Arch Ford Science December - Arch Ford Education Service

ARCH FORD EDUCATION SERVICE COOPERATIVE
Vol. 8 Issue 4
Arch Ford
Science
December
2013
MADELON CHEATHAM – SCIENCE SPECIALIST
HIGHLIGHTS
Holiday Edition
In This Issue:
Did anyone else notice that the
autumn leaves in Arkansas were
amazing this year? Not even a
rainy day could disguise the color
in the photos I took. This planet
is certainly a beautiful place to
live.
The fall Arkansas Curriculum
Conference was a success once
again. If you were able to attend
I hope you enjoyed the
experience as much as I did.
Enjoy the holidays and take a
minute to check the newsletter
for goodies! Please forward the
newsletter to new teachers in
your district.
Photo: Fall foliage near
Plainview, Arkansas.
P. 2 Ngram Viewer
P. 2 World’s Longest
Running Experiment
P. 3 Snow Days!
P. 4 NGSS Update
P. 5 Smorgasbord
P. 6 Teacher Surveys
P. 6 Zany Holiday
Traditions
P. 7 Engineering Fest
Contact: Madelon Cheatham
[email protected]
Ngram Viewer
Page 2
NGSS Update
Page 4
Page 1
ARCH FORD SCIENCE | Issue 4
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Ngram Viewer
By now you must be aware that
Google has been busy digitizing
books - over 5 million are now
available for free download and
search. Google Labs has also
made public a giant database of
names, words and phrases found
in those books (along with the
years they appeared). It consists
of the 500 billion words contained
in scanned books published
between 1500 and 2008 in
English, French, Spanish, German,
Chinese and Russian.
Google Labs has also created the
"Books Ngram Viewer" - a free
online research tool that allows
you to quickly analyze the
frequency of names, words and
phrases and find out when they
appeared in the digitized books.
Simple to do-- just type in words
and / or phrases (separated by
comma), set the date range, and
click "Search lots of books". The
results are generated instantly.
Note: when "smoothing" is set to
"0" the results will show raw data.
Using a higher number produces
an average – for example "4" will
produce 4-year running averages
that will more readily display
trends.
The Ngram Viewer has many
applications in the classroom. Use
it as a tool to introduce the
research
method
form
hypothesis, gather and analyze
graphed
data,
and
revise
hypothesis.
Working in teams students can
easily pose research questions,
run the data, revise and assess
their research strategy. Students
can quickly make and test
predictions and then present
arguments to defend their
conclusions to other classroom.
All skills called for by the new
Common Core standards for
science.
Using the Ngram viewer, will
enable students to discover many
insights which will require
revisions to their research
strategies - a great way to explore
word usage, social context and
statistics, and multiple word
meanings.
Tip: The frequency of occurrence
scale is important (vertical Y-axis.)
If you graph a high frequency
word against a low frequency
word(s), the low is reduced to a
flat line at the base of the scale.
(Abraham Lincoln and Marilyn
Monroe) Remove the high
frequency (Abraham Lincoln) and
re-run the graph - the low
frequency (Marilyn Monroe) will
appear with more detail. Also
recently a “wildcard” feature was
introduced, more about it here.
Need ideas for Ngrams? For a
collection of clever searches Click
here. You will find a few science
words sprinkled in that might
provide some inspiration.
Investigate a few holiday Ngrams
in the Huffington Post. Evidently
“Happy Holidays” is not making
much headway in becoming the
preferred salutation. “Merry
Christmas” is way out in front.
And be sure to click the arrow to
view a few more holiday Ngrams.
For the true science nerds out
there try using the bookworm
viewer that tracks the use of
scientific words and phrases in
research papers.
Happy Viewing!
(Or should I say “Ngramming”?)
Physics Trivia: What’s the
world’s longer running do-nothing
laboratory experiment?
Click Here to view a time lapse of
the experiment as it runs.
ARCH FORD SCIENCE | Issue 4
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Snow Days!
It might be tempting fate to
post science experiments that
can only be carried out during
freezing snowy weather, but
I’m secretly hoping it will work
the other way around and we
won’t see a flake all winter
long.
(Right?!?)
Snow Science
Have you ever heard of a graupel?
I hadn’t until I visited The
National Snow and Ice Data
Center. This fantastic website
has information related to snow
formation, data and statistics on
sea ice back to the 1800’s, global
climate change, effects on animal
migration, videos, Google Earth
maps of snow cover and much
more.
Copy a page of information and
do a close reading with students,
or predict and research trends on
melting of sea ice.
Chilly Experiments
Use these experiments on chilly
days or give students instructions
for a few they can complete at
home when they’re stranded on
snow days.
