Learning about Women in Science

Why do we teach about women in science?

March is women’s history month and March 8th is International Women’s Day. The purpose of both is to reflect and learn about the often overlooked contributions of women to American history. In my science class, I like to make March women in science history month in my middle school science classroom. We learn about the men in science often – Newton, Galileo, Darwin, Armstrong – and I fear that gives girls the wrong impression that they can’t be influencers in science. Representation matters – showing girls that women can and do make a difference in the field of science, and in all fields, is important. The theme for this year’s women’s history month is “Women providing healing, promoting hope.” I think naturally of women like Clara Barton, Florence Nightingale, Virginia Apgar and Sally Ride.

How to incorporate women in science into your already busy day

  • Have a conversation about “scientists.” I usually have students draw what they think a scientist looks like and then compare. Almost always, students draw men (usually with nerdy glasses and a pocket protector). Then show them pictures of women in science like these women in science. Ask your students to challenge their own preconceptions of what doing “science” looks like. Lead the discussion to analyzing why people think science is for boys and how to change that idea. Share this video as a springboard.
  • Talk about Rosalind Franklin as much as you do James Watson – both made discoveries that opened up the field of molecular biology. Talk about Sally Ride as much as you do Neil Armstrong – both were groundbreaking astronauts.
  • Have students research women in science. Start with a list to choose from (so you don’t have 45 Marie Curie posters) – I include as many different fields as I can ranging from Rachel Carson to Katherine Johnson and Ada Lovelace.
  • Hang pictures of famous women in science around your room and encourage students to explore the lives of the women they relate to. This activity includes 12 photos with mini biographies and guided questions.
  • Assign an exploration into famous women in science with these digital Boom cards.
  • More great ideas on the Classroom Innovation site “7 Women Scientists to Integrate into Your Lesson Plans.” Check it out here.

Share your ideas to incorporate women in science by commenting below. Let’s all celebrate Women in (Science) History month with our students!

 

 

Reading Weather Maps

Do you teach weather maps? Middle school students love learning about weather – it’s fun, practical, and easy for them if they get enough practice. An important skill is being able to read weather maps. My “Reading Weather Maps” resource is a printable or digital tool that many teachers have used to help their middle school students understand how to use the symbols on a weather map to predict the weather.

NGSS ESS2-5 asks students to be able to “Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in change in weather conditions.” It’s also an important life skill to be able to read a weather map.

To begin this unit, students first learn what the various weather symbols mean.

By learning the symbols for high pressure, low pressure, cold front, warm front, occluded front and stationary front, students can begin to read weather maps to form weather  predictions. Lots of practice helps here – I use maps with symbols and ask students to predict the weather before each type of front, after each type of front, and while each type of front is passing through.

Teachers who have downloaded this resource tell me:

  • “AWESOME resource to go along with our unit of study.”
  • “Amazing resources as a summative for this section of the Weather Unit!”
  • “This resource was helpful and time saving!”
  • “This was very helpful in teaching weather maps…it also gave my students great practice using/reading weather maps!”

One teacher used this resource for a demo lesson for an interview. She said “I was a little lost on preparing a sample lesson revolving around weather! This was perfect in teaching me what I needed to know!”

Click here to buy your  Reading Weather Maps resource!

Wordle for middle school science

 

science wordle

Students come in all sizes and shapes. Some students understand concepts more easily, and some struggle a bit. Some finish assignments fast and some need remediation. I always have at least one or two enrichment activities on hand for my middle school science students to grab when they’re ahead of the pack.

An activity my students are loving right now is Science Wordle. In the game Wordle, there is a mystery 5 letter word. For each turn, you guess a 5 letter word and learn if any of the letters are correct or in the correct spot. The goal is to guess in 6 tries or less. In Wordle for middle school science, there are a few dozen words students can pick from – some with 5 letters and some with 6. Each game takes 2-3 minutes to play so this is a great activity for those few minutes at the end of class when the fastest students are done and the others need some more catch up time.

If you want to download an editable copy and make your own words, click here.

Have fun with Wordle for middle school science!

Color By Number for Middle School Science

Why enrichment?

