Start a Discussion TopicResearch Experiences for Teachers - S.W. King Intermediate School
At Samuel Wilder King Intermediate School, faculty and staff envision students prepared to contribute to the future: who build positive relationships by being respectful, responsible, resourceful and resilient. Aligned with the school's mission of challenging the minds and nurturing the hearts of students, this group is intended to share new ideas, activities and projects developed with the support of the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) - Middle School program.
Teachers at King Intermediate have designed new curriculum in the field of environmental science including: watershed study, tsunami and water quality, and environmental health lessons. This group will provide information and share lesson plans for the activities demonstrated at King Intermediate School.
| Teacher's Name | Grades | Subjects |
| Tina Chan | 8 | Earth Science |
| Lorie Javier | 8 | Earth Science |
| Debi Schmeding | 7 | Life Science |
| Julie Matsunami | 7 | Life Science |
| Yun Choe | 7 | Math |
| Ross Takahashi | 7 | Math |
| Name of Activity | # of Students Involved | Grades | Subjects |
| Rock Cycle Project | 170 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Science Fair Project | 170 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Cell Brochures | 30 | 7 | Life Science |
| Aquaponics | 125 | 7 | Life Science |
| Genetics Project | 30 | 7 | Life Science |
| Rock Cycle | 160 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Mineral Uses | 310 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Achieve 3000- Differentiated Literacy Program | 300 | 8 | Science |
| Pangea | 300 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Sea Floor spreading | 150 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Name of Activity | # of Students Involved | Grades | Subjects |
| Earthquakes | 300 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Pangea | 300 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Sea Floor Spreading | 150 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Cell Brochures | 29 | 7 | Life Science |
| Aquaponics | 160 | 7 | Life Science |
| Wave Properties | 300 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Tsunamis | 145 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Genetics Project | 30 | 7 | Life Science |
| Achieve 3000- Differentiated Literacy Program | 500 | 7/8 | Earth Science |
| Diseases | 30 | 7 | Life Science |
| Rocks & Minerals | 300 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Weather Factors- Humidity and Temperature monitoring | 30 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Equinox | 150 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Electromagnetic Spectrum | 300 | 8 | Earth Science |
| The Sun | 300 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Seasons | 300 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Bio-Char | 150 | 7 | Life Science |
| Environmental Issues | 150 | 7 | Life Science |
| Planets/Solar System | 150 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Surface Area | 150 | 7 | Math |
| Name of Activity | # of Students Involved | Grades | Subjects |
| Achieve 3000 | 255 | 7/8 | Earth/Life Science |
| Computer Assisted Instruction for Earth | 300 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Environmental Health: An Investigation of E.Coli | Science | ||
| Tsunami and Water Quality | 150 | 8 | Earth Science |
| What Causes Seasons | 60 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Greenhouse Effect | 100 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Name of Activity | # of Students Involved | Grades | Subjects |
| Star Project | 170 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Relative Humidity | 300 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Reasons for Seasons | 300 | 8 | Earth Science |
| Bottle Rockets | 300 | 8 | Earth Science |
Additional Activity Information 2011-12 School Year
Rock Cycle Project
Overview
Powerpoint demonstrating the life of a rock as it travels through the rock cycle.
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Science Fair Projects
Overview
Research for Science Fair.
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Cell Brochures
Overview
Students desgned travel brochure on the cell. Analogies are created between functions of organelles and various places one could visit.
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Aquaponics
Overview
Aquaponics unit set up and maintained by students. Sustainability lessons conducted with one team of 7th grade students to include SPED. Both 2010 sustainability workshops provided ideas and resources for this on-going project.
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Genetics Project
Overview
Reference work and wor-processed report are completed.
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Rock Cycle
Overview
Interactive Rock Cycle Lab.
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Mineral Uses
Overview
Students reference various sources on the internet to learn uses of minerals.
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Achieve 3000 - Differentiated Literacy
Overview
Support completion of assigned Science articles and activities.
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Pangaea
Overview
Interatctive and presentation mulitmedia; reference source for exploring evidence of continetal drift.
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Sea Floor Spreading
Overview
Interactive presentation.
