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Essential Toolkit   https://app.gadoe.org/TRLPubic                           This is a great site to use to find examples of student interest surveys for science, a guide for effective science instruction for all students, and a science self-evaluation checklist.

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Essential Toolkit   https://app.gadoe.org/TRLPubic                           This is a great site to use to find examples of student interest surveys for science, a guide for effective science instruction for all students, and a science self-evaluation checklist.

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Love and Logic        https://www.loveandlogic.com                                  If you are looking for teaching tips, discipline tips, and articles and advice about how to deal with challenging behaviors, this is the perfect website for you.  

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Love and Logic        https://www.loveandlogic.com                                  If you are looking for teaching tips, discipline tips, and articles and advice about how to deal with challenging behaviors, this is the perfect website for you.  

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If you are looking for some amazing ideas that you can use in your classroom to summarize a lesson, check these ideas out. I am sure you won't be disappointed.

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Closure Activities to Summarize a Lesson                     

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Closure Activities to Summarize a Lesson                     

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Closure activities are meaningful activities that help students to summarize all they have learned. Closure activities help students to solidify their skills and make sense of all information learned.

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The 5 E Instructional Model is a research based model for student inquiry based learning. The focus is on the student being engaged, the students exploring the concept, the concept being explained by the teacher and experts, elaborating on the students' learning, and evaluating what the students learned. A powerful instructional model!

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In the 5 E model of instruction, students construct knowledge and meaning from their experiences. This model was developed as part of a BSCS (Biological Sciences Curriculum Study) to improve the science and health curriculum for elementary schools. The 5 E method is an example of inquiry-based learning, in which students ask questions, decide what information enhances their understanding, and then self-assess.

Fast Facts: 5 E Instructional Model

The research showed positive results when the 5 E model was adopted by schools. Standardized tests scores showed that those students in classrooms using the BSCS science program for two years were four months ahead of students in other classrooms. According to the published report, "the sustained use of an effective, research-based instructional model can help students learn fundamental concepts in science and other domains."

In this constructivist model of learning, there are five stages in learning, and each stage begins with the letter E: engage, explore, explain, extend, and evaluate.

Engage Stage

To engage students, teachers should connect the topic or concept at hand with prior understanding. Students are encouraged to ask questions or draw on experiences. The teacher does not correct any misconceptions about the topic or concept but does make notes about revisiting these misconceptions. The purpose of the engagement stage is to get students excited and ready to explore the topic or concept.

Explore Stage

Once students are interested, they can begin to investigate the problems associated with the topic or concept. Students pose real questions and develop hypotheses. The key concepts in the topic are identified while teachers provide hands-on activities. Students develop the skills that are needed to test their ideas. The teacher does not provide direct instruction at this time. Instead, the teacher leads students through inquiry-based questions as students work cooperatively in groups. During this stage, time is given to students to refine their hypotheses as they begin to reflect on the results of their investigations.

Explain Stage

Students develop explanations for what they have already observed. They define the necessary vocabulary and connect their findings to prior knowledge. The teacher should support student discussion and answer student questions. While this stage is a direct instruction phase, the discussions mean that this new information is shared collaboratively.

During this stage, students understand this information through a single example. For example, they may understand the life cycle of one species or a particular form of government. They will need the time, which is provided in the next stage, to internalize their understanding before comparing and contrasting.

Extend Stage

Research shows that students need to solidify their understanding by connecting what they have learned to something real. They need to move from a single example in the Explain stage to a generalization that can be applied in other examples. In applying this information, students may formulate new hypotheses. The new hypotheses can be tested in new investigations. In practicing new skills, students may take data and make new conclusions. In the investigations during the extend phase, students use the vocabulary and concepts in their discussions and their writing.

Evaluate Stage

In the final stage, students return to the engage phase to compare their earlier understanding of what they know now. They address any misconceptions they held, and the teacher makes sure these misconceptions are corrected. They reflect on what they know, and how they are now able to prove what they know in writing, discussion, and demonstration.

Research shows that the evaluate stage should not be skipped. A unit test is not a part of this stage since the teacher can complete a formal evaluation after the evaluation stage. Instead, teachers can evaluate the learning that has taken place through a problem scenario where students should apply their new knowledge. Other evidence of understanding can be done through formative, informal performance, or summative assessments.

Planning the 5E Model

Teachers who plan to use the 5 E model should be aware that they should use this design for units of two to three weeks. Each stage should be planned to include one or more lessons.

The co-creator of the 5 E model, Rodger W. Bybee, explained,

"Using the 5Es model as the basis for a single lesson decreases the effectiveness of the individual phases due to shortening the time and opportunities for challenging and restructuring of concepts and abilities-for learning,"

The 5E Model helps students to use inquiry to connect new information with prior knowledge through practice and reflection. The teacher becomes a facilitator or guide who builds inquiry, exploration, and assessment into daily instruction approach.