Students come in all sizes and shapes. Some students understand concepts more easily, and some struggle a bit. Some finish assignments fast and some need remediation. I always have at least one or two enrichment activities on hand for my middle school science students to grab when they’re ahead of the pack. I was surprised to learn that my 13 year old middle schoolers love color by number worksheets.  Color by number worksheets for enrichment in middle school science engage students with content while also allowing them to chill out. Providing down time without chaos reigning has become my signature move 🙂

How do you make a color by number worksheet?

It’s easy peasy to make your own color by number. Students immediately knew what to do when they saw the worksheet – it was as if they’d been coloring by number their whole lives.  They got to chill while I worked with other students. No chaos.

Step 1: Choose a picture. The hardest part for me was making a decision about which picture to use – maybe kids will like this elephant? Will they like the geometric mandala? How about a minion or a minecraft picture? I debated over those decisions a million times.  Try googling “black and white drawing” or “mosaic drawing” if you need inspiration. Make your picture simple if you want a 5 minute activity or more complicated if you want it to take a little longer.

color by number color by number color by number color by number color by number

Step 2: Number the pieces of that picture. I found that the numbers 1-9 works fine (I happen to have a class set of 10 colored pencils each – red, dark blue, light blue, brown, light green, dark green, purple, yellow, orange, pink), but if you want to get wild and crazy, go for it.

Step 3: Write matching questions – if you have 9 colors, you need 9 questions. For each question, provide choices. Each choice should correspond to a color, but the correct answer choice corresponds to the correct color.

Step 4: Print your worksheet. I print on 2 sheets of paper so students don’t have to flip back and forth. I also usually make an answer key for the type A students that want to check their work.

color by number color by number color by number color by number

Grab a freebie now!

Our atomic structure color by number is available for free for you right here!

What kinds of color by number for middle school science are in the JustAddH2OSchool store?

I have a bunch of resources I’ve collected available in the JustAddH2OSchool store, priced at $1.50 each (with 25% off now through Valentines Day). Here are some to check out:

weather vocabulary color by number diffusion and osmosis color by number DNA color by number protons neutrons electrons color by number simple machines enrichment activity for middle school

punnett square color by number density mass volume enrichment plate tectonics color by number states of matter color by number planets color by number

absolute dating color by number relative dating color by number

Teach and Touch the Future

 

When I was 7 or 8 years old, my sister and I were playing school in the backyard. We always played school, and I was always the teacher. I remember using marker to write “page 2” on the wall of the garage because that was the page I wanted my sister to read in her imaginary text book. Oh, man, were my parents furious! Twenty years later, when they were selling the house, my scribbling was still there, never cleaned and never painted over. I was always going to be a teacher.

I went to college in the 1980s. There was a glut of teachers. My parents warned me that there were 20 teachers applying for every job. Since I had an affinity for science, they argued, I should probably major in nursing. No, that didn’t appeal to me. But I did like science, especially biology, so I majored in biology and minored in calculus. A few months before I graduated, I realized I would be grossly over educated and at the same time underqualified for any job I wanted. While my friends started interviewing in their chosen fields, nothing appealed to me and I felt lost.

On January 28th, 1986, a week into my last semester of college, a New Hampshire teacher named Christa McAuliffe was to become the first civilian in space when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart, 1 minute and 13ChristaMcAuliffe seconds after launch.  The footage of the Challenger was relentless for days, interspersed with footage of McAuliffe and her students. The lesson I learned that day was that the impact of a teacher was truly infinite. Even though McAuliffe had died, her legacy would live on. 22 year old me was transfixed, and inspired. I was going to be a teacher.

A friend of my parents was a principal at a local Catholic elementary school. She offered me a position teaching 6th grade math (private schools don’t have the same certification requirements that public schools have) and I LOVED it! I think my first year’s salary was $12,000. (I hesitate to write that even now because it makes me sound so ridiculously old!)  The principal helped me get my certificate a few years later and then I blinked and 30 years have passed in the classroom.