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Additional Activity Information 2010-11 School Year
Earthquakes
Overview
Multimedia websites integrated into lessons covering content to include: plate tectonics, subduction, faults, volcanoes, seismic waves, crust folding.
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Pangea
Overview
Interactive and presentation multimedia.
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Sea Floor Spreading
Overview
Interactive presentation.
Related Links
Cell Brochures
Overview
Students designed travel brochure on the cell. Analogies created between functions of organelles and various places one could visit.
Related Links
Aquaponics
Overview
Aquaponics unit set up and maintained by students. Sustainability lessons conducted with one team of 7th grade students to include SPED. Both 2010 sustainability workshops provided ideas and resources for this on-going project.
Related Links
Wave Properties
Overview
Interactive multimedia to support lessons on wave properties (frequency, amplitude, energy, wave length).
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Tsunamis
Overview
Webquest - Understanding Tsunamis and preparedness.
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Genetics Project
Overview
Producing a word-processed report.
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Achieve 3000- Differentiated Literacy Program
Overview
Supports completion of assigned science articles and activities.
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Diseases
Overview
Producing a word-processed report.
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Rock & Minerals
Overview
Discovery based rock/mineral lab; understanding rock cycle.
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Weather Factors- Humidity and temperature monitoring
Overview
Use of tools to monitor, track and discuss weather pehnomena.
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Equinox
Overview
Web Hunt to introduce students to information regarding Spring Equinox.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum
Overview
Interactive sites that engage students with information on types, characteristics, uses of electromagnetic waves.
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The Sun
Overview
SOHO site exploration/Discovery Education materials.
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Seasons
Overview
Interactive multimedia to support lesons on reason for season. Use of Discovery Education and SciLinks interactive sites.
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Bio-Char
Overview
Experimenting with biochar plant growth.
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Environmental Issues
Overview
Online research of current environemntal issus.
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Planets/Solar System
Overview
Exploring characteristics of planets in the solar system.
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Surface Area
Overview
Exploring surface area; calculations for different geometric shapes.
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Additional Activity Information 2009-10 School Year
Achieve 3000
Overview
Science content-related reading lessons tailored to student reading level. Teen Biz is a differentiated literacy solution to improve reading comprehension, vocabulary and writing skills. Individual use of computers on a rotational basis 2-3 times per week.
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Computer Assisted Instruction for Earth
Overview
Science Topics:
- Rock Identification and Rock Cycle
- Mineral Use Lab
- Earthquakes: EM Spectrum
- Day/Nigh & Seasons
- Solar System
Animations and internet reference work regarding rock classification, characteristics, origin and mineral composition. Animations also used to support student understanding of the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphoc rocks. Unit conducted over 3 week period with computers used in lab groups of 4 students twice a week.
Use of animations, video sources for study of plate boundaries, subduction, hot-spot volcanoes, faults, seismic waves, crust folding. Unit conducted over a 3 week period with computers used by teams of 4 twice a week.
Properties and characteristics of mechanical and electromagnetic waves. Unit conducted over 2 weeks with computers use by groups of 4 twice a week.
Animation, simulations viewed of the movement of Earth in space.
Animations, simulations, reference work on tides, eclipse, and solar system objects. Students use computers in group of 4 once a week.
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Environmental Health: An Investigation of E.Coli
Overview
Local pond/stream water sample analysis. Students also collected data gps location, temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. Presence of E.Coli as a measure of environmental health.
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Tsunami and Water Quality
Overview
General understanding of land use and the impact of natural disasters the environment and survival of living things. Unit conducted over a week with computers used by groups of 4 students.
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What Causes Seasons
Overview
Lab demonstrating tilt of axis causes seasons; climate variation. 2 day lesson.
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Greenhouse Effect
Overview
Lab, reference work and lab report.
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Additional Upcoming Activity Information 2011-12 School Year
Star Project
Overview
Powerpoint of a star traveling though the life cycle of a star.
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Relative Humidity
Overview
Determine relative humidity in various locations on campus.
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Reason for Seasons
Overview
Create a model to support understanding of the influence of tilt on warning of the Earth.
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Bottle Rockets
Overview
Problem-solving activity demonstrating basic understanding of rocketry principles/Newton's Laws. Students construct and test water bottle rockets.