Methods of Teaching Methods of Teaching ScienceScience

By: Jessica DaileyBy: Jessica Dailey

INQUIRY PROJECTINQUIRY PROJECT

Question:Question:Do the hairs on a spider’s legs help Do the hairs on a spider’s legs help

it move across its web?it move across its web?

Hypothesis:Hypothesis:Yes, the spiders legs help the spider Yes, the spiders legs help the spider

move across the web.move across the web.

MaterialsMaterials

•Spider Web PatternSpider Web Pattern•Regular tapeRegular tape

•Double-stick tapeDouble-stick tape•EraserEraser

•ToothbrushToothbrush

ProcedureProcedure

1. Make a model of ¼ of the web of 1. Make a model of ¼ of the web of a garden spider. Use the Spider a garden spider. Use the Spider web pattern.web pattern.

2. First put down double-stick tape 2. First put down double-stick tape where shown. The double stick where shown. The double stick tape is a model of the sticky tape is a model of the sticky threads of a spider’s web.threads of a spider’s web.

ProcedureProcedure

3. Next, put down regular tape. The 3. Next, put down regular tape. The regular tape is a model of the regular tape is a model of the non-sticky threads of a spider’s non-sticky threads of a spider’s web.web.

4. Put an eraser on one of the sticky 4. Put an eraser on one of the sticky outer pieces of tape. The eraser outer pieces of tape. The eraser is a model of a spider’s prey.is a model of a spider’s prey.

ProcedureProcedure

5. Start your “spider” at the center 5. Start your “spider” at the center point of the web. Tap the side of point of the web. Tap the side of the toothbrush without the brush the toothbrush without the brush along one of the non-sticky pieces along one of the non-sticky pieces of tape. Move from the center of tape. Move from the center toward the prey. Record what toward the prey. Record what happens.happens.

ProcedureProcedure

6. When you reach the outer ring, 6. When you reach the outer ring, rap across the sticky tape. Record rap across the sticky tape. Record what happens.what happens.

7. Repeat steps 4 and 5, but this 7. Repeat steps 4 and 5, but this time use the other side of the time use the other side of the toothbrush.toothbrush.

8. Collect and record your data.8. Collect and record your data.

ResultsResults

ConclusionConclusionThe stiff hairs of the spider helps it The stiff hairs of the spider helps it

move across the web.move across the web.

ReflectionReflection

The overall experience was The overall experience was wonderful. My mentor teacher is wonderful. My mentor teacher is over the Science Fair at Marlton over the Science Fair at Marlton Elementary. So, she aloud me to Elementary. So, she aloud me to do the Sample Science Experiment do the Sample Science Experiment for the school. The students truly for the school. The students truly enjoyed this hands-on experience. enjoyed this hands-on experience. The only set back was that it was a The only set back was that it was a little time consuming.little time consuming.

Science Teacher InterviewScience Teacher Interview

Q:Q: How do you feel about How do you feel about science?science?

A:A: Science was never my favorite Science was never my favorite subject in school but now with subject in school but now with testing I think that science testing I think that science

allows me to be creative with my allows me to be creative with my students.. I try to make Science the students.. I try to make Science the subject that the subject that the students cannot students cannot

wait to participate in. I try to wait to participate in. I try to incorporate a hands on activity in all incorporate a hands on activity in all

of the units that we cover.of the units that we cover.

Q:Q: How does the district How does the district support you?support you?

A:The district is somewhat A:The district is somewhat supportive of science. With no child supportive of science. With no child

left behind the district only really left behind the district only really looks at reading and math at the looks at reading and math at the

elementary school level. elementary school level.

Q:Q: How do you fit science How do you fit science into their day/week?into their day/week?

A:I do science, social studies and A:I do science, social studies and health on a three-day cycle. The health on a three-day cycle. The

lesson usually last about 30 minutes. lesson usually last about 30 minutes. If the students have an mini If the students have an mini

experiment to complete I have to experiment to complete I have to run into the language arts block.run into the language arts block.

Q:Q: How do your children How do your children feel about science?feel about science?

A: When I surveyed my students in A: When I surveyed my students in the being of the year on how they the being of the year on how they

felt about science a felt about science a lot of the lot of the students expressed a dislike for students expressed a dislike for

science. But, as the year progressed science. But, as the year progressed I saw that the students enjoyed I saw that the students enjoyed

doing the hands-on activity, allowing doing the hands-on activity, allowing them to be part of the experiment. them to be part of the experiment.

Q:Q: Where do you find the Where do you find the best science resources?best science resources?

A: Honestly, there are not a lot of A: Honestly, there are not a lot of science resources for K-4 so I made science resources for K-4 so I made friends with one of the fifth grade friends with one of the fifth grade

science teachers and she allows me science teachers and she allows me to borrow supplies. A lot of the to borrow supplies. A lot of the

supplies that we use I have went supplies that we use I have went and purchased myself.and purchased myself.

Q:Q: What advice do you What advice do you have for me?have for me?

A: The only advice I would give to A: The only advice I would give to you is to allow your students to be you is to allow your students to be apart of science. apart of science. Foster a love for Foster a love for

science that you may not even have science that you may not even have for science.for science.

Q:Q: Is there anything else I Is there anything else I should know about teaching should know about teaching

elementary science?elementary science?

A: If you teach science understand A: If you teach science understand that you may have to purchase that you may have to purchase

something for your class to make it something for your class to make it interesting to your students.interesting to your students.

ReflectionsReflections

I am a person that really does not like Science but,I am a person that really does not like Science but,

from interviewing my teacher I realize that I should from interviewing my teacher I realize that I should putput

just as much interest in teaching Science as I dojust as much interest in teaching Science as I do

Mathematics. If I show my students that I have aMathematics. If I show my students that I have a

dislike for Science I will not give them the opportunitydislike for Science I will not give them the opportunity

they deserve to like Science. I think that my teacher they deserve to like Science. I think that my teacher isis

an exciting teacher and that transfers through on heran exciting teacher and that transfers through on her

lessons. I think I am truly learning what I need tolessons. I think I am truly learning what I need to

know in this class. Now, I am going to try to look atknow in this class. Now, I am going to try to look at

Science in a positive light.Science in a positive light.

TrackstarTrackstarhttp://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/ts/viewTrackMembersFrames.do?number=368354&password=

ReflectionReflection

Using Trackstar I believe can be a Using Trackstar I believe can be a very valuable tool in my classroom. very valuable tool in my classroom. By using trackstar I give my By using trackstar I give my students a chance to get on the students a chance to get on the internet to reach information. But, internet to reach information. But, by using track star I can make sure by using track star I can make sure the places that they are getting the places that they are getting the information is correct and from the information is correct and from a valuable source.a valuable source.