For your own editable copy of any of the documents shared below, simply select File→Make a Copy. Feel free to use, re-mix, and share these resources, but please do not sell them.
Selected Science Lessons
Wonder Essays (Science + Writing + Art)
In this unit, students analyze Aimee Nezhukumatathil's World of Wonders which beautifully blends natural history writing and memoir in essays focused on different species. Then, students emulate the style by researching, writing, and illustrating essays their own essays about species of their choice. You will find a comprehensive integrated curriculum including a unit plan, ten lesson plans, all supporting documents, and extension documents developed by myself and collaborator Cliff Burke while at the Nueva School.
In this unit, students analyze Aimee Nezhukumatathil's World of Wonders which beautifully blends natural history writing and memoir in essays focused on different species. Then, students emulate the style by researching, writing, and illustrating essays their own essays about species of their choice. You will find a comprehensive integrated curriculum including a unit plan, ten lesson plans, all supporting documents, and extension documents developed by myself and collaborator Cliff Burke while at the Nueva School.
Cell Analogy Poster Project
In this project, students conceptualize an analogy that compares a eukaryotic cell to another system, object, or community based on the functions of its parts and illustrate it on an educational poster. To read more about the activity and see samples of student work, check out this blog post.
In this project, students conceptualize an analogy that compares a eukaryotic cell to another system, object, or community based on the functions of its parts and illustrate it on an educational poster. To read more about the activity and see samples of student work, check out this blog post.
Rainbow Density Lab
Have students practice lab skills to make a liquid rainbow based on density in this classic introductory lab. My twist? The solution layers are water and different concentrations of salt for less mess, and students team up to make the solutions so less labware is needed.
Have students practice lab skills to make a liquid rainbow based on density in this classic introductory lab. My twist? The solution layers are water and different concentrations of salt for less mess, and students team up to make the solutions so less labware is needed.
Diverse Scientists Mini-Poster
In this lesson, students research and make a mini-poster about a scientist with a marginalized identity to celebrate the contributions of diverse scientists. It is a great follow-up to the Draw-a-Scientist test I wrote about in this blog post. The description and note sheet are linked above. Here is a list of suggested scientists for students to explore.
Modeling the Rock Cycle
In this activity, developed with my associate teacher Tim Varga, students create a rock cycle model that incorporates the geologic processes and energy sources that drive each rock type's formation. A rubric and timeline are included. To read more about the activity and see samples of student work, check out this blog post.
Earth Layers Analogy
In this activity, students compare Earth to another layered object of their choice and analyze the model's benefits and limitations. To read more about the activity and see samples of student work, check out this blog post.
Make-a-Mineral
In this activity, students research a mineral of their choice and create an informational illustrated one-pager (infographic, comic, mini-poster, etc). To read more about this activity and see samples of student work, check out this blog post.
In this lesson, students research and make a mini-poster about a scientist with a marginalized identity to celebrate the contributions of diverse scientists. It is a great follow-up to the Draw-a-Scientist test I wrote about in this blog post. The description and note sheet are linked above. Here is a list of suggested scientists for students to explore.
Modeling the Rock Cycle
In this activity, developed with my associate teacher Tim Varga, students create a rock cycle model that incorporates the geologic processes and energy sources that drive each rock type's formation. A rubric and timeline are included. To read more about the activity and see samples of student work, check out this blog post.
Earth Layers Analogy
In this activity, students compare Earth to another layered object of their choice and analyze the model's benefits and limitations. To read more about the activity and see samples of student work, check out this blog post.
Make-a-Mineral
In this activity, students research a mineral of their choice and create an informational illustrated one-pager (infographic, comic, mini-poster, etc). To read more about this activity and see samples of student work, check out this blog post.
Digital Science Notebook
Digital Science Notebook
Each semester, I am assigning a Digital Science Notebook for students to organize their notes and record their thinking over time. I was inspired by a digital social studies notebook created by my friend Dr. Isabel Morales, and I re-mixed it as a digital science notebook, adding additional layouts and my own content. In Present mode, the side tabs are hyperlinks that allow navigation to different sections.
Each semester, I am assigning a Digital Science Notebook for students to organize their notes and record their thinking over time. I was inspired by a digital social studies notebook created by my friend Dr. Isabel Morales, and I re-mixed it as a digital science notebook, adding additional layouts and my own content. In Present mode, the side tabs are hyperlinks that allow navigation to different sections.
Digital Science Notebook
Lab Investigation Template
Digital Lab Template
This customizable template can be used as a digital lab notebook by having students replicate the template for each lab and keep them all in one doc. To stay organized and easily access each lab, I recommend creating a Table of Contents at the top of the doc and making each lab's title a hyperlink in it.
This customizable template can be used as a digital lab notebook by having students replicate the template for each lab and keep them all in one doc. To stay organized and easily access each lab, I recommend creating a Table of Contents at the top of the doc and making each lab's title a hyperlink in it.
Just a Little Bit(moji)
Bitmoji Class Slide
Maybe, like me, you do not want to build out an entire Bitmoji Classroom, but you just want one fun slide to represent your virtual space. My class slide includes instructions to walk you through it. I used it with students on the first day to preview course topics through observation and inference. I also used it as a title slide at our Back to School Night Zoom with families.
Agenda Slide
A little bit more? Here's an agenda slide you can customize with a Bitmoji.
Maybe, like me, you do not want to build out an entire Bitmoji Classroom, but you just want one fun slide to represent your virtual space. My class slide includes instructions to walk you through it. I used it with students on the first day to preview course topics through observation and inference. I also used it as a title slide at our Back to School Night Zoom with families.
Agenda Slide
A little bit more? Here's an agenda slide you can customize with a Bitmoji.
Just A Little Bit(moji)