Internet Resources

The internet has allowed for the classroom to have an infinite amount of resources. It has become such a valuable tool for teachers as well as students. There are resources for teachers such as lesson plans and activities. In addition there are many tools for kids to use as well songs, games, and safe search engines. Because of this availability to unlimited knowledge, the computer has become an essential tool in the classroom.

In my classroom, I plan to use these tools so that my students will become more familiar with what the internet has to offer. Students can communicate with one another by using blogs like this, Google docs, email, etc. They also have the opportunity to use the internet to search on kid-friendly sites. These sites offer valuable information that are put in simpler format than other sites on the internet. Some valuable search engines include "Kids Click!", "SuperKids", and "Yahooligans". They all start on one page where students can click on links depending on the topic for which they are researching.

For my "seasons" unit, I found many internet resources would be helpful in the classroom. These websites are great for teachers as well as students. As I continue working on my unit plan, I am sure I will find more resources that will be useful.

Using Blogs in My Classroom

In the classroom, technology can be used to do a countless number of things. With technology growing as fast as it is, students have access to many resources including the internet. Students can use the internet to connect to one another, even those who are half way across the world. Blogging has become a popular form of communication for students, whether it's just for fun or for school. By integrating blogging into the classroom, students can get more involved with technology. This makes the classroom more exciting for students and that means that students will be more likely to enjoy learning! As a future teacher, that is my main goal.

Blogging is something that can be used for all kinds of lessons throughout all subjects. In my classroom, I want to use blogging as a way for students to reflect upon lessons. In addition, they will be able to share their ideas with their other classmates. I will give students the opportunity to read each others blogs and reply to them. I also plan to use blogs to create compositions. The blog title will be the name of the composition and each post will be their individual compositions. This way, students will be able to look and read each others work from home as well as share it with family. Blogging is like hanging work in the school hallway, except more people will have the opportunity to read and appreciate it.

If you have never done anything like this in your classroom, there are many websites out there that can help you implement blogging the classroom. The Warlick website, 2cents worth is an example of a blog that helps educators. From this website, I also found a social networking site for teachers.

Unit Plan: What is it? and Why integrate inquiry and project based learning?

Essential Question:
Why does planet earth have seasons?

This is an essential questionbecause it is something that took us a long time to figure out. Thisconcept has to do with the sun and the earth’s rotation. This questionis what students begin to explore in early elementary grades and theylearn more depth in higher grades. According to the Galileo education network, “essential questions allow us to explore what knowledge is, howit came to be, and how it has changed through human history”. There was a time that we thought the earth was flat, but that would not accurately explain why we had seasons. When it was discovered that the earth wasround, the explanation for seasons could finally have been made.

Unit Questions:
What are the characteristics of each of the four seasons?

Why is one side of the world in their summer while the other side of theworld is in their winter?

What are the main source of heat for our planet?

The students will learn about seasons through reading the text book,researching in the internet, participating in engaging experiments andwatching demonstrations. Students will also be given the opportunity togo the science museum where they can learn more about seasons throughother interactive activities.

TEKS:
Science 2.3C: explain a problem in his/her own words and identify a taskand solution related to the problem.

Science 2.4A: collect information using tools including rulers, metersticks, measuring cups, clocks, hand lenses, computers, thermometers,and balances.

Science 2.7D: observe, measure, and record changes in weather, the nightsky, and seasons.

How to integrate inquiry and project-based learning:

This topics allows for students to investigate the rotation of the earth around the sun in many ways. Students can physically re-create this rotation by using materials a simple a a flashlight or lamp and themselves. They are able to work in groups to role play, so that they understand how this system works through a physical way. To extend the lesson, students can be given the opportunity to answer questions like: What would happen if the earth stopped rotating around the sun?