping.
Periodic Table of the Elements
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/periodic-table-elements/id364894399?mt=8
This is a great app for exploring or reviewing the elements.
Edmodo App
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/edmodo/id378352300?mt=8
This app is available to Edmodo users through the Android and Apple markets. Students, parents and teachers can use this app for easy access to Edmodo and to receive mobile updates.
Class Dojo App
http://www.classdojo.com/
The ClassDojo behavior management tool has an app to accompany the website. Through this app, you can even use your mobile device as a remote for a PC or Laptop while it is logged into this website.
Molecules
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/molecules/id284943090?mt=8
View, study and manipulate molecules with this app from Apple.
Frog Dissection
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/frog-dissection/id377626675?mt=8#
What can’t you do with technology? Need I say more?
Science Glossary
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/science-glossary/id331657060?mt=8
This is a quick reference guide for students and teachers.
Science 360
http://sciencenetlinks.com/tools/science-360/
This app, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, is available in the Apple and Android markets. It contains high-quality pictures, videos and graphics.
These are just a few of the digital resources that you can personally use or integrate into your classroom. Feel free to comment and share any of your resources for Science or any other subject you teach.
Video Source:
TTrustTect (2011, December 2). Creating a PLN: Part I (Edmodo) [Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/CGyjJN478ac.