Frozen Bubbles: What happens
when you try to blow bubbles in
freezing weather? Is it possible,
will they freeze or even break?
Make a few predictions and try it
any time the temperature is
below freezing.
Snow Goggles: In this unique
NASA lesson students construct
and test snow goggles similar to
those used by ancient Inuit
people to solve the problem of
intense light reflected from snow.
All patterns and instructions are
included (Grade 7 and up).
Ice Cores: Students find out what
scientists can learn by taking
cores of glacial ice in this
simulation for grades 3-8.
Polar Festival: Primary teachers
are bound to find some cold
weather activities to meet their
needs in this list of resources and
links from polar bears to poetry.
Snowflake Explorations:
Visit the Snowflake Bentley
website for information on the
scientist who photographed
hundreds of snowflakes, then
read “Snowflake Bentley” by JB
Martin (a trade book available on
Amazon.com). Follow up by
creating a few virtual snowflakes
and sending them out into the
world at the classic website,
Popular Front.
Advanced students can collect
real snowflakes during a cold dry
snowfall by following one or all of
these preservation methods. Be
sure to classify your collection
using this guide to snowflakes.
Younger students can make
paper snowflakes and use the
guide above to discover what
kind they created. The cutouts
can also be used as decorations.
Snow Formation Unit: Labs for
grades 7-10, includes geometry!
Icicle Secrets:
When the snow starts to melt,
you still have icicles! (Warning;
they can be dangerous if they fall
on you!). Try making colorful
icicles by dropping food coloring
at the top of a few that are
beginning to form. Blend
different colors for a cool affect;
photo-op . Gr. K-12
Icicle Physics describes research
on how impurities in water affect
the ripples that form in the
surface of icicles. Gr. 11-12
Dry ice experiments: If cold
weather and snow never do
appear, try these.
ARCH FORD SCIENCE | Issue 4
NGSS Update
No definite news as yet, I’ll keep you posted if I hear
anything about the future of NGSS in Arkansas.
Convection
Candle
Fan
The
Next Generation
Science
Standards were released in
April. Many modifications were made to the documents
available during the public comment sessions. For
example; over 1/3 of the performance expectations were
deleted or consolidated and much of the wording was
clarified. The standards can be viewed at the Next
Generation website and a book is also available.
There are additional appendices that you many want to examine.
NOTE: Arkansas has not adopted NGSS as of this writing. No changes in the science standards
you will be teaching, or in the format of the Benchmark and EOC tests will be made during the
2013-14 school year. Continue to teach the Arkansas Science Curriculum Framework.
FOR NOW: Begin studying the Framework for K-12 Science Education available free at:
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13165
CCSS: This year is the final phase of implementation of the Common Core Standards for Literacy in Science
and Technical Subjects at all grade levels. Your students will soon be tested on these standards in their high
stakes tests.
Become an NGSS Teacher Leader in Your District:
Many teachers are concerned about new standards and even anxious to begin teaching them. You can make
good use of the time before implementation by forming a professional learning group at your school to
increase understanding of the Three Dimensions of NGSS.





Schedule a meeting once or twice a month and invite other science teachers to attend.
Begin with an initial review of each dimension.
Follow up by selecting one of the 8 Science and Engineering Practices each month as a topic of study.
During your monthly meeting you might discuss what is meant by each practice, how to modify lessons
to incorporate the practices, watch related videos, or review how everyone has incorporated the
practices into new science lessons.
You will find a collection of short videos on each aspect of the Three Dimensions at
BozemanScience.com. (Well worth a look!)
This could be a great contribution to professional leadership in TESS evaluation portfolios!
K-12 Assessment and NGSS: Some of the presentations from a recent national conference on assessment of
NGSS may be very helpful as you make plans to modify your classroom instruction to meet the NGSS
expectation. In Session 1, “Vision of Science Instruction” was very informative.
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ARCH FORD SCIENCE | Issue 4
Seimen’s Science Day Sweepstakes- Two lucky schools (grades K-3 and 4-6 winners) will win a spellbinding
school assembly that is not only fun and interactive, but also highlights the importance of science literacy while
making tangible connections for students. Enter daily through February 27, 2014.
Monday Morning Science Blast – Posting this again in case you missed it last month. Register to receive a science lab
delivered to your email every Monday morning. These lessons created by Dan Wyrick cover a variety of topics,
include data gathering opportunities and they use very simple materials. Grades 5-8
Science and Engineering Institute for Students – A free STEM session for grade 6-10 students will be held on
December 14 at the Lewis Science Center (UCA) from 8:00-12:00. Topics are Nuclear Radiation and Genetics.
Visit the link to register.
