Title: Measuring the Earth Contributor: Daniel Finger Subject Matter: Diameter, Circumference, Data Collection Grade Level: 9-12 Description: In this activity, students will work in small groups to take measurements of the Earth using a meter stick and a scientific calculator. They will research the distance between the school and a point directly north or south of the school in a different state, in order to help with the measurements. They will take the measurement of an object near the school, such as a flag pole and the shadow of that object and calculate the angle by dividing the height of the object by the length of the shadow. The students will then solve for the circumference of the Earth by cross multiplying and dividing. Angle of object/360 degrees = distance from school to other point/circumference of the Earth. They will then read about Eratosthenes and see how he measured the same thing while living in ancient Greece. This activity will get the students to use a calculator and computers in order to find their own calculation of the circumference and the accepted value. They can also put their procedure into a PowerPoint to show how they came to their conclusions and show where they found the accepted value on the internet. Computer Environment/ Resources: Each group will need a computer and a calculator. The teacher will need internet access and a connection to a large screen so he or she will be able to show a video about Eratosthenes.
Title: Digital Science Experiments Contributor: Audrey Zink Subject Matter: Science Grade Level: Middle School and High School (7-12) Description: This lesson can be applied to any science experiment. The teacher uses an iPod and a voice recorder to provide experiment instructions to small groups of students. Students listen to the directions first, then they observe and record their experiment steps and results using a digital camera and an iPod. The images and audio are then combined in an iMovie project or on an iPod photo (if available) to share with others. I think it is an exemplary use of technology because students are using different devices to create their science experiment. It is a fun way for them to complete their experiment by using technology. They are receiving information through the devices as well and using the devices to complete the project. Computer Environment/ Resources: This lesson requires a computer with Internet access for each group. Also, you will need: iPods, iPod photo (optional), iPod voice recorders, digital cameras, lab equipment for the experiment, iPhoto, iTunes, and iMovie (optional).
Title: The Velocity Formula Contributor: Daniel Finger Subject Matter: Physics - Mechanics Grade Level: 9 and 10 Description: Students will be given the formula V=d/t (velocity equals distance over time) and a worksheet with different values for the the variables, but only two of the three (eg. a distance and a velocity and they will be required to figure out the time). Using Excel, they will type in the formula and the values and will then be able to figure out the missing number in the problem. This introduces some of the concepts that Excel can be used for and lays a foundation for future experiments that would also use the program. Computer Environment/ Resources: Excel and a computer for each child in the classroom.
Title: And The Beat Goes On…..! Contributor: Katie Cunningham Subject Matter: Life Science (Language Arts & Technology) Grade Level: 7-8 Description: This lesson lets students investigate the circulatory system! This dissection of the heart demonstrates the path that blood takes through the heart and the circulatory system. Students will identify the structures and functions of the heart as presented during a dissection as teacher demonstrates using a document camera. Students will practice the procedures used to dissect an animal’s heart. Computer Environment/ Resources: Document Camera, Specimens/ Hearts (one per group of 4-5 students), heart models, newspapers, trays, rubber gloves, aprons (trash bags), paper towels, dissecting scissors and/or scalpels, disinfectant spray, straws, 36 large zip-loc baggies, Resource Persons/ Parent Volunteers, video equipment, heart dissection procedure hand-outs.
Title: This is how it works Contributor: Megan Gebhart Subject Matter: Science, physics Grade Level:10-12 Description: A way to incorporate vodcasting in a classroom is by recording the lectures being taught through out the quarter/year. Vodcasting will allow you to be able to post lectures online so that the students, who are unable to come to class that day, can still watch the lecture for credit online. This is great for a physics class because there is a lot of visuals and examples used in a physics class. So, with vodcasting, all the students will be able to re-watch the examples over again anytime they want. This will also be great especially before a test, so the students who may not understand the concept as well, can watch the vodcasts in order to understand those concepts much better. Computer Environment/ Resources:The type of material needed for vodcasting would be a voice recorder, video recorder, computer with internet, and itunes.
Title: The Human Body: An Online Tour Contributor: Alex Srnovrsnik Subject Matter: Health, Biology Grade Level: 8-9 Description: This is a great way to use virtual reality in the classroom. This site had many ideas to use for more than one subject. This lesson plan involves looking at the Virtual Body, BodyQuest, or Human Anatomy website to collect information on the human body. You would split up your classroom into pairs giving each pair time on the computer to go through the virtual tour of the human body. After this you would have them draw each other on a piece of construction paper and label certain body organs giving them a word bank of the organs to label on that paper. If students finish quickly you could have them do a crossword puzzle that uses words that they had just learned through the virtual tour. The use of the virtual reality gives the students a better understanding of why we need certain organs and how the organs work. It makes it more interesting for the students to learn and keeps them active in their learning environment. Computer Environment/ Resources: You will need a computer lab with internet access, and a large roll of construction paper and markers for this lesson plan.