It’s different now, to state the obvious. One of my first years teaching, a 3rd grade teacher gave me some of her books and supplies. I remember one book in particular was well worn. “Oh,” she told me. “I used to use that as a resource for my 3rd graders, but it’s too hard for the kids now. Maybe the 7th graders can do it.” I still have that book, more as a tribute to a cherished mentor than anything, because it’s way too hard for my 7th graders now. What happened? When did basic skills become not so basic? When did work that a 3rd grader used to be able to do become too hard for a 7th grader?

I was always going to be a teacher. It’s what I was made to do, and I love it. I love the time in my classroom, I love the relationships with the thousands of students I’ve known through the years. I still love the excitement of a lesson that went particularly well or the lightbulb moments in their eyes. I have no regrets. But it’s different now. I lose at least 2 preps a week covering for my quarantined or sick colleagues. I have more IEP, 504, I&RS, PDP, PLC, SGO paperwork in one year now than I had in the first 25 years of my career combined. I still love teaching, but I really don’t love management.

What’s can we do?

If you’re a teacher, we can make it easier for each other. Cover my class when I have to use the bathroom and I’ll do the same for you. Don’t spend your whole prep period, and mine, complaining without solving anything. Hold our students accountable so they’re not surprised when I do.

If you’re a parent, you can make it easier for me. Teach your child to wear a mask properly. Provide him or her with pencils every day. Make education a priority in your home.

If you’re an administrator, you can make it easier for me. Don’t have a meeting when an email will suffice. Don’t add more to my job without taking something else away. Tell me you recognize what a great job I’m doing and that you appreciate me.

Comment below to share your ideas to help each other!

Atomic Structure Magic Picture Reveal Worksheet

What are Magic Picture Reveal Worksheets?

Any time you can make learning and reviewing vocabulary fun, do it!

Magic Picture Reveal worksheets are digital vocabulary or practice worksheets created using conditional formatting on Google Sheets. As students correctly answer each question, a few pixels of a magic picture are revealed. Once they get all of the answers correct, the whole picture is revealed. are a great way to engage students and reward them for learning their vocabulary.  Here’s a breakdown of how to create your own magic picture reveal worksheets digitally. As a self-checking activity, magic picture worksheets are the best!

It’s easy for students to self-check their work and they’re engaged while doing so.

How does the atomic structure magic picture work?

The atomic structure magic picture reveals an image of a snowman in a snow globe when all of the answers are correct.

It starts out with a blank screen and 25 questions.

atomic structure digital worksheet

Each question asks students to correctly calculate either the protons, neutrons, electrons, atomic number, or mass number of an atom given other information. For example, the first question asks how many electrons there are in an atom with 3 protons and 4 neutrons. Entering the correct answer, 3, reveals some of the pixels of the picture.

atomic structure digital worksheet

The pixels that are revealed all contain the conditional formatting “=$E$4=3” which tells the individual pixels to be a certain color if the correct answer, 3, is entered into cell E4.

The second question asks how many neutrons are in an atom with atomic number 9 and mass number 17. The correct answer, 8, reveals a few more pixels.atomic structure digital worksheet

The new pixels that are revealed wit that answer all contain the conditional formatting “=$E$5=8” which tells the individual pixels to be a certain color if the correct answer, 8, is entered into cell E5.

Finally, when all of the answers are correctly identified, the entire picture is revealed.

atomic structure digital worksheetWhat do teachers say about the atomic structure digital worksheet?

Teachers have unanimously given the atomic structure digital picture reveal worksheet resource 5 stars. One teacher said, “Students loved it. I will definably buy more of your magic reveal resources!” Another teacher called it a great resource and said, “I love that this self corrects and is so simple to use!” 

Click here to check out the atomic structure worksheet for yourself! On sale now through Feb 28th for 50% off!

How can you create your own magic picture reveal worksheet?

To create your own magic picture puzzle, check out my blog post “Magic Picture Reveal Digital Worksheets.”

Other magic picture reveal worksheets in my Store:

3 Ways to create Self-Checking Worksheets

Do you use self-checking worksheets? Our students love them, and we do too. Not only are they a huge time saver for the teacher, self-checking worksheets are also a great way for students to take some ownership of their own learning. Students can practice at their own pace, self-identify what they need to study, and repeat the process until they’ve achieved mastery.

