National Science Digital Library--Materials for STEM Grades K-12!

Common core embraces S.T.E.M (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics).  If students are to be fully prepared to compete equally on a global scale in a world increasingly dominated by technology, they will need to be actively engaged in exciting science projects at every grade level.  Within such a learning environment, teachers will be able to plant and nurture that innate curiosity even the youngest have when they enter school.  This desire to explore will now be built upon and expanded throughout those 12 years of school.  Not all will enter careers in science, but using this approach, all students will truly have an option to seriously consider it.

The National Science Digital Library NSDL has incredible resources which can easily be incorporated into any lesson in science or math.  To get started, take a look at the STRAND MAPS.  Here all the content is clearly laid out along with videos on HOW TO USE the literacy maps.  Further, if teacher prefer text versions in lieu of hyperlinks, they can take advantage of the text component.

Another great feature of the site is that its COLLECTIONS section provides teachers with an extensive list of every organization that has contributed to the collection.

Your students will be amazed at the contents:)

Denise

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RESEARCH AND TEAM WORK PAY OFF IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS!

Would you like to see your students exhibit excitement at the thought of entering careers which require high degrees of technical expertise in challenging content areas?  Of course the answer is yes:)  Common Core will touch on that natural curiosity kids exhibit in those early years and nurture it.  As the century progresses, scientists and mathematicians will be needed to continue to address the needs of both the planet and its inhabitants.

S.T.E.M. is an educational movement whose goal is to rekindle the excitement the U.S. had when President Kennedy inspired America to reach for the moon.  This program is showing up in all levels of education from elementary through high school.  Go into classes using strategies from S.T.E.M. and you will find young "scientists, engineers, mathematicians" using technology to create robots,  solve environmental problems, plan trips to other worlds, etc.  It is amazing to watch.  See the overall description of the program in this link:  S.T.E.M. -- REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS 

Now, see a middle school class turn into scientists and engineers working as teams chart ideas, identify problems, discuss solutions, plot progress, and revise plans taking a team approach (which is how such matters are handled in the real world of business).  Common core has identified this approach as a goal of these new national standards--to prepare students for the careers of the 21st century.  S.T.E.M. (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH)

Denise

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NEED Incredible Supports for Science? Look No More:)

If you have limited resources when it comes to securing quality science video supports for your lessons, you may want to take a look at this site.  Click on TOPICS and you will find a wide range of science topics covering astronomy and space, earth and environment, chemistry, life science, mathematics, physics, medical sciences, engineering, and technology.  No membership is required.  SCIENCE 360

Another awesome feature here is the radio broadcasting segment.  Teachers (and students) can get the free iPhone and Android apps to listen at will.  If your school allows students to bring their smart phones to class, you can have them use them to complete assignments using this site.  Imagine how this might help your ELLs who often need more time to process academic content.  Now, they need only go to the app on their phones to review class material.  On this site are over 100 radio shows and audio podcasts.  Surely, there will be several that address your class content.
SCIENCE 360 RADIO BROADCASTS 

Would you also like to assign reading as part of your homework (or classwork)?  Here you will find news from science magazines, blogs, and news articles.  The readings cover 3-12+.  You need only scan for content and reading/grade level.  Since it is a change from the familiar textbook, students might exhibit a bit of excitement in doing the assignments:)  Further, for optimum use in class, assign small groups to read, review, analyze, and share out their understanding of assigned reading sections.  ELLs will benefit from this type of activity since they would not be navigating the site on their own.  Cooperative group learning communities make content accessible to everyone in the group so everyone is a winner:)  SCIENCE 360 NEWS SERVICE

Hope you enjoy the site. 

Denise


ELL TEACHER PROS

Can Physics Be Fun? Sure, With a Little Imagination:)

Often times, ELLs and others shy away from physics because they think it is too difficult. With the right teacher, nothing could be further from the truth. Good teachers think outside the box. Good teachers feel that every student can access the material with the right support or scaffolding. Such teachers build on the familiar so that students feel that they already know something about the topic.