5E Example: Math

In a 5 E model for math, for example, a unit on rational numbers coming from mathematical and real-world situations could include converting between standard decimal notation and scientific notation.

Engage: Students are given cards with rational numbers and asked:

Where do you think that number should go on a number line?

Do you think it could be placed in more than one place?

Explore: Students use cards to order, match, and compare the rational numbers.

Explain: The teacher provides examples of times people may use Scientific Notation; students practice organizing cards using what they know about Scientific Notation.

Extend: Students try out their new understanding of rational numbers.

Evaluate: Students create a visual representation to organize and display the relationship between sets and subsets of numbers.

Teachers can use the evaluate stage to determine how well students can use scientific notation and convert numbers in scientific notation to standard decimal notation.

5 E Model for Social Studies

In social studies, the 5E method can be used in a unit that addresses forms of representative government.

Engage: Students take a poll that asks what criteria they would like in a representative government

Explore: Students explore different forms of representative governments including direct democracy, representative democracy, presidential democracy, parliamentary democracy, authoritarian democracy, participatory democracy, Islamic democracy, and social democracy.

Explain: Students define terms and determine which representative government best fits the criteria from the poll.

Extend: Students apply what they have learned about representative government to real-world examples.

Evaluate: Students return to the information from the poll, adjust their criteria and then fashion a new form of representative government.

5 E English Example

In ELA, the 5 E model can be used in a unit designed to help students better understand transition words through visual and kinesthetic activities.

Engage: Students are handed transition words cards that they can act out (first, second, after, later).

Explore: Students organize lists of transition words (by time, to compare, to contrast, to contradict) and discuss how transition words change understanding when applied to different passages.

Explain: The teacher corrects any misconceptions while students define terms, determine what would be an excellent visual representation of a transition word and what body action best represents that transition word.

Extend: In groups, students visually represent the transition word through visual or kinesthetic means in new passages provided by the teacher.

Evaluate: Students share their representations and act them out.

Science example

The 5E Model was initially developed for science Instruction. This model is embedded in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as the best way for students to think scientifically. In one 5 E instructional model, using software, students design and then build an amusement park ride.

Engage: Show video clips of different roller coaster rides and the riders' reactions. Students can describe personal experiences riding roller coasters and brainstorm the reasons that roller coaster rides are thrilling.

Explore: Students construct an accelerometer and then test it by having a student sit on a swivel chair and spin while holding the accelerometer. They will use data to calculate the g-force and the independent variable (mass of each student).

Explain: Students access different amusement park websites to review the specifications in workbooks that detail the roller coasters in the park.

Extend: Students use roller coaster software to aid them in a roller coaster design using free software on these sites: No-limits Coaster software, Learner.org, Real Rollercoaster Simulator. Students will consider the question, How do the rules of mathematics and the laws of physics govern the designs of engineers?

Evaluate: Students show their understanding of roller coaster science by calculating the velocity, g-force, and centripetal force. Students also write about them turning their calculations into narrative descriptions (commercials) to explain how their design is calculated for thrills.

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Use the 5 E Instructional Model for Student Inquiry-Based Learning

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In the 5 E model of instruction, students construct knowledge and meaning from their experiences. This model was developed as part of a BSCS (Biological Sciences Curriculum Study) to improve the science and health curriculum for elementary schools. The 5 E method is an example of inquiry-based learning, in which students ask questions, decide what information enhances their understanding, and then self-assess.

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Kids must be engaged in order to learn. Reading allows people to get lost in words, travel to other places, learn about different cultures,  and peek into other people's lives . Why not use reading to provide opportunities for students to solve real world problems? That is exactly what Novel Engineering will do!  Use it to promote critical thinking skills and problem solving.

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Students use existing classroom literature - stories, novels, and expository texts - as the basis for engineering design challenges that help them identify problems, design realistic solutions, and engage in the Engineering Design Process while reinforcing their literacy skills.

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Social and Emotional Learning in the Classroom focuses on teaching students how to understand and manage their emotions and relationships and how to interact with others from a dignity standpoint. SEL focuses on students being mentally and emotionally healthy so that they can strive academically and reach their full potential.

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As educators, we know that school is a significant part of our students' social lives and where much of their emotional development takes place. We must help children learn how to interact with others and develop emotional intelligence to create a better learning environment for themselves and their peers. Promoting social and emotional learning can be tricky - students may react differently to a given technique or lesson plan or have unique learning needs. The Dignity Model is a framework that helps educators create safe, inclusive, and equitable environments in the classroom and helps create and implement social emotional learning activities. Building a culture of Dignity can help us teach our students essential social and emotional skills while also promoting respect for all classmates.

