DonorsChoose Link Up

If you're looking for a way to show your gratitude this holiday season, go check out this blog post.   Teachers have linked up their DonorsChoose projects. I've chosen 6 projects to help out but there were 27 great projects linked up that could all use some support. Help spread the word. Donating to classrooms through DonorsChoose is a great way to get those last minute tax deductions before the end of the year.

While you're there you can also check out the other posts that are packed with freebies and ideas.
Some of the newest items are the Bowling Ball Basics unit with fun characters like Murray the Maintenance Man, 5 E posters, Lesson Plan Templates, and lots more.

Boot Camp with Steve Spangler

You may have seen a recent post about the $50 gift certificates I gave 4 beginning teachers for Steve Spangler materials.  Surprising these teachers with the chance to start their teaching career with some great science resources was a highlight of my summer! As we head into the school year I have great news for you...

If you teach science in North Carolina or any neighboring state, you do NOT want to miss this!  Steve Spangler is holding a Science Boot Camp in Greensboro, NC on October 3, 2012.  If you don't know who he is, check out some of his videos on the  Sick Science Youtube Channel. Steve is an outstanding teacher of teachers. He will definitely get you energized about teaching science.

In July 2011, I was fortunate to attend Steve's 3 day Science in the Rockies event.
If you want to know what you can expect from a day with Steve,  read my blog posts.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

As soon as I found out Steve was coming to NC, I registered.  What a deal! A day with Steve for $199. How about a better deal?  That's right... let's all take $30 off the registration.  Just use this code when you register: BC20135  Don't wait too long. Steve's workshops fill up quickly!  Ready to find out more or register?  Click here! If you're planning to go, I'd love to meet up with you there.  Leave me a comment and we'll try to arrange a meet up the night before or something.

Going Buggy

I got this email today and thought there might be some of my followers who would want to know about it.  If you teach insects, check into this.  I know I plan on checking it out!

Hello, 

I wanted to clue everyone in on an opportunity that I don't think many people know about. The Entomological Foundation is a non-profit that does insect education and outreach programs for K-12 students. Their website hosts some educational materials like lesson plans and activities for students. These "science projects" that teachers can do with their students are submitted by educators on an annual contest. Winners (there are always 5-10) each receive $100! I really feel that insect education is fascinating and holds great appeal to many students, but that many times insect biology gets shuffled to the back.  I know many of you have great insect activities that could be shared! Also, the foundation website is a good resource even if you don't participate. 

Details for the competition can be found at: 

http://www.entfdn.org/projectcontest.php

Examples of winning projects can be found at: 

http://www.entfdn.org/scienceprojects.php

Saturday Science - NC Science Festival

In case you haven't heard, we are smack in the middle of the North Carolina Science Festival.

 "The North Carolina Science Festival is a multi-day celebration showcasing science and technology. The Festival highlights the educational, cultural and financial impact of science in our state. Through hands-on activities, science talks, lab tours, nature experiences, exhibits and performances, the Festival engages a wide range of public audiences while inspiring future generations."

There is still plenty of time left to join in all the great activities!  Check out the calendar.

Science Saturday - Tie Dye with a Twist

Last summer, I was lucky enough to spend 3 days with a very gifted science educator... Steve Spangler.
If you don't know who he is, you don't know what you've been missing!
Anyway, while I was participating in Science in the Rockies 2011, I learned that you don't have to get messy to tie dye a t-shirt.  Tie dying is one of those things that I think you really love to do or you avoid because you're afraid of it.  In my case, I avoided it like the plague.  That is until last summer.  Not only did I learn you could do it without the mess and hassle of rubberbands and buckets of dye but you can control the designs to create beautiful works of art!  That is if you're artistic.

Before I go any further, you may be thinking: "How is this science?"  It is the science of color.

Here's what you need:
a t-shirt (pre-washed)
Sharpie ™ markers
rubbing alcohol
pipettes
rubberbands
plastic cups

Here's what you do:
Choose a place to begin your design on the t-shirt.  Place a plastic cup under the cloth and use a rubberband to hold it in place. Using Sharpie ™ markers, make dots to create an outline of your design.  (Keep in mind the fact that the colors will run.)
Next use a pipette to drop rubbing alcohol in the center of the design.  This will cause the colors to run and blend. Give it a few minutes to dry out and then you can move the cup to a new location.  It is possible to set up more than one design area at a time if you want to work more quickly.

