Over twenty years teaching, developing lessons and conducting professional development - coupled with fiction and film writing - is who I am. Family, education and writing define what I love.
Over twenty years teaching, developing lessons and conducting professional development - coupled with fiction and film writing - is who I am. Family, education and writing define what I love.
This is a STEAM unit for middle school science that contains template pages for a "Save the Cacao Plant (NGSS LS3.A, 3.B, 2-4), an engineering design process to invent a candy bar and an art project to create a candy wrapper based on the science of color in marketing.
This STEAM unit contains templates for three distinct, integrated projects. The first is science - where students will use the NGSS scientific method to read research (two pages included as well as vetted links to more research) and work to save chocolate from extinction. There is also a PowerPoint to help demonstrate how the scientific method process works - with differentiated student templates for students to follow along.
In the second section, students are engineers and their task is to use the engineering design process to invent a candy bar.
In the last project, students use the psychology of color to create a candy bar wrapper. This section contains a PowerPoint on the Psychology of Color.
All three projects/labs can be done individually or in groups. This is an engaging way to teach NGSS - as it uses topics students can relate to.
• NGSS Save the Cacao Plant - Middle School Standards LS3.A, LS3.B, developing and using models, LS2.4.
• NGSS Engineering: Middle School ET-S1.1 and ET-S1.2
• National Art Standards - Anchor Standard - 2.3.7A for middle school
The student pages are template based and include a lesson on the scientific method NGSS-style.
This packet contains:
• 41-page handbook with teacher pages
• A ten-page PowerPoint on the NGSS scientific method
• A 20-page PowerPoint on “The Science of Color”
• Plus, various links to other research sites
This is a 37-page Project-Based Learning Unit were student work cooperatively and independently to create their own government. This unit fosters 21st Century Learning Skills, is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and culminates in students deciding on a classroom government structure.
In this unit students will learn
The Basic Forms of Government
How to Research and Create a Video
How to Storyboard
How to Discern Creditable Information from the Internet
Research and Inquiry Skills
Writing Process Skills
How to think critically
Technology Skills
Cooperation
Communication
Table of Contents
Project Explanation “The Ruling Class Project” page 4
“Who Rules” Student Worksheet page 5
“Before You Begin” Browsing the Web Worksheet pages 6-7
“Where are They?” Internet Search Practice Sheet on Various Governments – Then and Now pages 8—11
“Types of Government” Worksheet with explanations on Autocracy, Democracy,
Theocracy, Oligarchy, Totalitarian, Dictatorship and Anarchy pages 12-14
Student Reference and Internet Resources Page page 15
“Our Classroom Government” Worksheet page 16
Create a Public Service Announcement Standards and Student Outcome Page page 17
PSA Checklist and Student/Teacher Monitoring Notes page 18
“My Classroom Government Planning Sheet” Worksheet page 19
“Research Template” and Fact Sheet Citation Page page 20
Public Service Announcement Script Outline Page 21
Script or Screenplay Writing 101 – A Quick and Dirty Guide to a Screenplay Page 22-23
Storyboard Information Sheet that Can Be Used as a Close Reading Assignment Page 24
“Storyboard Template” – Copy Multiple for Each Student Page 25
“Now What?” Instructions on What to Do Next Page 26
“Was I Convinced” Peer PSA Video Watching Review – Multiple for Each Student Page 27
“Name That Government Type” Group Quiz Page 28
“PSA Self-Reflection Sheet” Page 29
Answer Sheets Page 30-37
This bundle includes to of my non-fiction Common Core aligned readings and primary source Document Pamphlet series Interactive Workbooks -- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. They are designed to help students read for information and think critically while forming their own ideas about why history happened.
Students and adults alike will discover history by looking at artifacts constructed by the very people who shaped the United States of America. Perfect for any classroom, from Fifth Grade to college, this series engages readers and prompts them to think critically and divergently by analyzing and synthesizing information, questioning and reflecting…all to gain a deeper understanding of how the U.S was formed and how policy decisions were derived. In this edition, students discover the intelligent and pervasive John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
As a bonus -- the Project Based Learning "Choose Your Own Government Structure" is also attached.