There are a few types of self-checking activities:

  1. create a self-grading quizGoogle Forms – Using Google forms, you can create a self directed learning experience in which students must answer correctly before moving on. If you’ve never tried one, here’s a link to download a free self-checking assessment. If you’ve tried them and love them, here’s a link to the blog where we gave step by step directions to creating a Google form self-checking resource.
  2. Boom Cards – Technically not worksheets, Boom cards offer students an opportunity for self-guided practice and reinforcement and serve the same purpose as a self-checking worksheet. We love Boom cards, and our students do too. They can be as interactive and engaging as you want. If you’ve never tried them but are curious, here’s a link for a free set of Boom cards. Use my referral link to save a 10%! If you’ve tried them and love them as much as we do, here’s a link to the blog where we gave step by step directions to creating your own Boom Cards.
  3. Google Sheets – Google Sheets enables you to create a self-checking worksheet by using conditional formatting. Set the conditional format to one color for correct answers and another color for incorrect answers. There are a million ways you can customize this from creating pixel art to images that get revealed by blocks. If you’ve never tried a conditionally formatted Google sheet, here is a link to download a free block reveal of Snoopy in the Starry Night. If you’ve tried them and want to create your own, here’s a link to the blog where we gave step by step directions to creating your own self-checking Google Sheets.

How do you use self-checking worksheets?

Engaging Middle School Students in 2022

engaging middle school students in 2021

Students were out of the classroom for a long time. So have teachers. I’m finding that my students need a little more guidance and support this year compared to previous years. Tik Tok challenges, nonstop texting and taking selfies, super late video chats with their friends, constant connection to technology, and administrators who are all about helping students and their SEL have all created a perfect storm of disengaged students. Engaging middle school students in 2021 is not for the feint of heart. Here are the things that I’ve found work for me:

Engaging Middle School Students in 2022

  • Build relationships with students. Students work harder for students that they like and that they think like them. It’s obviously good teaching to build relationships, but I promise you that it will pay off by making your job easier.
  • Maintain a predictable classroom routine such as a Do Now or Bellringer, a mini lesson, independent or group investigation, and then closure. Predictability makes it easier for students to participate in the lesson.
  • Differentiate and Provide choice. This has been widely unsettling for everyone and kids in particular have little that they can control. Let them have some control.  Perhaps offer to let them choose groups to work with, or choose which 

    engaging middle school students in 2021

    assignment to complete.
  • Use varying modalities while you instruct. Keep your routine consistent, but provide lots of visuals and graphics as well as music andengaging middle school students in 2021 opportunities for students to draw or act. Let students create a video for small children explaining the layers of the earth. Have them create  edible models of the earth’s layers or a newsletter for their parents. Ask them to write a song about the planets or a poster about Newton’s laws. Use the technology available to you like Answer Pad, Badaboom, Edpuzzle, Edulastic, IXL, PearDeck. But, don’t depend on digital everything. Let them cut out pictures or draw the rock cycle on paper also. The trick is in the variety of resources you use. 
  • Use hands on learning as often as possible. Every year, students tell me the best part of being in my class was doing experiments. You might be in a situation where you have a lab period every week, or maybe you’re in a rotating drop or maybe you don’t have a lab period at all. You can still, and should still do hands on activities. How much is enough? I aim for once a week, but my kids could do a lab every day and still want more.engaging middle school students in 2021
  • Allow students to work in groups, even remotely. We’re all worried about social-emotional learning. Give your students the opportunity to build connections with people.
  • Use brain breaks. 2 minutes of jumping jacks is far more effective than a 2 minute lecture on the benefits of paying attention.
  • Use phenomena to help students engage with the topic, not just with your class.
  • Provide feedback quickly. Let them know what they need to do to improve next time. Don’t let assignments be the last time they think about the subject. When a student submits work, they should obviously receive a grade, but, more importantly, they should receive guidance on how to improve next time. Imagine receiving a mediocre report on your observation. “Fine,” you think and forget it. But if it included specific strategies to improve next time, you’d be more inclined to include those strategies in your lessons to improve your score. engaging middle school students in 2021
  • Gamify. Easy to use gaming platforms include Kahoot, Blooket, Quizlet, Gimkit, Boom cards, escape rooms. Everyone is more engaged during a game, and games are definitely not fluff. Kids learn when they’re playing. (Even adults learn when they’re playing.) Let them play.
  • Be kind to yourself. And to them. We are all in challenging circumstances and Maslow’s hierarchy reminds us that mastering Punnett Squares isn’t as important as your health and safety.