When you're finished designing your t-shirt, throw it in the dryer to "set" the colors.  Take a look at our first attempts.

By the way, Friday was the kick-off for the NC Science Festival.  There will be some really cool and mostly Free things going on across North Carolina from now until April 29th.  If you're in the area, check them out!

S.T.E.M.

So I was thinking that I should be more systematic about blogging.  I figured that I've got some followers who probably wish they were hearing from me more often.  I don't like to post for the sake of posting.  I want to have something valuable to share, so I've been giving this a lot of thought.  Here's what I came up with.
I have allowed myself to get boxed in by the name I chose.  Just because I am "the Teched Out Teacher" doesn't mean that I can't share other things.  For the next month, I am going to try posting

according to the acronym STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

You can look forward to Saturday Science, Technology Thursday, Everyday Engineering, and Monday Mathematics.  While 3 of these subject areas have specific days of the week, engineering is special in that it will appear on random days.

If this goes well, I will continue the pattern.  Since I teach in a STEM lab setting, I hope to have plenty of ideas to share.  Even so, I know that collaborating with others is much more powerful.  That is why I thought there might be others who would want to share their ideas too.  In an effort to build a more collaborative blog, I will begin offering Team Up Tuesday.  Every Tuesday, you will be able to join in the fun of sharing ideas and TpT products here on my blog.  If we all Team Up, everyone can benefit.

Now you know what to look for.  Make sure you stop by often to see what's new.

Spring Ahead

This weekend, we'll observe Daylight Savings Time by moving our clocks ahead.  For me this is usually the true signal of spring.  We've had unseasonably warm weather over the last month here in NC.  In some ways it feels like spring came earlier than usual.

Tonight I welcome spring with a cool app that surfaced in my email.  It is called iNaturalist.
I was hooked right away. Let me explain why.

Leapin' Leprachauns!

Crazy Leprachauns already visited my store. They have played Leap Year tricks on all of my prices so that the final prices all end in 29 cents. You might not think so when you first look at them but they marked my prices down 20% and then they marked them down another 10% when they messed around with TpT's pricing too. That means you're getting 28% off everything in my store and the final prices all end in 29 cents. What a funny little trick, but as with all magic it won't last forever. Once leap day is over I'm certain the magic will wear off and everything will go back to normal. Have fun shopping! http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Techedoutteacher

Sneak Peek

 I'm working on a techie update to my I have, Who has vocabulary games. 

It looks something like this.

That's right.  I'm building a QR code enabled I have, Who has game.

If you want a sneak peek, visit my page https://www.facebook.com/thetechedoutteacher

Find my post for the private sneak peek group.

Click like.
Wait for an invitation.
Then visit the private group and claim your file.
What could be easier?

Hope you enjoy it!

Touch it Learn it

Everyone has their own personal preferences for learning, but it certainly seems that learning by touching is highly effective.  Kinesthetic learners learn through movement.  Touch fits into this category.  If you have technology that is touch sensitive, you are in a position to engage students in their learning kinesthetically.  All too often the Smart Board is becoming nothing more than a very expensive projector screen. I am seeing lessons pop up all over the web that claim to offer interactivity for students when they are nothing more than a powerpoint slide show.  Just because it is being projected on a Smart Board does not mean the students are interacting with it in some new way.  In fact, they are often sitting in their seats watching text and pictures fly in and out while they take notes on a sheet of paper.  Is that really interactive?
I think not.  That is why I am developing a series of Touch it Learn it Interactive Mini-lessons for the Smart Board.  These lessons have elements built in that engage students in touching objects on the board and moving them around as they develop understanding of a topic.  The first one is complete and is being offered free on Teachers Pay Teachers.  In order to meet the typical requirements of having some type of student work to show for their learning, I have also included a Venn Diagram file to go with it.  The topic of this first mini-lesson is Bodies of Water.  Students will be able to identify bodies of water as either freshwater or saltwater. I hope you and your students will benefit from my mini-lessons.  There are many more coming soon.  If you haven't already subscribed to my blog, my facebook page, or my store please do that so you won't miss out when I add more of the Touch it Learn it Mini-lessons.

