Ouch, I shoulda seen that one coming. Maybe I can do a "Problem Based
Learning" unit and assign my students the task of designing a ruler that
has no potential for being played with. That should keep them busy for a
while. :-)

Liz Belasic wrote:

>
> I spoke too soon..... 6 inch rulers make great "finger boards"
> (skateboards)  I'll add that to my list of 1001 uses for a
> ruler................. =)
> Liz
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> middleschoolscience-unsubscribe@egroups.com

I spoke too soon..... 6 inch rulers make great "finger boards"
(skateboards)  I'll add that to my list of 1001 uses for a
ruler................. =)
Liz

Thanks for the suggestions!

I went out and bought a class set of 6 inch rulers with NO holes.
The 6 in ruler is a good size to use with the lab notebook and its
too small for "pretend sword fighting" or poking other students with,
or any other annoying use...... (hopefully =)) I will also number
them to keep track of them.
Thanks!
Liz
PS Jay, can you send me that teacher's web address again? The browser
wasn't able to locate the address you gave me. thanks!

Hmmmm,
not my pet peeve, so it doesn't usually get to me.  One of mine is
backpacks on the floor in the walkways.  I've just been honest and let
them know this really bothers me.  I talk to them about how they'd
rather have me in a good mood than a bad mood and then tell them that an
easy way to put me in a bad mood is to leave backpacks in the aisles and
wait for someone to trip over them.

Or, maybe could you work it into your curriculum, force and motion, how
helicopters work, or maybe looking at simple machines?  Then, once
you've spent time on it in class, you could tell them that since they've
already studied this phenomenon, you don't want to see it practiced in
class.

If you're like me, though, you already have too many things to teach in
a year!

Good luck,
Sarah

Hi
I understand the problem of the rulers.  This idea may be too late for this
year; how about buying a class set of rulers without holes and of course
monitor them for returning.  Or tell them not to bring rulers with holes!

Just a reminder that all posts and egroup information can be found at:

http://www.egroups.com/group/middleschoolscience

Thanks,
Liz
PS If anyone has a site suggestion for our webring, please let me
know - damselflywings@...

They don't call me "Captain Obvious" for nothing!

Liz Belasic wrote:

>
> Why didn't I think of that!  Sometimes the simplest answers are the
> hardest to see.... thanks Jay!
>
> Liz
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> middleschoolscience-unsubscribe@egroups.com

I use a homework slip system.  The main reason is so that their
parents know that they are not doing their homework, and to help them
learn responsibility.  If they don't get it signed, they miss recess
or have a detention.  It helps and plus there are no suprises when it
comes to report cards!  If the parents don't care if their kid
doesn't do their work, its tough to have the students care.
Here's the hw slip, its a pdf file:

http://www.middleschoolscience.com/hwslip.pdf

Hope that helps!
Liz

Why didn't I think of that!  Sometimes the simplest answers are the
hardest to see.... thanks Jay!

Liz

I have a hard time with students that don't care either. You can lead a horse
to water...I don't have a lot of problems with homework, though because I
give them the homework several days ahead of time, ussually about a week
before it is due.

Your strategy sounds fine, I will probably use it this year if I get the kind
of homework completion the other teachers on my team have. The only thing I
would add to your strategy is to make it sound from the hallway like you're
all having a ton of fun inside. Let the kids play music while they work on
labs. Do a lot of labs that involve toys like yo-yos and paper airplanes.
Tell jokes and show science cartoons on the overhead, and make sure that the
student unprepared hears everyone laughing.



Tracy Trimpe wrote:

>
> Speaking of pet peeves, my biggest one is students who don't do their
> homework.
>
> My main policy is that if a student doesn't have their work done, they are
> not allowed to participate in class discussions and activities.  They have
> to complete the assignment during their "quiet time".  After having to sit
> out of the fun stuff, the students usually get in gear and get their work
> done on time.
>
> What about the ones that don't care?  What have you tried that works?
>
> Tracy Trimpe
> The Science Spot
> http://theramp.net/sciencespot/
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> middleschoolscience-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Speaking of pet peeves, my biggest one is students who don't do their
homework.

My main policy is that if a student doesn't have their work done, they are
not allowed to participate in class discussions and activities.  They have
to complete the assignment during their "quiet time".  After having to sit
out of the fun stuff, the students usually get in gear and get their work
done on time.

What about the ones that don't care?  What have you tried that works?