Help each other out. Comment below with your favorite engagement strategies and together we’ll get through this year!

 

 

2 Things Teachers should do in 2022

One of the primary characteristics of a fantastic educator is self-reflection. Challenging yourself to do a better job next time is the hallmark of successful teaching, and, when you think about it, really any profession. Here are two things middle school science teachers should do in 2022 to have a better year:

Build relationships

Why you should build relationships

teacher new years resolutions 2022

The name of the game in education, 2022 and every year before this, is building relationships. Students learn from teachers they like and respect. Building relationships eliminates behavior problems and promotes academic engagement also. It also makes kids happy, and why would you be a teacher if you don’t like kids? The illusion that there needs to be a separation between students and teachers (i.e. “Don’t smile until Christmas”) is a complete fallacy. A happy byproduct is that you’ll have a better time teaching if you genuinely know and like your students.

How do you build relationships with middle schoolers?

You don’t have to play Minecraft or wear sweats to school. Not all teachers are extroverts, so here’s my quick 5 point list of relationship building activities:

  • Talk to your kids – what did you do this weekend, what’s your dog’s name, what are you looking forward to next year?
  • Tell them about yourself, show them pictures from your vacation and tell them the funny thing that happened at Dunkin that morning.
  • Greet them at the door.
  • Spend a few minutes each day, maybe during your warmup or closure, playing something like Would you rather or 2 truths and a lie.
  • Go to their events. I try to make it to at least one game or match for every team every year – one basketball game, one field hockey game, one fencing meet, one concert. Kids (and parents, and administrators) notice and remember.

Take it easy on yourselfteacher new years resolutions 2022

When I wrote “Things Teachers should do in 2022,” I certainly didn’t mean that there should be more things on your plate. We’re already stretched just about as thinly as possible with more and more responsibilities (SGOs, PDPs, CAPs, PLCs, PBLs, etc) and less and less time (“Cover this class because 8 teachers are quarantined today” and “Do bathroom duty so no one steals the sink and posts it on TikTok”). Look, I get it. 2020 and 2021 weren’t great for a lot of us and things still don’t feel quite settled yet. There’s some fear about what 2022 will bring. Teachers in 2022 will be happier, and have happier students, if everyone prioritizes a little self care.

The second thing I think all teachers should do in 2022 is to make their lives a little easier. Whether that means hiring help around your house so you don’t have to clean, or ordering dinner so you don’t have to cook, find places where you can give yourself a little grace. In the classroom, we still have responsibilities, but there are easy ways to cut corners without cutting education.

Here’s my quick 5 ways to make teacher life easier:

What can you do?

At my job, I can’t drink coffee when I want to. I can’t always use the bathroom when I want to. There are only a few things in a teacher’s life that is controllable. If you’re willing to listen to an old teacher’s advice, here it is. Control what you can. Make it easier for you and better for your kids at the same time. 

I hope your 2022 is wonderful and that you remember all the reasons you became a teacher! I hope you hear your students say “You’re going to love this class!” when a new student comes in. I hope the relationships you build help make this year the best yet!

 

 

 

 

Photo Credits

Photo by Max Fischer from Pexels

FREE! Digital self-checking worksheet

Learning the phases of the moon is tricky. Students get confused between waxing and waning, gibbous and crescent. This digital self-checking worksheet will help your middle school science students practice naming and identifying the phases of the moon. As each phase is correctly identified, part of an image is revealed. Once all phases are correct, they’ll see the entire picture.

We’re offering this digital self checking worksheet for free to new subscribers to our mailing list. If you haven’t gotten yours yet, click here!

Love self-checking worksheets? They are a little complicated but not too hard to make, and we’ve written a blog post giving step by step directions. Click here to learn how to make your own!

We have a few self-checking worksheets in our store. Check them out!

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