Try Engineering – As I’m sure you know engineering will play a role in the NGSS in coming years. Get a head
start by incorporating some engineering lessons in your classes now. There are dozens of ideas posted at this
website with all lesson materials included. A great resource! Grades 4-12
History of Cosmology: From the American Institute of Physics, information resources on history of astronomy,
telescopes, the Big Bang, and other topics. Be sure to click the “Other Exhibits” link at the bottom of the page;
Heisenberg, Rutherford, LASERS, etc. high school physics
Tracking Sea Turtles: Students use map coordinates to plot the travels of several sea turtles as they migrate,
forage for food and locate nesting sites. Teachers can connect the lesson to geography, oceanography,
endangered species, and mathematics. Gr. 7-12
American Chemical Society Hach Program: Chemistry teachers can apply for one or more grants for
professional development, continuing education, or classroom materials with funds allocated by the ACS. The
winter deadline is December 15. If you miss the deadline, plan to apply in the spring of 2014 for another round
of grants. Grant amounts from $1500-6000.
NewsEla: Are you looking for science news articles but can’t find materials for diverse student learners? With
the press of a button you can generate the same science news article in different Lexile ratings so the reading
level suits many students. Short quizzes included. Free registration or use your Google account. Gr. 6-12
Win a $20,000 Lab Makeover: The deadline to submit applications for the 2013–2014 Shell Science Lab
Challenge is December 20, 2013. Middle and high school science teachers (grades 6–12) who have found
innovative ways to deliver quality lab experiences with limited school and laboratory resources are encouraged
to apply. The contest materials will be provided by Wards Scientific.
Outstanding Trade Books of 2013: NSTA and the Children's Book Council (CBC) have selected the annual list of
Outstanding Science Trade Books for students in grades K–12 published in 2013. These books address science
and engineering topics related to NGSS. Gr. K-12
Unit on Scientific Inquiry: Take a look at these great inquiry lessons revolving around a middle school epidemic
that include all materials, mystery cubes, graphs, and data sheets (from NIH). Gr. 6-9
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ARCH FORD SCIENCE | Issue 4
UGLY SWEATER CONTEST WINNERS
6
Zany Holiday Traditions
The lunch chat recently revolved
around family holiday traditions
so I thought it might be
entertaining to post a few that
you could try this year. Having
some goofy family activities can
add to the fun~!
FUN FACTS!
30%
Percentage of Twitter
users who began tweeting
about holiday purchases
before Halloween.
40%
Percentage of users who
say facebook influenced
them to buy a specific gift.
65%
Percentage of consumers
who plan to browse and
buy holiday gifts online.
(Source: constantcontact.com)
Marshmallow Fight: This
doesn’t need much explanation.
Grab a bag of the big puffy ones,
run outside after dinner and
fling to your heart’s content.
Gnome Hunt: Collect a few of
those garden gnomes that no
one really wants anyway, put
numbered tags around the
necks and hide them in a large
park or other area. After the
hunt, award prizes for the
highest and lowest number
total.
White Elephant Bingo: This
game lets everyone re-gift
something from previous
holidays. The first to bingo
chooses and opens a White
Elephant Gift. Subsequent
winners take any gift in the
room, or choose another from
the pile. It’s a hoot to see how
some gifts are swiped over and
over.
Ugly Sweater Contest: This is
becoming a popular holiday
event. Everyone digs into their
rag bag and wears the worst
holiday sweater they ever
received. Vote on the winner (or
loser) and enjoy the awful family
photos.
Teacher Surveys
Still time to respond if you
haven’t already done so!
Project-based learning Survey:
If you’re interested in projectbased learning workshops, please
take the survey which ends on
Dec. 1, 2013.
https://www.surveymonkey.co
m/s/5L2WKHJ
K-4 Science Workshop:
Take this survey if you’re
interested in science PD for the
summer of 2014. It will only take
a minute! This survey closes Dec.
15, 2013.
http://www.surveymonkey.com
/s/M3KT6MV
Have a Great Holiday! The
Newsletter will return in
January, 2014.
ARCH FORD SCIENCE | Issue 4
ACC: Engineering Fest
This session presented by Selina Smith, 4th
grade teacher at Pottsville Schools, gave
participants a chance to sample design and
engineering lessons for grades K-4.
Thanks Selina!
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ARCH FORD SCIENCE | Issue 4
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Sharing!
Would you like your science class to be featured in the newsletter?
Have you posted a really cool bulletin board, conducted a successful project or engaged your
students with a great science lesson? Share your ideas with other teachers. Send a few pictures
and a description to be featured in a future newsletter. No pictures of student’s faces please.
Arch Ford
Science
101 Bulldog Drive
Plumerville, AR 72127
Madelon Cheatham – Science Specialist
[email protected]