Tracy Trimpe
The Science Spot
http://theramp.net/sciencespot/

My rulers don't have holes.  No problems!

Liz Belasic wrote:

>
> This is something that drives me mad and I need help with a
> solution...........
>
> Students are fascinated with twirling their rulers on their pencils,
> hence the helicopter resemblence, I was thinking about taking the
> rulers away from them and having them lose points on their lab
> because, in their lab notebook they are suppose to use a ruler to
> draw all straight lines, for tables and graphs, etc...
> Does anyone have an established plan that works for them?!?!
>
> Thanks,
> Liz =)
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> middleschoolscience-unsubscribe@egroups.com

This is something that drives me mad and I need help with a
solution...........

Students are fascinated with twirling their rulers on their pencils,
hence the helicopter resemblence, I was thinking about taking the
rulers away from them and having them lose points on their lab
because, in their lab notebook they are suppose to use a ruler to
draw all straight lines, for tables and graphs, etc...
Does anyone have an established plan that works for them?!?!

Thanks,
Liz =)

I've had a hard time sending this and I don't know why. This is attempt #5
if you have received 4 other copies of it, my apologies.

I don't usually play classical as much as the classics. I try to find theme

songs for my labs. When doing a pyrotechnic lab, we play disco inferno. We
play 409 and Little Deuce Coupe for the ballon racers event. The best
however is playing Jimi and some Beatles while doing the tie dye lab.

-Jay

Liz Belasic wrote:

>
> In my science class, I play classical music.  I have a small
> collection of CDs that I plan on expanding as time goes on.  Mozart,
> Bach, and Beethoven to name a few.  I also tune into the classical
> music station which hardly has any commercials or interruptions so it
> doesn't disturb the class.  I have the music on all day at a low but
> noticeable volume.  I find that the music creates a nice atmosphere
> and I have read studies that it helps to raise a student's I.Q. and
> brain activity.  The students seem to like it  and the ones that take
> music lessons can sometimes identify the pieces that are being played
> or tell me that they can play that piece on their instrument.
>
> Liz
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> middleschoolscience-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Thank you for the idea of playing music in class.  I have to find a way to
get a radio with a cd player!

In my science class, I play classical music.  I have a small
collection of CDs that I plan on expanding as time goes on.  Mozart,
Bach, and Beethoven to name a few.  I also tune into the classical
music station which hardly has any commercials or interruptions so it
doesn't disturb the class.  I have the music on all day at a low but
noticeable volume.  I find that the music creates a nice atmosphere
and I have read studies that it helps to raise a student's I.Q. and
brain activity.  The students seem to like it  and the ones that take
music lessons can sometimes identify the pieces that are being played
or tell me that they can play that piece on their instrument.

Liz

Be sure to check out this site:
http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/.  It was recommended to
me by a local teacher who used it to develop a science fair program at
her school.

Tracy

I have been looking at various sites about how to start a science
fair.  I have never done one or been involved in one, the school I
was at previously and the school I am in now don't have them.  How do
I go about it?  Is it just within the school, do we compete with
other schools?  Any and all information is appreciated.

Thanks!
Liz

Hi!  The shuttle launch was this morning!  They will be in space
until Sept 19. I have an Internet Lab activity to go along with any
shuttle mission.


Enjoy!

http://www.middleschoolscience.com/shuttle.html

My first day was yesterday, 9-6-00

I had a really good day, I was really nervous at first, then I got
into the swing of things rather quickly.  I have that First day of
school dry spot in my throat from talking to the students all day!
One of my classes is a little rowdier than the others, but not in a
bad way, just really chatty.  I think they will be a fun bunch!

I am only part time this year because I had a baby in January and
wanted to go back to work yet still have a lot of time with my son.
The position was available so I grabbed it and am really happy with
it.  I was full time before this year.

Hope all is well!
Liz

I posted some of the storage ideas on the Odds and Ends page (
http://www.middleschoolscience.com/odds.htm ), thanks for the great
feedback!!!  If you think of anymore, please let me know!  I am
learning new ideas as well!

Thanks!

Liz

If the photos are laminated I tell my students one of two things,  If
they need the backboard again for something else, use rubber cement,
otherwise, 3m two sided tape is good and 3m foam mounting brackets
are better, they will never fall off and they hold the picture out a
bit from the board giving it a nice 3-D effect.


