Abby Borth- Elementary Science Methods

 1. This week in lab, we focused on technology and evolution. We started by brainstorming the types of technologies that we prefer as students. My first thought on this was laptops and Google. I was able to learn about new technologies that can be used based on answers from peers. I also learned about the positives and negatives of simulations online. We talked about how simulations can be beneficial for students because it allows them to learn at a speed that works for them in a hands-on way. They are able to manipulate the simulation as they would like. A negative could be that it is not an accurate representation. After this, we looked at the NGSS and examined more Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Cross Cutting Concepts. Our activity today was creating our own short story based on evolution for third graders. We decided to make a story about the evolution of dogs and I was able to learn more about this along the way. I also learned what DALLE-2 is ...

  1. This week in lab, we started by reviewing the NGSS and the performance expectations, crosscutting concepts, science and engineering practices, and disciplinary core ideas. We specifically looked at these concepts for biological evolution. We then started talking about natural selection and I was able to review what this is. I learned that natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotypes. We were able to learn more about this through a natural selection bean lab. We did a simulation where different types of utensils represented predators and beans represented the prey. We developed two hypothesis with one being if you use a fork you will get the most beans and if you have a knife you will get the least beans. We also learned that there are predominant traits caused by natural selection.  4. I can use what I have learned in lab to my teaching in the future when teaching about natural selection. I would like to u...

  1. This week in lab, we first checked on our fast plants. They had reached the last stage in their life cycle. I was surprised to see some purple in the flower's color. After this, we reviewed our reading reflection from the previous week as well as what we did in lab. I further learned about the difference between phenotype and genotype and inherited versus acquired traits. Following this, we did two DNA mutation simulations individually. I was able to learn how mutations impact proteins. I learned that there are three types of mutations: point, insertion, and deletion. We continued to learn about mutations with a superhero activity. We were able to learn how mutations can be both positive, negative, and neutral.  4. I plan to apply what I have learned to my teaching in the future when teaching about DNA and DNA mutations. I would like to use the simulation activities that we did online with my students so that they are able to play with it on their own and learn in a hands...

1. This week in lab, we started by observing our fast plants. Our plant had grown a lot and now looks like it is starting to dry up without water. We then started looking at genetic materials. We talked about where DNA is stored as well as the DNA structure. I was able to refresh my memory on what the structure of DNA looks and relearn the three components of a nucleotide as well as what bases are paired with which. After this, we did an activity where we made our own DNA model made out of gumdrops and twizzlers. We then did a second activity where we made our baby face. I was able to learn how the genes of two parents affect what their offspring will look like based on dominant and recessive genes. I was able to learn what the difference between genotype and phenotype was.  4. I can apply what I have learned to my teaching in the future when teaching my own students about genetic materials. I thought each of our activities in lab were fun and engaging and I would like to use each ...