Polar Bears International Webcast

I sure wish I had thought to post this sooner.  Edmodo and Polar Bears International teamed up this week on a series of webcasts from the sub-arctic. Participating in a live webcast with real scientists is a great way to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).  If your classes study animals, habitats, ecosystems, climate, or human impact on the planet these webcasts are a great resource.  Although they have already taken place, the archives can be found on their website. Tundra Connections Archive  They also have a really great game that can be played to reinforce the challenges facing the Polar Bears in the Hudson Bay/Churchill area.  It is called Polar Bear Trek.

If you missed the live webcasts and want to participate live, mark your calendar for next fall right about this same time.  This is an annual event. 

Combining Tech Tools

I've posted in the past about using Prezi and Wordle.  I'm finally getting around to sharing an idea I have had about combining a variety of tech tools.  This "mash up" is going to get a test run this week in my science classroom.  We're beginning a new unit about Weather and Climate.  Understanding the water cycle is a key component of this unit as well as our landforms, biomes, and ecosystems units.  I decided to combine some things together in a Prezi and this is the initial result. Water Cycle Introduction.

Free Webinar Opportunity

I am going to host a webinar tomorrow night. Please consider joining me to chat about teaching elementary science.

Let the Cyber Search Begin!

Darn... you just missed Cyber Search Monday.  What a bummer.  Fortunately, the links to our blogs/websites are still linked up below.  If you want to take a look around and purchase the items you missed, please do.  Don't get left out again.  Subscribe to my blog and you will be sure to read about the next great event. Thanks for stopping by.

While it is only Sunday here in the Eastern US, it is definitely Monday halfway around the world so...  Cyber Monday has officially begun.  Don't worry, it won't end until the very last time zone rings in at midnight Aug. 8th.   Whether you're just getting started or I am the last stop on your treasure hunt, be sure to grab your copy of my 5 E's Unit Plan - Electricity - It's Elementary.

This file normally sells for $5.00 on my Teachers Pay Teachers Store,
but today it can be downloaded for FREE right here.


This unit is great for anyone who teaches about electricity.  It can be used to enhance an existing curriculum and/or science kit or used as a stand-alone.  Don't have a kit with supplies?  Don't worry.  This unit includes ideas for re-purposing common household items or using the typical kits you may already have.  Students love to learn using my simulations and I have found that simulations build student interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers.

Just click on the file menu in the google docs window below and choose download to get it  right now.

If you like this item, please consider visiting my store and sharing a link to my blog with others, but hurry ... This PDF is only active for 1 day!  You could also leave a comment below.

Once you've picked up my freebie, choose another website on the list and hop over there to check things out. Look for the blue CyberSearch buddy button to find more freebies. There are over $85 worth of materials you can snag.  Bookmark any pages you like so you can come back and check them out later!  You never know what great tips and information we'll share next.

Cyber Search Showcase Sellers and Websites

• Laura Candler Teaching Resources

• Lisa Frase Effective Teaching Solutions

• Rachel Lynette Minds in Bloom

• Ashleigh Swinford Education Journey

• Charity Preston The Organized Classroom Blog

• Jennifer Runde Runde's Room

• Wise Guys Teaching Activities, Lesson Plans, and Units

• Karla Banks Life in Special Education

• Heather Kaiser The Teched Out Teacher

• Rosshalde Pak Education Shortlist

•  Nyla Phillips-Martin  Nyla's Crafty Teaching  

• Margaret Whisnant – Taking Grades for Teachers 

•  PowerPoint Maniac PowerPoint Maniac's Teaching Resources   

• Tracey Graham Smart Chick Teacher

Thanks to Laura Candler for setting this up.  If you aren't already receiving her newsletter, be sure to sign up here, or follow her facebook page here.

Note:
*You are downloading copyrighted material for classroom use only.  Please do not distribute it in any form, including copying it for other teachers or posting it online.  Thank you for understanding.

Going Buggy for Friday Tech Freebies!

So I was reading through my Daily Diigo updates and came across some things that have me going absolutely BUGGY! 



Here you can sign up for a 1 hr. time slot to interactively control an $800,000 scanning electron microscope and use the build-in chat to send questions to scientists. Free.  I thought, no way but I was wrong.  It's for real and within minutes I was able to send my request for a time slot in October.  Just make sure you plan ahead because there is often a  6 week waiting period.