What is Dignity and how does it relate to Social and Emotional Learning
"Not teaching what to think - teaching HOW to think."
The core of the Dignity Model (Dignity) is understanding that every person is essential because they have inherent worth, and nothing they do or say changes their value. Each interaction should lead to more effective conflict resolution, a better sense of self-worth, social awareness, and a safer, stronger community with Dignity in mind. Dignity is different from respect, which is earned admiration for someone's actions, traits, or accomplishments. Unlike respect, everyone has the same amount of Dignity, no matter who they are or how they treat other people in a given situation. An educational foundation in Dignity is critical for implementing effective social and emotional learning. Treating students with Dignity should be the foundation of any social and emotional learning program, modeling the values and behaviors we want them to develop throughout their education.

Importantly - there's no one way to teach students what to think regarding Dignity, respect, and social and emotional learning. Implementing these concepts is about teaching students HOW to think about their feelings and using social and emotional learning activities in the classroom to strengthen their ability to interact with their own emotions and others in the world.

What Is Social And Emotional Learning?

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is a process through which students learn skills and techniques that help resolve conflicts and build more secure relationships. Using a framework of emotional awareness and Dignity, students develop their own identities and affirm other people's identities in a healthful and constructive manner. The emotional awareness and Dignity framework addresses conflicts directly and empowers responsible decision-making instead of bottling up feelings (emotional suppression), engaging in avoidance behaviors, or engaging in negative or counter-productive confrontation behaviors.

At Cultures of Dignity we view social emotional learning through five core competencies: Dignity, Navigating Social Dynamics, Emotional Awareness, Self-Regulation, Reasonable Expectations.

Dignity is the understanding that every person has inherent, inalienable worth. Treating interactions between every person as worthwhile and meaningful defines the rest of the SEL process.

Navigating Social Dynamics is the ability to recognize and work within the web of relationships present in a community and culture. In a school setting, these relationship dynamics can include teacher-student relationships, grade differences between peers, classmate relationships, and specific friend group or clique relationships. SEL helps people establish their own identity and role within and across the larger structure of their community without being intimidated or rejected. In other words, SEL helps people feel worthwhile and meaningful within a culture, group, or situational setting.

Emotional Awareness is the ability to identify and understand emotions within themselves and others that whom they interact with. At a basic level, SEL allows you to gain the emotional awareness needed to identify and name your own emotions. As your emotional awareness grows, it allows you to be able to anticipate how others might feel in a particular situation or after a specific interaction.

Self-Regulation is the ability to manage feelings and behaviors to feel better about yourself and others. Examples include the ability to identify your emotions while at the same time having the ability to calm down while feeling angry or excited or being able to engage in healthy coping behaviors instead of shutting down (e.g., repressing or suppressing emotions) in the face of sadness or fear.

Reasonable Expectations: Expectations can be a great way to set goals that may not be easy. At the same time, setting unattainable expectations may lead to stress and anxiety and worsen mental health. Understanding how to set boundaries for yourself and others through reasonable expectations can help you stay on track with goals while avoiding disappointment and lower self-worth.

Teaching styles and lesson plans that incorporate the five core competencies of SEL allow students to grow into more healthy, aware, and responsible members of the classroom and in the outside world. Again - these five core competencies are not what students must think to achieve a healthy life. Rather they are tools that equip students to learn how to think about their place in the world internally and externally. By building these competencies up through social and emotional learning in the classroom with a foundation of Dignity, we set our students up for long-term success in all aspects of their lives.

Why Teach Social Emotional Learning In the Classroom?

There's no way to prepare for each unique situation that a student will face in their lifetime - that's why it's so important to leverage the classroom as a controlled environment to teach students ways of thinking that lead to social and emotional learning. Treating social and emotional learning as a set of principles instead of rules will help students learn to apply the five core competencies in many school, work, and life situations.

The classroom is a place where students come to learn not only facts about the world, but also how to interact and behave with a diverse group of friends, classmates, teachers, and other adults. The classroom offers the perfect setting and timing for students to learn how to consistently treat others with Dignity and respect and incorporate Social Emotional Learning into their development as a student and human being. With teachers as knowledgeable mentors, students can learn the basics of Dignity and why everyone deserves to be treated with a certain level of Dignity, and understand when someone either should earn or lose their respect. Practicing and understanding Dignity and respect allows students to be vulnerable, self-aware, and engaged within a supportive learning environment. Understanding the need for Dignity to be at the center of SEL helps ground the conversation and creates a shared language - teachers can educate from a place of Dignity, and students can continually interact and communicate with one another from the same foundation.

Implementing social emotional learning in the classroom allows students to develop habits that promote mental health and solidify their sense of self in a learning and supportive environment. In addition, this implementation gives students a structured way to learn skills that will help them months and years down the line as residents and citizens of an ever-changing and complex world. SEL is not just a program, but teachable moments that are implicitly taught throughout the day. From behaving well towards teachers and others during classes, to working on group projects and homework assignments, to socializing with classmates - there are many opportunities for teachers to reinforce SEL.

