Blog Posts

“Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever.” ― Walt Disney Company

5/19/2014

Snowman in the desert. Hmmm...is the Fed-Ex truck a clue of things to come?

Where do your dreams come true? A reminder that life is too short to not follow your heart and your life’s passion.

Grades K-8
Dreams to Remember
Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

Create original works as a means of personal or group expression.

Essential Question:
Do you need more than imagination to make a dream come true?
Does imagination make it easier to positively overcome obstacles?
What would you use to build a snowman in the desert?

Watch the video and look for symbols of a desert snowman. What appears in the video to indicate making a snowman is possible?
In pairs read the quotes from the Walt Disney Company.
Using Smore.com classroom account create a poster representing a dream come true with a Disney Quote as your title. (See example)
Share pair your original work. Describe how it might express your personal dreams.
Exit Ticket: How are the dreams of Walt Disney similar to yours?

STEM INTERACTIVE: Earth Day Lessons

5/8/2014

Interactive Adventure Island Maps: Tools for Adventure

Mapping MapMaker Interactive Explore your world with map themes, data, and tools for customizing your map

Grades 6-8
Learn To Use A Map
Bad at Reading Maps? Maybe Your Brain Just Needs Better Maps!
Use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

Identify and define authentic problems, and significant questions for investigation

Essential Questions:

What do you really need to help you navigate better?
Can you figure out if you read a map better at street level or a birds view?
What happens when you rotate the Map or keep top of the page North?

Begin with the easy stuff. Practice your map skills on Adventure Island Maps.
Once you are comfortable with the symbols it is time to practice making a map with all the details on MapMaker Interactive.
Watch the video How To Draw A Treasure Map.
Now pull what you know together and build a better map! Create a treasure map, a fire escape route, or a road trip for your family this summer.

STEM INTERACTIVE: Earth Day Lessons

5/3/2014

WATER CYCLE VIDEO

WATER CYCLE iPad App

Grades K-2
The Dinosaur Drank Your Water
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

Identify and define authentic problems, and significant questions for investigation

Essential Question:
Millions of years ago dinosaurs drank water. Could we be drinking the same water droplets dinosaurs drank? (Be prepared to defend your answer!)

Watch the video as a whole class.
In pairs - use iPads to explore WATER CYCLE APP and explore 3 different ways a water droplet travels through the water cycle.
Pair share your answers to the question: Why do scientist believe water is never added or subtracted from planet earth? How can we be certain that the research results are correct?
Exit Ticket: Sketch 3 phases of a water droplet.

STEM INTERACTIVE: Earth Day Lessons

5/3/2014

Energy efficiency -- The World in 2030

SAVE THE WORLD!!!

Grades 3-5
Earth, Energy and You!
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

Identify and define authentic problems, and significant questions for investigation

Essential Question:
Would you be able to to change the world by changing the way you use energy? (Be prepared to defend your answer!)

Watch the video as a whole class.
In pairs - use your laptop to complete the energy challenge SAVE THE WORLD
In pairs - sketch a rough draft of tool of technology you would like to invent to help save our planet. Provide a 3-5 sentence description on your invention.
Exit Ticket: Exchange your sketch/invention with a peer group. Write a constructive comment or question for your peers review. Please turn in your sketch to receive credit.

STEM INTERACTIVE: Earth Day Lessons

5/3/2014

FOOD INC.

READ IN PAIRS: 9 Ways That Processed Foods Are Slowly Killing People

Grades 6-8
Who Controls Our Food Cycle?
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

Identify and define authentic problems, and significant questions for investigation

Essential Question:
When did the food we eat turn into a health hazard for our great nation? (Be prepared to defend your answer!)

Watch the video as a whole class. Take notes on the video to use in your EduCreations presentation.
READ IN PAIRS: 9 Ways That Processed Foods Are Slowly Killing People
In pairs - be creative and brainstorm 3 solutions that could be used to protect your brain biochemistry from being hijacked by the food you eat.
In pairs open the iPad app Educreations and create a short presentation with at least 5 slides that explain how food is slowing killing us and/or solutions to the problem. Email the presentation to your teacher for credit. 20 pts
Bonus points: Leave a polite comment to the author of the blog.