PHYSICS FOR KIDS describes the science in ways that would make it more accessible to ELLs than a textbook since it employs language that is comprehensible. Academic language runs throughout, but the passages are not densely presented in ways that textbooks usually do. Here the focus is on conveying the message without getting lost in the language. Once students get the main idea, they can accomplish the required tasks of any given chapter. This site therefore supplements classroom instruction. Here students will see proof that physics is everywhere and in every science:)

PHYSICS GAMES FOR KIDS here students have several opportunities to "play" with physics. Academic games are a must from time to time because they often times help to clarify student understanding. Pick a concept that students have studied and then with a partner have them work on a game. Once they complete the task successfully, have them explain how they did it. This can be done with a labeled drawing, in a learning log, or a detailed paragraph. Offer them options on expressing their success with the game with the understanding that key academic vocabulary addressed in class must be used in the description of their success.


PHYSICS VIDEOS offers free clips of physics in the real world. This information could easily be included in a lesson since the videos are presented in an experiment like format. For your struggler, such a clip might offer a "eureka" moment (and it is fun).

MORE PHYSICS FOR KIDS more games, videos, and LESSONS (along with quizzes and word searches) bring life to the subject for the non-physicist:) With time and fully accessible intriguing materials, ELLs will build the confidence to actually enjoy the science. Maybe they might be intrigued enough to consider a career in a physics-related field. You never know.

PHYSICS IN THE REAL WORLD offers a look at possible careers in this science. If students can't see beyond the classsroom, they will never know what the future could possibly hold for them with the right degree. Here students will discover real world problems in the area of physics along with solutions. Practical applications present a clearer picture of all that a career in physics has to offer. Students may find out that the solutions that they might dream up are workable!

I hope your students enjoy the post:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

Teaching Engineering in Elementary School? Why not:)

Children in elementary school are definite dreamers. They see themselves in all sorts of professions when they become adults. Why not? The potential is there for each and every one of them .... including ELLs:) With dynamic enthusiastic teachers, students can start on the road to dream careers at an early age.

One site that might spark a few interests in a field that is always looking for creative people is ENGINEERING FOR ELEMENTARY . Here teachers will need to register first to access the many resources the site offers. This process is free to all. Once in, teachers will find videos, lessons, assessments, activities---all written for elementary school. I particularly enjoyed the story books that accompany each unit. The stories are written by staff members of the site and reviewed by engineering, cultural, and literacy specialists. This series of books helps cultivate children's understandings of engineering, technology, and the role these disciplines play in society, in a fun and interesting way. Each story features a child from different ethnic backgrounds. In each book, the main character must tackle a problem that only engineering can solve. In fact, though adults offer assistance, it is the young engineer who is always the hero of the day:) Kids will really appreciate seeing "themselves" saving the day for the entire community.

Your students will see math, science, and creativity do wonderful things here:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

Civil Engineering Games? Yes! Tap Student Interest With This Site:)

To spark an interest in fields that students might not be that familiar with, teachers need to find creative ways to integrate information about those fields into the class curriculum. Engineering is one of those careers that many students don't think since they often times don't know much about that area of science. With climate change, natural disasters, man-made ones, world-wide water shortages, food shortages, and ever increasing numbers of city dwellers around the globe, the demand for engineers will grow as people struggle with finding solutions to these problems.

How will we find enough engineers to address these concerns? We will find them by tapping student interest in this area at an early age and then nurturing it so that they will pursue degrees in this area in the future. The site I have selected here addresses civil engineering.

DISCOVER ENGINEERING Here students will explore the exciting things civil engineers do and their services are crucial to our survival as a planet. Students will also have an opportunity to explore careers in this area to see what peaks their interest. CIVIL ENGINEERING is first defined ("Civil Engineering WHAT?"). Then there is a section entitled JUST FOR FUN where students have many venues to try out games where skills in civil engineering are needed, activities on different scenarios requiring math and science knowledge to problem solve, contests for classes to compete in, and free videos on what civil engineers actually do.

Your students will thoroughly enjoy themselves here, and hopefully, you will plant a few seeds of interest among your kids:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS