Module 6

1.  I am going to implement Marzano's daily, opportunistic and extended strategies I learned from, the book The Highly Engaged Classroom!

2. I had heard about and used RubiStar when doing my undergrad but had since forgotten about it.  I can't remember who it was that brought this back to my attention but it was one of you and I am so grateful!  Rubrics are so important for providing specific feedback and clear expectations.

3. Now that I know how to blog I am going to create a class blog that my students will be able to use.

4. This course has also made it easier to utilize the partners in our community.  I am going to team up with Sanitation District 1 to teach my students about water pollution and prevention methods.

5. My students are definitely going to do a service learning project this year.  This is something I have been interested in but didn't know a lot about before this class.  Now I already have a plan and thanks to our blogs I have lots of ideas for other service learning projects!

Module 5

The title of my unit is Energy Transformations and it is designed for my fourth grade science class.  

At the end of the three to four week unit the students will be able to do the following:

·      I can explain the  importance of plants getting their energy from the sun to produce their own food.

·      I can explain, analyze patterns and model the transfer of energy in the food chain/web.

·      I can explain the difference between producers, consumers and decomposers as part of a food chain/web.

·      I can explain the difference between a carnivore, herbivore and an omnivore as part of a food chain/web.

·      I can demonstrate open and closed circuits using batteries, bulbs and wires.

·      I can demonstrate series and parallel circuits using batteries, bulbs and wires.

·      I can analyze a variety of electrical circuits in order to predict changes to the systems.

·      I can describe how electricity can produce light, heat and sound.

·      I can design and conduct investigations to compare properties of conducting and non-conducting materials using the scientific method.  

This unit utilizes a variety of teaching and assessment strategies, as well as technology.  Students will learn about the different types of  energy and that the sun is a source of energy for life on earth. Students will also learn how energy is transferred, how light moves and interacts with different materials.

Students will explore current electricity and learn about circuits. 

The unit will culminate with a Duke Energy representative speaking to students about electricity and how it is used in our homes. 

Students will participate in a  Service Learning Project in which they will launch school wide recycling program and will be introduce to our school’s Energy Team.

Module 4

Module 4:

Locating and Partnering with Co-Teachers Plan

Plan Elements:

1-    Name the professional educator you plan to partner with.  Include the following information:

a.     Ashley Olwine

b.     Environmental Education Program Manager

c.     1045 Eaton Drive, Fort Wright, KY 41017  (859) 547-1657 aolwine@sd1.org

2-   Describe the plan you have made with this person.

3-   How will you bring what they have to offer to your students?

a.     I will teach an environmental unit provided by the Sanitation District.  The program provides teachers with a Unit Guide, which contains five detailed lesson plans.  They will also provided each student with a workbook and the necessary materials for use in class.  The unit consists of 5 hands on lessons about managing storm water.  Lesson one, “Would You Swim Here?” introduces students to water pollution and pollutants.  In the next lesson students will learn about Best Management Practices.  This will be followed by a lesson on map skills and the concept of connecting the use of land to the quality of water.  Lesson four will provide students with an opportunity to observe the effects of erosion.   Through the final lesson students will understand the importance of wetlands.  Sanitation District 1 will also provide my students with a field trip to their Public Service Park with free transportation via TANK.

b.     The Environmental Unit has lessons developed for use with SMART board technology.  These lessons are available on the Sanitation District’s website. http://www.sd1.org/Education/Storm_Water_Education.aspx

4-   What are the school disciplines and specific national, state, district or school standards that it will address?

a.     The lessons in this unit apply to standards across grade levels 3-5.  The core content addressed in each lesson is provided in the teachers' Environmental Unit Guide.  Because I teach fourth grade I will focus on the following content:

SC-04-4.7.2

SC-04-4.7.1

SC-04-2.3.2

SC-04-4.7.1

5-   How will you assess what your students have learned?  

The Environmental Unit includes pre and post assessments in the student workbooks.  Each lesson has an open response question that can be used as formative assessment.