Middle+School

= Middle School Resources =

"What are some of your favorite lessons and/or units that you currently deliver? How do these lessons get your students to participate in higher level thinking?"
 * Notes from area Middle School Science Teachers: (Grades 5-8 represented)**


 * 1) 5th grade science (Southern Area School District)- **Wonder Questions** - take questions that students are just curious about and do a project where student research different resources to find their answers - cross-curricular - motivating because they are in charge of their learning process - gets them thinking on a higher level in order to find the solution -students are reading and interpreting nonfiction information - usually takes 2 weeks - usually a paper assignment (posters, pictures, annotations), but is considering Glogster [] for their final project next year - a great way to differentiate instruction
 * 2) 7th/8th grade science (Benton Area School District) - use internet links and activities that are already in the textbook - students created a **mini brocure** with the link from the textbook - it only took one class period - would like to try ebooks for stem biology
 * 3) **Moodle** - students put book logs on the moodle, students upload their documents, teacher then grades them and puts it back in the moodle - teacher sets up a discussion, students submit their response and then they can view other responses and even respond to them if the teacher requires it - online quiz feature that is then graded for you -
 * 4) **Exam View**, even if it doesn't come with your textbook, you can still use it, you just have to put your own questions and answers (contact your local textbook rep - ex. Holt Rinehart & Winston, Apprentice Hall - let them know that you are interested in purchasing a new textbook series and would like to see what they have to offer for online testing - they will gladly send you the software, now you can use it.
 * 5) **Wikispaces** - a great way to start in collaborating, recommend creating private wikis for your students to post discussions and student projects []
 * 6) Go to Karey's wiki http://cffquakers.wikispaces.com/Wiki+Tutorial for tips on getting started with a wiki
 * 7) **Cell model out of dough** - student use measuring skills to make play dough
 * 8) GrowGators - add water and watch them grow - good for area and perimeter - students graphed the growth -ordered from a science catalog - discuss the materials that make up the gators and what makes them grow...
 * 9) [|http://www.susquehannahistory.com] local history and science