Week 5

This week in our Zoom lab, even though we couldn't meet in person, we accomplished a lot and expanded on both new and previous knowledge. We started by reviewing the five components of the 5E model: engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. We also discussed the lesson plan assignment for the week to ensure everyone was clear on what we needed to do. Afterward, we split into small groups to create a Google Slides presentation about the five parts of the 5E model, focusing on what both the teacher and students do in each section.

Next, we reconvened in our small groups to discuss the reader response from the previous week, which was the NGSS classroom video featuring Ms. Copes' class and their lesson on changes to the Earth and their effects. After that, we began learning about ecology, which is the study of the relationships between living organisms. We explored topics like biomes, ecosystems, and habitats, and learned the differences between them. We then watched a video about animals with unusual and unexpected relationships, and we shared our findings with the class, as did others. Afterward, we shifted to food chains, which describe who eats whom, starting with producers and moving through consumer levels. We also discussed the difference between a food chain and a food web. A food web provides more detailed connections at each level, helping deepen understanding. Finally, we began working on an ecosystem project in our small groups, which we will continue next week.

From this week's lab, I was able to connect the new information to what I already knew. For example, last week we worked on a project about the components of the 5E model, and revisiting the 5E model this week helped strengthen my understanding of it. Additionally, the NGSS material built on our previous lessons, as we've been learning about it throughout the semester. Hearing my classmates' perspectives helped deepen my understanding of the various aspects of NGSS. When it comes to ecosystems, I already had some background knowledge from elementary school. I remember learning about ecosystems in first grade, and we even turned our classroom into an Amazon Rainforest to present to our families. Revisiting these topics this week was a great refresher and helped me connect past knowledge to new ideas.

I can apply this week's learning to my future career as a teacher in several ways. A strong grasp of the 5E model and NGSS will help me create effective, engaging lessons that enhance my students' learning experiences. This is important because I want my students to gain the most from their time in school. Also, revisiting topics like ecosystems, food chains, and food webs is crucial since I'll be teaching these concepts to my future students. It's important for me to have a deep understanding of these topics so I can teach them confidently and be ready to answer any questions they might have. Overall, this week's lab was highly valuable for my development as a future teacher.

Comments

  1. Katelyn GradyFebruary 19, 2025 at 4:10 PM

    Hello Macy, I agree that we did so much during lab even though it was through a zoom call. I think it’s great that you’re making connections between what you already know and the new information you're learning, especially with the 5E model and NGSS. I think it is very cool that you were able to make connections to a project you did in first grade with the Amazon Rainforest. I definitely agree that learning about NGSS and the 5E model will help create engaging and effective lessons for your students!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kendra KalkwarfFebruary 20, 2025 at 7:25 AM

    Hey Macy, I thought this week was also very jam-packed and interesting. I also like how we were able to connect what we learned last week to what we were continuing to learn this week. I agree that both the 5E model and NGSS will be very helpful in a future classroom. Those things are very vital in creating a fun experience with learning.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jenna DyerFebruary 23, 2025 at 2:15 PM

    Hi Macy, I like how you connected your past experiences, like learning about ecosystems in elementary school, to what you're learning now. Your plan to use the 5E model and your understanding of ecosystems, food chains, and food webs in your future classroom will really help you create engaging and effective lessons for your future students.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 3

I was gone from lab this week, out sick. That being said, my lab was the online powerpoint that our professor provided, which helped me learn a lot more about life cycles!  Can you connect what you’ve learned to prior knowledge? Yes, I’ve encountered the concept of life cycles in various science classes throughout my education, from elementary to college. It's fascinating how a seemingly simple concept like a life cycle can be taught at different levels and explored in so many different ways. How can this be applied to future teaching? Hands-on activities, such as using playdough to model life cycles, are valuable for learners of all ages. It really helped me grasp how each stage connects to the next. I hope to incorporate similar activities in my future classroom to support my students' understanding. What questions remain? During "lab", I wondered how a plant like an apple tree transitions from a flower to an apple? Dr. You explained that pollination is the key proc...
Read more

Week 10

Image
This week in lab, we focused on reinforcing our learning from the past few weeks in preparation for our cumulative exam tomorrow. We participated in a simulation demonstrating natural selection and evolution. In this activity, each group member represented an organism with with a specific trait, symbolized by different utensils. These traits either helped or hindered our ability to pick up beans (prey). After each round, the organism with the least favorable trait, determined by collecting the fewest beans, was allowed to switch to a different trait (utensil). By the end of the three rounds, we used our collected data to evaluate the hypothesis we had formed before the simulation. This activity illustrated the process of evolution, as the most beneficial traits became more common over time. It provided me with a clearer understanding of natural selection and evolution, making it a valuable learning experience. The simulation effectively demonstrated how natural selection and evolution ...
Read more

Week 14

Image
This week, we explored the particle model of matter by revisiting experiments from the first week of the lab. To start, we refreshed our understanding of particle characteristics by creating models of solids, liquids, and gases and examining how their particles are arranged. Next, each group was given a question to answer, such as "Where did the water on the can come from?" or "Why does ice melt faster on metal than on wood?" My group focused on investigating why ice melts faster on different surfaces. We used simulations to explore this, and we learned that metal is a good conductor of heat, while wood is not. This difference is due to the structure of particles in each material. Metal has tightly packed particles with little space for air, whereas wood has many air pockets between particles. For ice to melt, particles from another substance need to transfer heat to the ice, causing its particles to move. The metal, with its packed particles, can transfer heat more...
Read more