How To Teach Social Emotional Learning In The Classroom

There's no specific "class for SEL" - but teachers can pass on concepts and skills to students that they can use in any setting and learning environment. School provides teachable moments every day that an educator can use as an opportunity to model the principles of Dignity and build connections with their students. Using your skills outside of class, such as learning about students' interests, turning tantrums into reasonable conversations, or mediating the aftermath of a fight, can be even more effective at teaching social emotional learning to kids than a worksheet or in-class exercise.

Some educators may prefer to teach groups of students with social emotional learning activities for elementary schools, working on specific aspects of the five competencies throughout a homeroom or free period. Other educators may prefer to incorporate elements of SEL into other pre-established class times, like math, science or history. For example teachers can have students work through a group project using respectful interactions, or having students identify a historical figure's actions and empathize with the reasons behind them. It's important to remember that SEL is not about teaching students what to think; instead, they are learning a methodology of understanding their own and others' emotions and acting in a way that treats everyone with Dignity. A strong mixture of dedicated and incidental materials is key to building out social emotional learning curriculum.

Why Is SEL important right now?

When educators implement SEL in the classroom, students tend to see benefits to their mental health, ability to build relationship skills, and career success down the line. ² Teachers will also see more engagement with lesson material from their students - when students are practicing empathy and Dignity, they may be less likely to ask "what's the point of this?" or dismiss the teacher offhand, as well as being less afraid to ask questions in class or ask for help with problems ².

Studies show that:

Students taught by teachers who implemented learning moments that focused on the five core competencies increased student academic performance by 11 percentile points⁴. In the same study, about 27% of students who were taught by educators with an SEL framework program went on to improve their academic performance in school and 24% were better able to handle social situations and felt less distress.⁴

A 2021 Meta-Analysis showed that over hundreds of SEL: programs, students tended to show improved classroom behavior, better ability to manage stress, depression, and other mental disorders, and felt better about themselves while having a better attitude toward how they treated others.³

Additionally, State governments and the Federal government have increased available funding for SEL in public schools in recent years - the 2020 CARES Act following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic included over $13 billion of funding for elementary and secondary schools and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 included an additional $123 billion for K-12 state education agencies. 5.6 According to these pieces of legislation, 5%-20% of the distributed state funds must be used to support evidence-based programs to offset the loss of learning due to the pandemic and help address student's emotional, social, and academic needs. ⁵

While the government distributed these specific funds through one-time stimulus packages, the structure of these funds lays out the groundwork for future educational funding. ⁵ Future funding that follows this groundwork would require schools to use their budgets to accelerate learning to meet rigorous state and national standards, re-engage students with disruptions to learning from extenuating circumstances, and address the social and emotional needs of all students, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

As an evidence-based program that directly addresses these focus areas exacerbated by the pandemic, Dignity-based SEL qualifies for these federal and state funds and provides long-term benefits to students and stakeholders. 5.6 As more students benefit from SEL, there will likely be an increase in funding for these programs. School administrators will need to be prepared for this expansion and implementation with well-trained personnel and the knowledge to teach in this way.

How SEL Affects Young People And Teachers Outside the Classroom

In addition to the impact of social emotional learning on improving academic performance and classroom behavior, there are many lasting positive effects on young people outside of school.1 Students exposed to SEL in the classroom are more capable of managing their emotions and setting boundaries with their peers. These outside benefits allow young people to stay focused on problems and solve social issues without getting upset or distracted by how others act.

One key benefit that students that undergo SEL see is that they are less likely to experience emotional hijacking, where our brains bypass our ability to remain calm and collected, and we react suddenly and without control to upsetting situations. An example of emotional hijacking would be if a friend is talking over you or distracting you while focusing on work or homework. You suddenly snap at them and say something that you may regret immediately after. SEL can teach students self-awareness and social skills that allow them to interject with more reasoned and calm interactions with their peers and family, leaving them more in control and emotionally stable. This stability can lead to long-term improvements in mental health and reduced chances of suffering from anxiety, depression, and substance abuse behaviors. ³

Young people who learn SEL techniques are often in better control of their own emotions, whether reacting to something they did as individuals or reacting to something that someone else did to them. In other words, these students can regulate their emotions within a dynamic and varied set of circumstances, leading to less emotional turmoil. In turn leading to higher energy levels and improved ability to focus on work, homework, hobbies, and leisure activities. In addition to more energy and focus, students also report improved attitudes towards themselves and others, leading to a more positive outlook on their lives and social interactions. ¹

Any educator knows that relationships between students can change with no warning - kids who are best friends today may be arguing and fighting tomorrow for no discernible reason. You can't know everything that happens in a student's life outside of school, but using SEL practices can help you develop an understanding of why a conflict may exist and what you can do to help resolve it. Giving each student a chance to explain their perspective and experience away from the other parties and having them reflect on how their actions affect others will lead to more peaceful conflict resolution. Valuing the input of each side and framing the conflict in a way that doesn't place the blame on any one side is a great way to model SEL for students, and they are likely to learn more from the experience than they would from a formal SEL lesson. This also reinforces that SEL is a set of principles and not rules.