Title: Measuring the Earth
Contributor: Daniel Finger
Subject Matter: Diameter, Circumference, Data Collection
Grade Level: 9-12
Description: In this activity, students will work in small groups to take measurements of the Earth using a meter stick and a scientific calculator. They will research the distance between the school and a point directly north or south of the school in a different state, in order to help with the measurements. They will take the measurement of an object near the school, such as a flag pole and the shadow of that object and calculate the angle by dividing the height of the object by the length of the shadow. The students will then solve for the circumference of the Earth by cross multiplying and dividing. Angle of object/360 degrees = distance from school to other point/circumference of the Earth. They will then read about Eratosthenes and see how he measured the same thing while living in ancient Greece. This activity will get the students to use a calculator and computers in order to find their own calculation of the circumference and the accepted value. They can also put their procedure into a PowerPoint to show how they came to their conclusions and show where they found the accepted value on the internet.
Computer Environment/ Resources: Each group will need a computer and a calculator. The teacher will need internet access and a connection to a large screen so he or she will be able to show a video about Eratosthenes.
Title: Digital Science Experiments
Contributor: Audrey Zink
Subject Matter: Science
Grade Level: Middle School and High School (7-12)
Description: This lesson can be applied to any science experiment. The teacher uses an iPod and a voice recorder to provide experiment instructions to small groups of students. Students listen to the directions first, then they observe and record their experiment steps and results using a digital camera and an iPod. The images and audio are then combined in an iMovie project or on an iPod photo (if available) to share with others. I think it is an exemplary use of technology because students are using different devices to create their science experiment. It is a fun way for them to complete their experiment by using technology. They are receiving information through the devices as well and using the devices to complete the project.
Computer Environment/ Resources: This lesson requires a computer with Internet access for each group. Also, you will need: iPods, iPod photo (optional), iPod voice recorders, digital cameras, lab equipment for the experiment, iPhoto, iTunes, and iMovie (optional).
Title: The Velocity Formula
Contributor: Daniel Finger
Subject Matter: Physics - Mechanics
Grade Level: 9 and 10
Description: Students will be given the formula V=d/t (velocity equals distance over time) and a worksheet with different values for the the variables, but only two of the three (eg. a distance and a velocity and they will be required to figure out the time). Using Excel, they will type in the formula and the values and will then be able to figure out the missing number in the problem. This introduces some of the concepts that Excel can be used for and lays a foundation for future experiments that would also use the program.
Computer Environment/ Resources: Excel and a computer for each child in the classroom.
Title: And The Beat Goes On…..!
Contributor: Katie Cunningham
Subject Matter: Life Science (Language Arts & Technology)
Grade Level: 7-8
Description: This lesson lets students investigate the circulatory system! This dissection of the heart demonstrates the path that blood takes through the heart and the circulatory system. Students will identify the structures and functions of the heart as presented during a dissection as teacher demonstrates using a document camera. Students will practice the procedures used to dissect an animal’s heart.
Computer Environment/ Resources: Document Camera, Specimens/ Hearts (one per group of 4-5 students), heart models, newspapers, trays, rubber gloves, aprons (trash bags), paper towels, dissecting scissors and/or scalpels, disinfectant spray, straws, 36 large zip-loc baggies, Resource Persons/ Parent Volunteers, video equipment, heart dissection procedure hand-outs.
Title: This is how it works
Contributor: Megan Gebhart
Subject Matter: Science, physics
Grade Level:10-12
Description: A way to incorporate vodcasting in a classroom is by recording the lectures being taught through out the quarter/year. Vodcasting will allow you to be able to post lectures online so that the students, who are unable to come to class that day, can still watch the lecture for credit online. This is great for a physics class because there is a lot of visuals and examples used in a physics class. So, with vodcasting, all the students will be able to re-watch the examples over again anytime they want. This will also be great especially before a test, so the students who may not understand the concept as well, can watch the vodcasts in order to understand those concepts much better.
Computer Environment/ Resources:The type of material needed for vodcasting would be a voice recorder, video recorder, computer with internet, and itunes.
Title: The Human Body: An Online Tour
Contributor: Alex Srnovrsnik
Subject Matter: Health, Biology
Grade Level: 8-9
Description: This is a great way to use virtual reality in the classroom. This site had many ideas to use for more than one subject. This lesson plan involves looking at the Virtual Body, BodyQuest, or Human Anatomy website to collect information on the human body. You would split up your classroom into pairs giving each pair time on the computer to go through the virtual tour of the human body. After this you would have them draw each other on a piece of construction paper and label certain body organs giving them a word bank of the organs to label on that paper. If students finish quickly you could have them do a crossword puzzle that uses words that they had just learned through the virtual tour. The use of the virtual reality gives the students a better understanding of why we need certain organs and how the organs work. It makes it more interesting for the students to learn and keeps them active in their learning environment.
Computer Environment/ Resources: You will need a computer lab with internet access, and a large roll of construction paper and markers for this lesson plan.