The NYT Learning Network's STEM writing challenge

From the NYT's Learning Network, "Why do hummingbirds nap? How do coronavirus vaccines work? Can two robotic spacecraft land on the moon at once? How do plant roots compete for water? Do foods like kiwis and cherries affect our sleep patterns?

If you click on any of these articles, you’ll see that they are written for a general reader. Special technical or scientific knowledge is not required, and each is designed to get our attention and keep it — by giving us “news we can use” in our own lives, or by exploring something fascinating in a way that makes it easy to understand and shows us why it matters."

If you would like to have your students enter this contest read the information on the site by clicking here.

Compound Interest and Chemical Compounds

Compound Interest is the name of the site and it sounds like a math or business site but it is a site for the exploration of everyday chemical compounds and uses some very nice infographics.  To see the site click here.  When I noticed this site, this was the infographic that I saw.

The article that came with this infographic can be found by clicking here.

 

Periodic Table of STEM Occupations

 

Even though this is in US dollars this still would work well as a starting point in a careers class in Ontario.

This site also has some information on these occupations such as median annual salary and education needed as well as links to more information.  To see the website click here.

SAT Math practice problems

 

If you are getting ready to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test or SAT and you want to do some math practice, here is a site that might be what you are looking for.  Click here to see the site.

 

Black History Month & Athletics Canada

 

Athletics Canada put together a little press release for Black History Month chronicling a few track and field athletes.  If you are old like me you remember Atlanta '96  and the foursome of  Bailey, Surin, Gilbert and Esmie kicking butt in the 4x100m relay.  Nice article and wow that was a quarter of a century ago.  Wow I am old.  The article also includes other great Canadian tracksters such as Mark McKoy,  Charamaine Crooks and Harry Jerome.  To see it click here. 

Project Phenomena

 

If you did not get enough "Phenomena" yesterday here is another site for all you STEM teachers and students.  To see the site click here.

NGSS - Using Phenomena to Engage Students

 

From NextGenerationScience.org, "Natural phenomena are observable events that occur in the universe and that we can use our science knowledge to explain or predict. The goal of building knowledge in science is to develop general ideas, based on evidence, that can explain and predict phenomena".   This site has a great collection of videos of phenomena that you could use to spark discussion in your classroom.  To see the site click here.  To see how you can use this site to start a discussion take a look at this example or watch some of the video below.

More Timelines by Venngage

Yesterday I posted about a tool for wikipedia timelines.  Today I am posting about a site that has many different templates for making timelines.  You can make historical timelines but they have many others that are business related or could be used for making an infographic.  To see them click here.

Wikipedia Timeline Creator

 

As usual classtools has many interesting tools to use.  They have now an editable timeline creator  You just type in your search term, for example World War II and you will get a nice timeline.  Now for education you might then want your students to do more research and add to the timeline created in this creator.  That said it is a nice starting point.  To see the timeline creator click here .  I have posted about other timeline creators.  To see them click here or here.

Happy Family Day

 

Another PD Day

Students, have a great long weekend while your teachers enjoy a full day PD session.  Also remember it is Valentines day this Sunday. 

AAAS - Lessons and Tools

 

As a follow up to yesterdays interactive activities for STEM todays site will give  teachers  a plethora of lessons and tools in the following categories: Earth Science, Physics, Astronomy, Chemistry, Biology, Health/Medicine, Engineering, Social Sciences, Technology, Mathematics/Statistics, Nature of Science and finally Careers.  That covers quite a few topics.  I also like the "Today in Science" to see what happened on this day in history.  To see the website click here.

The Concord Consortium - Interactive STEM Activities

 

If you would like some free interactive STEM activities for your classroom try clicking here.  Topics cover Physics & Chemistry, Life Science, Engineering, Earth & Space and Mathematics. 

Brightstorm Videos

 According to Common Sense Media, "Brightstorm is a website that provides short videos that can complement and cement what your kid is learning in class. The lessons, which are offered in English, math, science, and test prep, are taught by seasoned teachers, who break the content into small pieces so kids don't get overwhelmed. "  You mayt want to search the textbook you are using or browse by subject in the top left corner to find the topic you are teaching during your virtual portion of your class and provide a link for your students.  To see the website click here.

WILLIE O’REE: LESSONS IN SOCIAL JUSTICE & RACISM

 

From the OMHA, "Produced by Bryant McBride, the Willie documentary tells the story of Willie O’Ree, the first black player in the NHL. O’Ree had a tremendous impact on the sport of hockey and the communities he served. The NHL and Classroom Champions have come together to create a digital experience to facilitate discussion and learning around social justice and race through the lens of O’Ree’s experiences shown in the documentary."

They have included a link to a downloadable teachers guide and resource on the site. To see the website click here.

Print Free Graph Paper

 If you need the occasional piece of graph paper this will be a great site for you.  You can select almost any type of graph paper you can imagine.  To see it click here.

Stellarium - The Night Sky

 

A free downloadable powerful planetarium astronomy program that shows the night sky anywhere in the world. The display moves with a timer to show the changing night sky or can be locked for a specific time. Great for teaching about space probes in current events and astronomy in general. Once the program is opened press the “h” key for command information including exiting. Click on the configuration box on the lower left task bar and click on location. On the map click on the location you want (latitude and longitude specifics will help). The lower right task bar controls the time. Thirty minutes of playing with this program and its task bars will make you an expert. This program is very impressive.  You can also use the web version and not do the download.  The main page can be found by clicking here and the web version of the program can be found by clicking here.

Crash Course in Geography

 

Our friends at Crash Course now have a channel for Geography.  The videos are all 10-11 minutes long.  Below is a short preview to their channel.  Presently their are 4 lessons. To see them click here.

PD Day

 Students enjoy your day off before Quad 3 starts.  Teachers enjoy your staff meeting and getting your grades in.  I will be posting good "stuff" again starting tomorrow.  Enjoy.

Lesson Plan on Poetry that ties to History & Current Events

 

If you are doing a unit in either poetry, history or current events this might work for you.  It deals with the 22 year old Amanda Gorman's Inaugural poem "The Hill We Climb".  To see the website click here.