Not only does SEL help students when they come home from school - these outside benefits can last through their lives as they grow older. ¹⁻⁴ Those exposed to SEL are better able to plan everyday tasks like going to the store, knowing when to work and when to take breaks for meals, and making time to do the things they enjoy. Dignity-based SEL specifically can help with joining the workforce and growing one's career, for example by knowing how to treat others with Dignity and respect, understanding how to work and communicate with peers and those with authority, and knowing how to manage conflict and set reasonable expectations for goals and outcomes. Teaching Dignity-based SEL in school shows young people how to think about themselves in the world, and provides lasting positive effects outside the classroom. ¹⁻⁴

Dignity-based SEL isn't just for students - social and emotional learning for teachers involves integrating Dignity into their daily practice and language. Teachers have an exceptionally hard job - they need to be steadfast role models to a group of impressionable children. It's hard to be calm and collected all of the time with so much going on in the world as an adult! Lessons from SEL can show us how to use Dignity and deal with conflict outside of the classroom with family and friends - and can help "check your baggage" before teaching to avoid emotional outbursts or anger towards your students. A teacher's role in social and emotional learning goes beyond the classroom and young people's personal lives - they must deeply understand and be involved in Dignity-Based SEL every step of the way.

Think back on your own experience in the classroom - how much were you taught about emotions when you were your students' age? Reflecting on this question, one can see how learning more about Dignity-based SEL can benefit students, young people, and teachers in a positive, lasting way!

Works Cited

1. CASEL. (2008, January). Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Student Benefits: | Education in Crisis and Conflict Network. http://www.eccnetwork.net/resources/social-emotional-learning-sel-and-student-benefits

2. CASEL. (2021). What Does the Research Say? CASEL.
https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/what-does-the-research-say/

3. Clarke, A. (2021, July 21). Adolescent mental health: A systematic review on the effectiveness of school-based interventions [July 2021]. Early Intervention Foundation.
https://www.eif.org.uk/report/adolescent-mental-health-a-systematic-review-on-the-effectiveness-of-school-based-interventions

4. Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The Impact of Enhancing Students' Social and Emotional Learning: A Meta-Analysis of School-Based Universal Interventions. Child Development, 82(1), 405-432. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01564.x

5. Trust, E. (2021, May 18). Recommendations for State Leaders to Advance Equity Using Funds from the American Rescue Plan. The Education Trust.
https://edtrust.org/resource/recommendations-for-state-leaders-to-advance-equity-using-funds-from-the-american-rescue-plan/

6. Worley, S., & Palmer, S. (2020, April 23). The CARES Act: Five Things That School and District Leaders Need to Know Now. https://www.wallacefoundation.org/news-and-media/blog/pages/the-cares-act.aspx?utm_id=go_cmp-827908937_adg-45169333809_ad-287202336443_kwd-375026528837_dev-c_ext-_prd-_mca-_sig-CjwKCAjwsJ6TBhAIEiwAfl4TWCRTYkqjdpVBSztGNcOhZXZogNX4MYACiOb-kXgxq3lcJQxw06ftSxoC0XcQAvD_BwE&utm_source=google&gclid=CjwKCAjwsJ6TBhAIEiwAfl4TWCRTYkqjdpVBSztGNcOhZXZogNX4MYACiOb-kXgxq3lcJQxw06ftSxoC0XcQAvD_BwE

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Social and Emotional Learning in the Classroom - Cultures of Dignity

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As educators, we know that school is a significant part of our students' social lives and where much of their emotional development takes place. We must help children learn how to interact with others and develop emotional intelligence to create a better learning environment for themselves and their peers.

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Dr. Sally Creel                     Sally.Creel@cobbk12.org                                  District Administrator STEM and Innovation Supervisor in Cobb County                                       Dr. Creel is an amazing resource. She is very knowledgeable about STEM and STEAM. She is always willing to listen to your ideas about STEM/STEAM and share her experiences and resources. 

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Dr. Sally Creel                     Sally.Creel@cobbk12.org                                  District Administrator STEM and Innovation Supervisor in Cobb County                                       Dr. Creel is an amazing resource. She is very knowledgeable about STEM and STEAM. She is always willing to listen to your ideas about STEM/STEAM and share her experiences and resources. 

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Stephanie Ruffner Stephanie.Ruffner@cobbk12.org                   Cooper Middle School STEM Academy Director Ms. Ruffner has been the STEM Academy director at Cooper Middle School for an extended amount of time. She went through the entire certification process with CCSD and the state. She and her team are currently preparing for recertification with the state. Cooper was recently certified by Cognia. She has a wealth of knowledge about STEM and the certification process.  

