21st Century Learning

In my research I have discovered many resources to motivate students through the use of 21st century technology.  It is important for students to be prepared for the highly technological world in which we live. Using technology in science lessons helps engage students and foster excitement for learning.  As educators, we have to do whatever in necessary to encourage students to pursue STEM careers.

One of the topics covered in physical science that my students often have difficulty with is simple machines.  Simple machines are the foundation for all machines.  The website www.edheads.org has an activity for students learning simple machines.  They go through a house, which is familiar to them, and identify items that are made of simple machines. If students are not able to identify the simple machine, they are given the answer and a short lesson on the particular machine.  This website can be used to introduce students to simple machines in a fun way.  Students are having so much fun that they are not aware they are learning.  The challenge to using this tool is there are not many physical science topics to explore.  Simple machines and weather are the only two topics students learn about in elementary school which can explored on this site.

http://www.quia.com is another website I use often in my classroom.  A teacher can purchase a subscription and create science vocabulary hangman or jeopardy games.  This site encourages reinforcement of vocabulary, which is vital to understanding science concepts.  The only challenge is finding funds to create an account, but an option would be to share account information with teammates and split the cost.  I have used this site to review before assessments and end-of-grade tests.

http://studyjams.scholastic.com covers many elementary topics in math and science.  This site consists of cartoon videos with characters discussing the selected topic.  Along with videos, there are slide shows and karaoke songs.  After the videos, there are multiple choice questions to reinforce the materials presented.  Students are able to explore topics on their own or in a small group.

Another site that I use often is http://phet.colorado.edu.  This site is full of science simulations that I use to engage students at the beginning of a lesson.  I did not find any simulations on simple machines, but found many other physical science activities.

Adding Mixed Numbers

When solving with fractions, be sure to simplify, or reduce, your answer to the lowest terms.  Click on the link below to see an example.

http://www.showme.com/sh/?h=DhxIWDQ