In my most recent middle school STEAM class, we were working on bridge building. There were some absences, so it was a small class, but here they are showing off their final products, just before testing commenced. I actually took this photo for the homeschool yearbook, so it’s particularly unfortunate that not everyone was present, … More Middle School STEAM: Straw Bridges
In recent class, I introduced my students to the concept of pollination syndromes, partly as a way of exploring an ecological concept and partly as a way of seeing an example of how science actually works. We started by reading a rather nice article on the topic. This particular class is engaged and enthusiastic, so … More High School Biology: Pollination Syndromes
Several classes ago, I introduced a Graham cracker protection unit to my middle school STEAM class. This initial activity was a Graham cracker drop – i.e., just like an egg drop, but 1000% less messy. After the first Graham cracker drop we had a class discussion about why some devices were more effective than others and … More Middle School STEAM: Technical Drawing
As part of our earthquake unit, I had my Earth science classes try to build “earthquake” resistant structures out of toothpicks and masking tape. Different groups had different substrates to build in – dry sand, wet sand, or dough – to model the effects of different types of ground on building stability during earthquakes. From … More Regents Earth Science: Engineering Challenge
One of the things I love about teaching in general, and teaching science in particular, is watching kids just sort of lose it when they make an exciting discovery. That’s been happening quite a bit recently in my elementary science class. (Excited squeals? Check. Jumping up and down? Check. Begging to take test strips home … More Elementary Science: Chemical Testing
Yesterday, my elementary class made a model starch molecule as part of their unit on food chemistry. The model starch molecule is the pink construction paper chain that you see the children holding here. The children loved creating this model molecule – they were thrilled by the idea that starch could simultaneously be a large … More Elementary Science: Modeling Molecules
My middle school STEAM class just completed the most dramatic phase of their paper chair project- building for strength. As you can see, it went well. Building and testing is exiting and extremely fun, but it has the potential to be chaotic. Emotions run high, there are dramatic structural failures, and startling successes. Less mature … More Middle School STEAM: Paper Chairs
My middle school STEAM class did a short project exploring mathematical patterns found in Mobius strips recently. For homework I asked the students to make an art piece using a Mobius strip. Some of the results were rather nice. Unfortunately, the two best pieces photographed too poorly for me to post. One was a silver … More Middle School STEAM: Mobius Strip Art
I recently asked the students in one of my biology classes to create illustrations showing the basics of how the immune system works. I particularly like this cartoon: It’s both visually sophisticated and uncluttered. The student created it at the beginning of our study of the immune system; although it doesn’t go into tremendous detail, … More Student Work: Immunity Cartoon
Most organelles are far too small and colorless to see with student microscopes and they’re very difficult to study even with professional equipment. As a practical matter, high school students can’t do many direct experiments with organelles. However, it is important for them to have a solid understanding of the structure and function of the … More High School Biology: Modelling Organelles
Ms. Mathisen's Science Class 