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Stephanie Ruffner Stephanie.Ruffner@cobbk12.org                   Cooper Middle School STEM Academy Director Ms. Ruffner has been the STEM Academy director at Cooper Middle School for an extended amount of time. She went through the entire certification process with CCSD and the state. She and her team are currently preparing for recertification with the state. Cooper was recently certified by Cognia. She has a wealth of knowledge about STEM and the certification process.  

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STEM GEMS     https://stemgemsbook.com/meet-our-gems/ This is a great resource to use to introduce careers in the STEM fields to the students...loaded with great images and descriptions. 

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STEM GEMS     https://stemgemsbook.com/meet-our-gems/ This is a great resource to use to introduce careers in the STEM fields to the students...loaded with great images and descriptions. 

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BrainPop                                         www.brainpop.com                                                Wow, what can’t I say about BrainPop!!! Engaging child-centered videos for science, math, grammar, social studies, etc..., quizzes, games, make a movie feature, etc...     

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BrainPop                                         www.brainpop.com                                                Wow, what can’t I say about BrainPop!!! Engaging child-centered videos for science, math, grammar, social studies, etc..., quizzes, games, make a movie feature, etc...     

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Mystery Science         https://mysteryscience.com                          Mystery Science is loaded with virtual excursions, interactive activities related to specific topics, games, science lessons, experiments, problem solving, etc...

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Mystery Science         https://mysteryscience.com                          Mystery Science is loaded with virtual excursions, interactive activities related to specific topics, games, science lessons, experiments, problem solving, etc...

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Cells Alive                                      www.cellsalive.com                                                  This is a fantastic website to use to introduce students to plant and animal cells, to extend the knowledge of students as it relates to plant and animal cells: interactive, self-check, student paced, variety of activities, engaging, and FUN!!    

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Cells Alive                                      www.cellsalive.com                                                  This is a fantastic website to use to introduce students to plant and animal cells, to extend the knowledge of students as it relates to plant and animal cells: interactive, self-check, student paced, variety of activities, engaging, and FUN!!    

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American Museum of Natural History https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/microbiology/ask-a-scientist-about-microbes                    This website is provided by the American Museum of Natural History. It is terrific for kids. The website is loaded with hands on activities, scientists answering questions about a variety of topics, any career that ends with –ology is found on this site, videos, engineering activities, etc...

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American Museum of Natural History https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/microbiology/ask-a-scientist-about-microbes                    This website is provided by the American Museum of Natural History. It is terrific for kids. The website is loaded with hands on activities, scientists answering questions about a variety of topics, any career that ends with –ology is found on this site, videos, engineering activities, etc...

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This simulation is a terrific resource that is beneficial in showing the students how atoms/molecules react when heat is increased or decreased .

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Matter matters!!! If you are looking for some great activities to teach your students all about matter, look no more. This website has experiments, hands on activities, and videos! You and your students are going to love this site. It will be your go to site for solidifying matter.

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By Amy Cowen on May 12, 2020 2:00 PM
Use these free hands-on STEM activities help teach students about states of matter.
Free STEM Activities to Teach about States of Matter

The following hands-on science activities from Science Buddies' library of STEM Activities for Kids can be used with students in or out of the classroom to explore states of matter science:

1. Colorful Patterns in Melting Ice: colorful science activity helps students visualize and explore changes from solid to liquid.

2. Go With the Flow: use the task of pouring from a full container to explore the behavior of fluids.

3. Homemade Slushies: explore changes from liquid to solid while mixing up a tasty treat.

4. How to Harvest Water from Fog: set up a device to capture fog and explore the change from gas (water vapor) to liquid (water).

5. Measure the Pressure: build a barometer to measure atmospheric pressure and explore how temperature affects gases.

6. Measure Up with a Homemade Thermometer: make a simple thermometer and explore how temperature affects liquids and gases.

7. Oobleck: A Recipe for a Mesmerizing Mixture: explore how a non-Newtonian fluid behaves as both solid and a liquid.

8. Why Soda Fizzes - Boyle's Law Demonstration: use air- and water-filled balloons to explore Boyle's law and the connection between gas volume and pressure.

9. How Do Melting Polar Ice Caps Affect Sea Levels?: explore the change from solid to liquid in the context of polar ice caps.

Get Inspired with STEM Videos

The following videos are from the activities mentioned above. Short videos like these are a great way for student to see what's involved in a project or activity before starting.

Explore More

Learn more about states of matter from our partners at ChemTalk.

