Teachers

Most educators agree that teaching for comprehension is the highest priority.  The student should have mastered the subject matter by developing an understanding of the material.  This should enable the student to apply the facts and principles in apporpriate situations.  However, that kind of teaching requires a great deal of effort and skill.  Under pressure to "cover" an exessive list of topics, it is much easier to simulate "higher level thinking" with rote techniques.  Too often, to get a good evaluation, the teacher does not want to know how much the students really understand.  But to produce a plausable record to justify awarding high grades.

[You can know that students understand]



Here are some examples you may find in the text books, with which you can demonstrate to students that, "It says so in the book", is not proof that it is true.  Unfortunately, if they have been learned as true in a previous class, unlearning can be extremely difficult.

[Modern myths taught as science]


It is no longer necessary to use contrived situations, or old data.  The Internet provides access to the raw data from which professional researchers work.  Much of these data are in "real time", or "near real time".  Of course this means that the "right" answers won't be in the teacher's manual.  They can be used in examples, assignments, and activities which are both more interesting and more meaningful than the stale examples from the book.

[Sources for real data]


Lesson plans need to adapted to the particular teaching situation.  Resources available to teachers will vary.  Teaching styles vary greatly, none is best for every teacher all the time.  Learning styles of students vary even within a "homogeneously grouped" class.  The background for, and contexts whithin which a particular topic is presented also vary.  It is expected that the teacher will revise, edit, and otherwise refine suggested lesson plans to obtain the greatest advantage for each student.

Lesson plans, lab activities and field activities


General

Activities with a "WOW" factor (discrepant event)

Möbius Strip Lab 1
Möbius Strip Lab 2
The Biggest Hole
Bad Corolis

Density, Archimedes' Principle

Cartesian Diver Lab
Cartesian Diver Demonstration
Mass and Density Demonstration

Geology

[Paleontology (Sidewalk Fossils)]

Lab Activities, Fossils
Field Activities, Sidewalk Fossils
Student Projects, Fossils

Minerals

[Crystals]

Models of Crystal Shapes


Astronomy

[Planetary Motions] -
Kinesthetic Activities

Days and Years
Phases of Satellites   Worksheet
Months and Years

Class Activities, Worksheets

Phases of Moon: A flip - Book Animation
Where is Moon at Sunset, Sunrise  Worksheet
Moonrise, Moonset  Worksheet

Spacecraft Models

Cassini
The Hubble SpaceTelescope
The Chandra X-RayObservatory
The Compton GammaRay Observatory
Gravity Probe B
Space Shuttle Glider


Seasons

Seasons (Demonstration)

Botany

Observations

Growing Plants

PowerPointTM Presentations, Free

Lunar month
Mercury: days and years
Venus: days and years

Large collection, all areas of science

World of Teaching





And much more to come as I get it prepared.



Questions not answered?
Ask me!
(I can always say I don't know)

Please send me e-mail at:  kfuller2001@yahoo.com


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