My physical science topic is Nuclear Energy. The following websites provide information to students about nuclear energy and power plants:
The following website I found to be extremely informative:
It provides information about nuclear energy, an energy timeline, famous scientists that have contributed to the study of energy, tips on using and saving energy, and games and activities students can participate in using information regarding energy. This site provides an excellent activity for students to conduct an energy analysis of energy consumption for the past 50 years. Students are required to collect data from various websites that provide information about energy consumption and sources in production and consumption considering fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewable energy sources. They will use graphs of historical data and research historical and societal events to determine and analyze trends in energy. This activity which is written in detail at this website will guide students to becoming scientifically literate relating to nuclear energy and various other energy sources. Through the use of the computer students will collect the data needed to complete the data graphs and charts.
This website offers a connection to real life by presenting information regarding the tsunami in Japan
One challenge that I see for the use of technology within my school district is the availability of computers for many of my students. We have access to a computer lab at school that is not always reliable for use with thirty students at a time.
Thanks for sharing the website links on your blog. I will definitely be checking those out. I do have to agree with you regarding the real life situation connection with the students. If we can connect any of the content with current major events it makes it much more interesting for our students. Even if they don't necessarily enjoy the content being taught, they often make a connection because they understand that what they are learning is relevant in the world today (even if it is not relevant to their lives specifically). So connecting nuclear energy to the situation in Japan would have made students a lot more engaged in the content!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing these links. I don't normally teach Nuclear Energy in middle school, but I can see how powerful these resources could be for your students. I really like your real life example. It was a very big current event that students were hearing a lot about. It was and still is an issue for the people in Japan.
ReplyDeleteThe challenge with the laptops, is it possible for you to rent out the laptops or computers to your classroom? This is what our school had for years before we adopted the one to one laptop program. Even a station in the classroom with laptops would be great for students to use if you can get four or five of them.