Category Archives: Creativity

Writing Science Stories

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I love the idea of digital story telling!  Although I don’t teach language arts, I love a good story as much as anyone else and there is nothing better to get kids fired up about their learning than letting them create stories.  The stories we made in class today weren’t actually written but drawn on paper and the students talked and shared while they drew.  They had to include the seven forms of energy in a super hero style story.  First they created their hero and gave them a special weekness to make them more interesting and likeable!  Next they drew a disaster for the hero to face.  They filled in the rest with the hero’s adventure and finally they helped their hero save the world by restoring energy to the people!  Hurray!

We used “Really Big Super Fun Science Paper” otherwise known as newsprint and began with some notes in one corner of the paper to be sure everyone had the background knowledge.  I like the large paper because the kids aren’t afraid to mess up and they seem to try to fill up as much of the paper as they can.  Think big!  We all love when our students are engaged in what they are learning and I was really happy to hear the students chatting while using the vocabulary from our unit.  While it is difficult to write and hold a conversation, the students today had no problem talking and drawing at the same time.  Everyone was relaxed and enjoyed themselves.  I’m hoping that they will remember their own stories and will have a positive attitude about the next lessons that look more deeply into the seven forms of energy.

The Flip Video cameras made it easy to record what the students were doing and everyone (almost) wanted to tell their story to the camera!  It added an element of fun to the project and the students enjoyed sharing what they were learning.

A Team Effort

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The lab this week was a real team effort.  Period 1 class introduced us to the “crime”, period 2 began making observations, and period 3 recorded a heating curve of the “mystery drink” that sent poor Cody (only acting) to the hospital!  Today, period 1 identified the poison as Isopropyl Alcohol, period 2 used fractional distillation to isolate the compound, and period 4 put the rest of the pieces together by testing the density and flammability of the liquid.  Everyone collaborated on the movie that documents our project.  We had the help of directors, script writers, narrators, artists, technicians, computer helpers, and even the music specialist!  Watch the movie here!

 What science did we put to use for this project?  Let’s hear what you learned…

At Home with Algebra

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My savvy students feel right at home with Algebra.  They love Algebra so much that they started emailing me pictures from home that showed the concept of linear equations in their stair cases, a decorative plate, a tire iron, and even in a mounted deer. 

Ok, in actuality the students were taking part in a photo contest.  Their submissions were required to depict linear equations in common places at home.  If you’re not sure what linear equations are, you can read the notes that the students added to their pictures.  The winner will be announced later in the week.  I entered the contest myself so I cannot be a judge!  View the pictures and come back here to comment on your favorites!

I hope you’re happy…

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The energy projects are in and wow…I have to say I’m impressed.  Everyone thought my ban on all premade graphics was too extreme but Team 8 Blue came through with the most amazing homemade graphics I’ve ever seen!   I hope you can visit our wiki and view some of these projects.  Such a great assortment!  Now…I hope you’re happy with how your project turned out.  I am!

What’s On The Test?

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What things should be on the test?  I just watched a funny video that made fun of all the testing we do in schools.  Why do we have to take tests anyway?  I guess that schools test because students need to be held accountable for their learning.  Here’s how I really know if students are learning, but it’s not on the test! 

When kids are really learning they are talking about the subject they are studying.  They are asking really interesting questions that I don’t know the answers to but I can’t wait to research!  Students who are learning are thinking of ways to use the information they collect in class and are creating interesting projects.  They are finding ways to apply their new understanding to their own lives and making connections to their interests outside of school.  Students who are really learning aren’t bored, they’re curious and creative!  But that’s not on the test.   And it’s not always happening in class either. 

How do we encourage real learning in our classrooms?   I don’t know the whole answer but I can’t wait to research the subject!  I have to be accountable for my learning along with the rest of the class!  Are we all doing what it takes to be really learning?  Maybe we need to improve the test!

 

Just Imagine It!

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I couldn’t believe it when I read the t-shirt from TSA that said “Just Imagine It!”  Imagination has been a topic that I have been contemplating for the past month or so.   Sometimes when I’m trying to figure something out, messages come to me from unlikely places like a t-shirt!

I also got the message from hearing Dr. Paul Sereno talk about his adventures as a paleontologist.  Here is a link to his talk.  http://www.davinci-center.org/rel032608.html  He said that if you didn’t use your imagination when looking at the bones you found, then you might miss out on a really important discovery.  You have to see the images on Dr. Sereno’s image gallery. 

Some people say that if you can’t imagine yourself reaching your goals, then you can’t possibly reach them.  I find that as long as I’m imagining a goal, opportunities come my way (just not always the one I was imagining!)

Forever Young

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This is a picture of Cecil, a garter snake that is living under a plant in my garden.  Isn’t he cute?

I’ve been reading a lot lately about the concept that many of the skills students need to be successful adults are actually developed when we are children.  Playing make-believe, building with legos, blocks and construction sets, and even playing games like Connect Four are activities that build self control, creativity, problem-solving, and, believe it or not, algebraic reasoning skills! 

I need to read more on this topic but here is what I think.  If we continue to play in life, we will continue to develop these important skills.  At this point in our lives, however, play looks a little different.  We can take part in creative and artistic activities, use our imaginations to work our way out of problems, and have a competitive attitude towards difficult tasks.  Of course, we can play games as well.  Sports, board games, and even some video games (I think) give us practice in anticipating the actions and reactions of other people and remind us that it is fun to be challenged.  I hope I can find some articles that show that this is really the case.

Why do you do that?

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Scientists learned about atoms through indirect observation.   We studied objects hidden under boxes by rolling a marble and observing the path it took.  It wasn’t as easy as it sounds!

 I have been watching Josh work on his TSA project for the past few days.   When testing was finished, he got out his paper and worked on the essay.  TSA members work on projects that interest them and enter their work in a contest with other students from across the state.  I have recently been working on a similar type of endeavor, a grant application.   Even though he was working hard on his project, Josh asked me why I continue working on my grant project.  I could have asked him the same question! 

From time to time I get up the nerve to attempt another grant application.  Teachers complete applications in order to “win” a sum of money for use in our classrooms.  Sometimes I get the grant, but sometimes I am rejected and … no money for my class:(  I always feel lousy when I am not successful!

Why do you think people are motivated by competition?  Sure, we feel good when we win, but you would think that the disappointment of failure would prevent us from trying again.  Maybe I like the competition more than I dislike the ocassional failure.  Homer Simpson once said, “Trying is the first step towards failure.”  🙂  Who knows!  Keep on writing, Josh.  You were my inspiration for the Da Vinci Science Center grant!  I know you’ll do great at TSA! 

p.s.  Someone has to teach me some I.M. things so I have more than just 🙂 and 🙁  

(I’m so boring!)

The Risk

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Jessa in period 4 Science created this diagram for her energy project rather than copying a picture from another website.  I applaud her creativity and self reliance!

 

The word “risk” came up twice today.  In math class we said that exponents have more rules than Risk – the game of world domination.   And then in science class we talked about the risk scientists take in thinking creatively.  When John Dalton first put out his theory of atoms, he took a great risk and was misunderstood by his peers. 

Sometimes when people  are creative they open themselves up for criticism and scrutiny.  I hope we are strong enough to take the risk involved in being creative.  I know that I am only ever truly happy when I am being creative.  I enjoy creating fun lessons for the kids at school, creating things for my home like curtains or pillows for the couch, and even creating through writing like this blog. 

How are you creative?  Do you ever find that you are criticized when you think or act creatively?  You can always find support from other people who think creatively like yourself.  Tell us about a time when you were especially creative or were criticized for thinking creatively.