Thematic Collections

Collections like this help educators find themed activities in a specific subject area or discover activities and lessons that meet a curriculum need. We hope these collections make it convenient for teachers to browse related lessons and activities. For other collections, see the Teaching Science Units and Thematic Collections lists. We encourage you to browse the complete STEM Activities for Kids and Lesson Plans areas, too. Filters are available to help you narrow your search.

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9 STEM Activities to Teach about States of Matter | Science Buddies Blog

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Nine free, hands-on STEM activities to learn about states of matter, including homemade thermometer and barometer, melting ice caps experiment, fog catcher, Oobleck, and more

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Building Background Information on Matter

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Building Background Information on Matter

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This website is a noteworthy website for building background information on matter, and it provides some epic experiments for the students to explore matter and have oodles of FUN!

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STATES OF MATTER FOR KIDS

What is matter? In science, matter refers to any substance that has mass and takes up space. Matter consists of tiny particles called atoms and it has different forms depending on how the atoms are arranged. This is what we call states of matter.

WHAT ARE THE THREE STATES OF MATTER?

The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas. Although a fourth state of matter exists, called plasma, it's not shown in any demonstrations.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE STATES OF MATTER?

Solid: A solid has tightly packed particles in a specific pattern, which are not able to move about. You will notice a solid keeps its own shape. Ice or frozen water is an example of a solid.

Liquid: In a liquid, the particles have some space between them with no pattern and so they are not in a fixed position. A liquid has no distinct shape of its own but will take the shape of a container that it is put into. Water is an example of a liquid.

Gas: In a gas the particles move freely from one another. You can also say they vibrate! Gas particles spread out to take the shape of the container they are put in. Steam or water vapor is an example of a gas.
WATCH THE STATES OF MATTER VIDEO!
CHANGES OF STATES OF MATTER

When matter changes from one state to another it's called a phase change. Phase changes are examples of a physical change. Learn more about physical changes here.

Some examples of phase changes are melting (changing from a solid to a liquid), freezing (changing from a liquid to a solid), evaporation (changing from a liquid to a gas), and condensation (changing from a gas to a liquid).

Does one phase take more energy than another? The change to gas takes up the most energy because in order to do so the bonds between the particles have to completely separate.

The bonds in a solid only have to loosen up a bit to change phase such as a solid ice cube changing to liquid water.

Check out our solid liquid gas experiment for an easy way to demonstrate phase change for kids.

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Learn about states of matter and phase changes with these fun and easy states of matter experiments for kids.

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Preethi Titu                                                            Assistant Professor of Science Education Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education                                                                      585 Cobb Ave NW                                                  Room 3117, MD 0121                                     Kennesaw, GA 30144                                                    p: 470-578-6119                                                             e: ptitu@kennesaw.edu                                                                                                                                             Dr. Titu  has been my educational partner for my PBL. Her guidance and support and the resources she has provided have been priceless. She gave freely of her time and knowledge to assist me with planning and executing my PBL unit on matter. I hope our partnership continues to grow over the years.           

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Preethi Titu                                                            Assistant Professor of Science Education Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education                                                                      585 Cobb Ave NW                                                  Room 3117, MD 0121                                     Kennesaw, GA 30144                                                    p: 470-578-6119                                                             e: ptitu@kennesaw.edu                                                                                                                                             Dr. Titu  has been my educational partner for my PBL. Her guidance and support and the resources she has provided have been priceless. She gave freely of her time and knowledge to assist me with planning and executing my PBL unit on matter. I hope our partnership continues to grow over the years.           

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Rader's BIOLOGY 4 KIDS.COM - Biology basics for everyone!

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Rader's BIOLOGY 4 KIDS.COM - Biology basics for everyone!

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Biology 4 Kids is a kid centered website that is an informational site for kids that teaches them all about biology in kid friendly terms with videos and illustrations that bring biology to life in a way that kids can grasp the concepts. The site has  a wealth of knowledge.

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Isaiah and Joshua are identical twins; they are impacting the field of chemistry in profound ways. Isaiah and Joshua were students at Southern Polytechnic in Marietta, GA and graduated with degrees in chemistry as top students.

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Who doesn't love a great field trip? A virtual field trip is the 2nd best trip. Education World has worked really hard to be able to bring the excursion to you when things out of your control prevent you from actually going on the excursion. The virtual trips are thought provoking, informative, captivating, and age appropriate.

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EducationWorld is pleased to present this article contributed by Kristin Marino, who writes for Online-Education.net on a variety of education topics, including modern online learning opportunities such as virtual field trips.

Some of the most basic-and best-science lessons are learned hands-on, in the classroom or home school environment. What science student wouldn't benefit from a visit to a natural history museum or aquarium? Field trips can enhance a lesson plan for any subject, but some of the biggest field trips aren't available to many students.

Most teachers would agree that being there is the best thing, but there's also plenty to be gained from implementing fun and informational online science lessons. These virtual field trips have two major advantages over in-person visits-no crowds, and no cost!