STEM: Interactive Lesson Plans

5/3/2014

What would you do to protect your baby?

DINOSAURS HD

Grades K-2
T.Rex and Technology - Lesson 3 of 3
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

Identify and define authentic problems, and significant questions for investigation

Essential Question:
What can fossils tell us about the lives of dinosaurs? (Be prepared to defend your answer!)

Watch the video as a whole class.
In pairs - use iPads to explore Dinosaurs HD and explore 3 different fossils.
Pair share your answers to the question: What\ type of challenges do paleontologist face when uncovering bones? How can we be certain that the research results are correct?
Exit Ticket: What skills does a paleontologist need to be successful?

STEM Interactive Lesson Plans

5/3/2014

What is the code of the human body called? How many letters are used in the code?

CRYPTO CLUB

Grades 3-5
How To Be A Spy Kid - Lesson 3 of 3
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

Identify and define authentic problems, and significant questions for investigation

Essential Question:
How is a strand of DNA similar to an encryption code? (Be prepared to defend your answer!)

Watch the video as a whole class.
In pairs - use your laptop to create an encryption code on Crypto Club to become familiar with how encryption works.
In pairs take the challenge Desert Oasis Treasure Hunt.
Exit Ticket: Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper for credit. How are tools of encryption used everyday to protect you and your family? Who creates codes to protect you?

STEM Interactive Lesson Plans

5/3/2014

Can you name the philosopher who identified problems with the method of water distribution 2,000 years ago? Has anything changed since then?

Grades 6-8
Water Cycle Disrupted - Now What?
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

Identify and define authentic problems, and significant questions for investigation

Essential Question:
Who is responsible for recharging ground water?

Watch the video as a whole class. Take notes on the video to use in your Creaza presentation.
In pairs - be creative and brainstorm 3 solutions that could be used to protect and recharge ground water.
In pairs open the iPad app Creaza and create a cartoon with at least 5 slides that explain your solutions to protecting and recharging ground water. Email the presentation to your teacher for credit. 20 pts
Exit Ticket: In 3-5 sentences answer the question, "Is it possible to revers the flow of water in the aquifer?" 10 pts

Interactive Lesson Plans: Digital Discovery and Innovation

5/3/2014

Name three 21st Century mammals similar to the T-rex? Identify specific senses the mammals share.

Which of these pictures do not belong?

Grades K-2
T.Rex and Technology - Lesson 2 of 3
Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.

Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.

Essential Question:
Why are dinosaurs important to study in school? How does learning about dinosaurs from the past help you in science today? (Be prepared to defend your answer!)

Watch the video as a whole class.
In pairs - use iPads to explore MARCH OF THE DINOSUARS. Create a list of observations identifying the different senses the T-Rex used to hunt prey successfully.
Open the app SKETCH TOY and illustrate the 3 senses the video highlighted on the T-Rex.
Email your sketch to your teacher.

Interactive Lesson Plans: Digital Discovery and Innovation

5/3/2014

How good are your powers of observation?

Goals to target: Short Term Memory, Working Memory and Sequencing

Grades 3-5
How To Be A Spy Kid - Lesson 2 of 3
Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.

Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.

Essential Question:
Does being smart include the ability to observe your surroundings and recall details with a short or long term memory? (Be prepared to defend your answer!)

Watch the video as a whole class.
In pairs - use iPads to write / record your answers to the 3 video clips on eduCreations. Pair - share your team responses with another group.
Open the app VISMORY and play the game. What techniques did you use to improve your memory?
Exit ticket: What are the 3 types of memory? How does memory make you "smart"? Each group should turn in the answers on a piece of paper with everyone's name listed to receive credit.

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Written by:
Alicia Roberts

I am blessed to be a mom of four amazing children, and an owner of a beautiful rescue puppy. I have taught for 20 years and am passionate about my calling as Principal at Bella Vista College Preparatory. I speak nationally about STEM as a Today's Learn Specialist for Grand Canyon University. Please feel free to contact me to inquire about STEM+ Workshops or Curriculum Design.
[email protected]