Are you looking for effective technology-based tools for the K-12 classroom? How about a way to access primary sources and generate engaging learning experiences? If so, I think you may be looking for Primary Access, a suite of free online tools that allows students and teachers to use primary source documents to complete meaningful and compelling learning activities with digital movies, storyboards, rebus stories and other online tools.

When was the last time your district purchased new textbooks?  Whether you are going paperless or your textbooks are just out of date you might be interested in an online warehouse with FREE textbooks.

Hope you are going Buggy for my Friday Tech Freebies too!

Welcome to the Cyber Search Showcase!

It's not "cyber Monday" yet, but you can take a peek now!

Let's get started looking for those freebies ....

Download over $85 worth of materials for free!

Monday, August 8th only!

This is how it works...

1. Visit each blog or website below and you'll find one featured item that's valued between $3.00 and $10.00. You'll see a link to the TeachersPayTeachers.com store where you COULD buy this item, but you won't have to because it will be absolutely free to download from their website on Monday, August 8th!
2. For now, look for the blue Cyber Search buddy button on each blog or website to help you find the he Cyber Search Showcase page. Then take a look around and check out the great teaching resources you'll find there. These bloggers have great teaching strategies, tips, and free items in addition to the items they sell on TeachersPayTeachers.
3. Then choose another website on the list and hop over there to check things out. Bookmark any pages you like so you can come back and check them out later!
4. On Monday, return to this page to start your Cyber Search for over $85 worth of teaching materials created just for Grade 3 - 5 teachers! Download and save each file before moving on to the next site. If you like the freebie, you may want to follow the seller on TpT or Facebook so you'll know when they create more great stuff!

The Teched Out Teacher's Featured Free Item

Visit These Websites To Continue Your Cyber Search!

(Note:  a few sites haven't set up their pages yet - so don't worry if you don't see the cybersearch button - it will be coming soon).

Cyber Search Showcase Sellers and Websites

• Laura Candler Teaching Resources

• Lisa Frase Effective Teaching Solutions

• Rachel Lynette Minds in Bloom

• Ashleigh Swinford Education Journey

• Charity Preston The Organized Classroom Blog

• Jennifer Runde Runde's Room

• Wise Guys Teaching Activities, Lesson Plans, and Units

• Karla Banks Life in Special Education

• Heather Kaiser The Teched Out Teacher

• Rosshalde Pak Education Shortlist

•  Nyla Phillips-Martin  Nyla's Crafty Teaching  

• Margaret Whisnant – Taking Grades for Teachers 

•  PowerPoint Maniac PowerPoint Maniac's Teaching Resources   

• Tracey Graham Smart Chick Teacher

Bonus Item hosted on Laura’s site:

Ruth S.  "Chocolate Fever Student Worksheets"

Thanks to Laura Candler for setting this up.  If you aren't already receiving her newsletter, be sure to sign up here, or follow her facebook page here. 

 

LifeLab - Growing Classroom Resources

If you've ever considered gardening with students, LifeLab.org is a great resource.  This week about 10 teachers in our district are spending time with one of the trainers from LifeLab and we've been learning lots already.  Attending a workshop or bringing a trainer in to do district training isn't always an option.  Fortunately, many of the resources from LifeLab can be found online.  They even have their own channel on Youtube.
If you like this, you should really check out the Banana Slug String Band for some great songs too.

If you use any of these resources, I'd love to hear about your experience.  Leave a comment below.
 

Calling All Elementary Science Teachers

I am well known in our school for saying "My number one priority is safety!" I guess that's because teaching in the science lab raises plenty of opportunity for "accidents". As a new school year approaches I highly recommend my elementary lab safety contract. During the first week of school, I review this contract with each of my classes and require both student and parent to sign it. I always plan an introductory lab the day after I send it home for homework. Students know that if they don't have it signed and returned they have to sit at "observation island" (a remote seat with a clipboard and some paper) to record what others are doing. It only takes 1 student having to do that 1 time and the contracts all come flooding in. As a matter of fact, word travels quickly in elementary schools and my previous students have warned the newbies. I haven't had someone sit at observation island in the past 2 years. So, if I have piqued your interest and safety is a concern in your science class, click the link and download my FREE science safety contract.