While educational scientific Web sites abound, the sites below make great virtual field trips because of the interactive, immersive experiences they can offer any student at any level.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
If you're not fortunate enough to make the trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in person, this virtual tour might be the next best thing. Follow the arrows and use your computer mouse to "walk" through the various areas of the museum. Click on the camera icons located on displays throughout the museum for an up-close look at display items, and use the mouse to zoom in on text and other fine details. A 350-degree view allows visitors to explore the majestic rotunda space, which features a massive taxidermy elephant with trunk raised, ears fanned and long tusks on display.

From the rotunda, head off into any of the bottom floor areas, including mammal hall, ocean hall, African cultures, ice age and the fascinating human origins. A navigation system enables visitors to travel between all three floors of the museum. The second floor offers a look at the bones exhibit, Egyptian mummies, insects and more. Those so inclined can visit the ground level with the cafe and the museum store. The bonus of visiting online is that one can even access past exhibits.

App download: The MEanderthal app lets visitors see what they might have looked like as early humans.

Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Take a trip to the National Zoo, which is home to 2,000 animals of nearly 400 different species. This virtual field trip allows visitors to see many of the inhabitants of the zoo live, in real time. Via live webcam, view the Amazon River cam, the Asian small-clawed otter cam, the cheetah cam, the clouded leopards cam, the clouded leopard cub cam, the fishing cats cam, the flamingo cam, the golden lion tamarin cam, the gorilla cam, the kiwi cam, the lion cam, the naked mole rat cam, the octopus cam, the orangutan cam, the red panda cub cam, the sloth bear cam, the tiger cam, and the most popular of them all, the panda cam.

Along with the opportunity to view the animals in their live habitats, visitors can also access fact sheets and photo galleries on the animals. Students can check out areas of the site dedicated to various areas of the zoo, such as the African Savanna and Asia Trail, where they can learn about the animals' natural habitats and see what new and exciting things are happening in the different areas of the zoo.

App download: A mobile app allows those on the go to view their favorite animals via webcam every day of the week.

Solar System
Take a trip through space, where all the stars and planets have been conveniently labeled and where visitors can observe several planets and stars up close using Solar System Scope. Users can use a mouse to turn the planets around 360-degrees and hover over major stars in the solar system to learn more about them, including their names and how far they are from Earth. Various view selections allow students to see the system in heliocentric, planetary and panoramic views. A telescopic view lets users see the sky as it would look from Earth.

App download: The Star Walk stargazing app allows one to point a mobile device to the sky and identify stars, planets and constellations.

Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography UC San Diego
Learn about marine life by "walking" around the actual Birch Aquarium using a computer mouse to follow the arrows. A zoom-in feature allows visitors to view sea life and accompanying text up close. It's the next best thing to pressing one's nose up against the glass. What's outside at this aquarium is nearly as interesting as what's inside; majestic whale sculptures grace the front entrance. Meander around the aquarium and use the zoom feature to view the sculptures more closely than would be possible during an in-person visit.

App download: Learn more about some of the marine life housed at the aquarium with the California tide pools app.

Virtual Human Body
Take the ultimate virtual science field trip-inside the human body. The Virtual Body covers all the major body systems, including the brain, the skeleton, the heart and the digestive tract, with text and narration in both English and Spanish. On this virtual field trip, visitors learn about the inner workings of the human body and can engage in several interactive activities such as "Build a Skeleton" and "Organize your Organs." They can see how a heart works and how it looks when it's beating at different rates, and what the brain looks like from all sides. Why do we get headaches and goose bumps, and how does our body remember to breathe? Students can find the answer to these questions and more at the Virtual Human Body tour.

App download: Speed Anatomy challenges users to see how quickly they can identify various internal organs, bones and other parts of the anatomy.

Education World®
Copyright © 2012 Education World

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Virtual Field Trips: Interactive Science Lesson Ideas | Education World

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EducationWorld is pleased to present this article contributed by Kristin Marino, who writes for Online-Education.net on a variety of education topics, including modern online learning opportunities such as virtual field trips. Some of the most basic-and best-science lessons are learned hands-on, in the classroom or home school environment.

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Generation Genius is truly one of my favorite websites. It is age appropriate, interactive, colorful, engaging, relatable, informative, diverse, and thought provoking.  It is a beneficial resource for students and parents. The site breaks the concepts down so that the concepts are easier to understand.

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Physical and Chemical Changes | Science Lesson For Kids | Grades 3-5

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We experience physical and chemical changes every day, but what's the difference? Watch our physical vs. chemical changes video for kids in 3rd-5th grade!

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Kahoot!  Kahoot is an interactive site that allows the students to review concepts in a fun way while competing against their classmates.

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Electricity and magnetism - Details - Kahoot!

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Join a game of kahoot here. Kahoot! is a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn - any subject, in any language, on any device, for all ages!