Chocolate and Chemistry

Exploring real objects in science class allows the students to make connections and be more engaged in an activity in which they can relate to. In a group, we created a glogster that explored the science of chocolate. Specifically, the chemistry and chemical reaction that are required to make the delicious chocolates that many of us love. Connecting real objects and those that are of interest to the students, allows the students become more engaged in the activity, which then increases their learning in the subject. Take a look at the glogster that my group and I created! Enjoy!

Ready, Set GO!

 Today we created our own cars made from cardboard, wooden wheels, sticks, butterfly clips, ruber bands and clothespins. This was my first time making a small modeled car, the experience was inspiring! It was difficult think about the creation of a car that would be fast and stable. Our group experience trial and error as we went through the steps of the scientific method:
1. Ask a question
2. Do background research
3. Construct a hypthesis
4. Test your hypothesis
5. Analyze your data and draw a conclusion
6. Communicate your results
After creating our car, we raced them down the hill! Our car did not successfully function, the wheels had trouble turning, however the experience was fun and engaging! This activity would absolutely be a wonderful experiment to do with the students. It requires you to critically think about how cars function and the process of the scientific method to complete the activity.

Chemical Reaction

Chemistry in the classroom can be creative and engaging. Today we experience a fun, interacting and engaging activity in which we mixed chemicals, observed, made theories and concluded about the mixture of the chemicals. Engaging students in Chemistry or any other science activity requires a "hook." This "hook" is an activity that grabs the students' interests and produces an engaging, productive lesson. The "hook" for todays class was reading about the various mixtures of chemicals in objects that we see in our every day life. For example, when apples turn brown this is a chemical reaction. Reading about real objects "hooked" us into asking questions about chemical reactions and caught our interest in participating in the activity. In chemistry activity, we mixed various chemicals and tested the mixture to observe the reaction and what caused the reaction. 

Field Trip to the Arboretun!

Right: Me, Valerie, Kristen

 Science field trips can be engaging, interacting and fun! Today our class took a field trip to the CSUF's Arboretum. This was my first time at the Arboretum and it was full of surprises! Before our class left to the walking field trip we got into groups of three. My group included Valerie, Kristen and myself. Walking field trips are economical and can be a fun, learning activity for the students. It is important to be aware of the resources available near the school. The technology that was used in this field trip included cameras, and power point. We used the cameras to take pictures of three different habitats; desert, wetlands and rain forest. We observed and recorded details from each habitat. After we collected our information, our group created a power point presentation that highlighted our findings. Before we left for the trip, our group organized in assigning each person a task. I was the "photographer," Kristen took the "temperature" and Valerie recorder any other observations. I enjoyed this field trip as it taught me about interacting engaging field trips into the science curriculum to create a positive fun learning environment for the students. Field trips allows the curriculum to come to life through real visuals of terms and vocabulary that is presented in class.

A "closer" look at a beatle found in the desert