>
>
>My kids are creating displays using Science Fairs boards.  What is the
>best way to attach laminated signs and photos - glue or tape?   Which
>brand works the best?
>
>Thanks,
>Tracy Trimpe
>The Science Spot
>http://theramp.net/sciencespot/
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>middleschoolscience-unsubscribe@egroups.com

I haven't tried this yet, but I think that those blue tacky things
that look like gum might work, and they are reusable.  Glue is
permanent and tape sometimes doesn't hold tight enough.  Just a
suggestion....let me know if it works ok.

My kids are creating displays using Science Fairs boards.  What is the
best way to attach laminated signs and photos - glue or tape?   Which
brand works the best?

Thanks,
Tracy Trimpe
The Science Spot
http://theramp.net/sciencespot/

I use baby food jars to make electroscopes using the TOPS recipe. My
favorite storage container is film canisters.  The photo shops will
give you garbage bags full of them and I can make small lab chemistry
sets with them. I also use coffee cans for markers and other office
supplies, mainly because we go through a lot of coffee here!



>
>I'd like to start a collection of storage ideas using items that we
>can get for free or otherwise would throw in the garbage?!?!?!?
>
>My son has been eating stage 2 baby foods and I have all these glass
>jars.....I peel off the label, put them in the dishwasher, and
>PRESTO! I now have something to store small items in, like pennies,
>marbles, powders for my Mystery Powder Lab, small light bulbs and
>resitors for my electricity unit, etc.
>
>Please feel free to add to this post, I'd like to get a large
>collection together!
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>middleschoolscience-unsubscribe@egroups.com

This was emailed to me by L.T., a 6th grade science teacher, and
thought I'd share it with you......

My contribution.... when teaching my sixth graders that measurements
need "last names"... I start class by telling the class that for
breakfast I had 2, 4, and 1.  They wonder what it was that I had.  I
could have had 2 pizzas, 4 turkeys and 1 chocalate bar or 2peas, 4
grains of salt and 1 pickle... you get the idea but I come up with a
few scenarios.  We discuss how important that info was and then I use
the example of measurement/ numbers.

I collect all types of "junk" that might be useful in my classroom.  Here
are a few ideas:

Plastic containers - Great for storing pennies, paper clips, masses, and
other little items for labs.  I have created "mini kits" for science units,
such as mineral ID kits with a magnet, nail, penny, streak plate, glass
plate, and bottle of vinegar.  This time of year most of my extra containers
are used to store insects for the annual Adopt-An-Insect Project.  Use them
to organize eye droppers, tweezers, small dropper bottles, and other small
items in your "junk drawer or cabinet".

Jars - Use large clean glass to jars to make cheap killing jars for your
insect unit!  I've used small baby food jars to make accelerometers.  A few
baby food jars are filled with sand (different types) and water for a
geology unit, while others hold oil, soap, and rubbing alchohol for a penny
experiment.

Film Canisters - One of the greatest treasures for science teachers!  I am
always finding new ways to use these little containers ranging from mystery
canisters for the density unit to metric masses.  Always a fun experiment -
alka seltzer rockets (but you need to use the Fugi brand for that!)

Shoe Box, Plastic Baskets, Pepsi Boxes - I take time at the start of a new
unit to create science kits for experiments - enough for six to eight
groups.  I place all the materials that the students will need in a box or
basket.  When the unit is over, I can straighten up the boxes, refill
supplies, then pack up the boxes until the next year.  While it takes a bit
of time the first year, I save lots of time each year I use them again!

Ziploc Bags - Another treasure for science teachers!  They can be used to
hold matching cards (or other game pieces), use as mixing bags for
cornstarch and other slimey materials, organize (and label) your rock,
mineral, and fossil collection, fill with sand for weights for your physics
unit, or protect science books, such as field guides and ID books.

Other things to collect:  toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, plastic 1-
or 2-liter bottles, marbles, old toy cars, and anything else that looks
interesting!

I'd like to start a collection of storage ideas using items that we
can get for free or otherwise would throw in the garbage?!?!?!?

My son has been eating stage 2 baby foods and I have all these glass
jars.....I peel off the label, put them in the dishwasher, and
PRESTO! I now have something to store small items in, like pennies,
marbles, powders for my Mystery Powder Lab, small light bulbs and
resitors for my electricity unit, etc.

Please feel free to add to this post, I'd like to get a large
collection together!

I know that some of you have started school already, here in NJ I
start Sept. 6th.  I can never sleep the night before the big day!  If
you have started already, let us know how it went!

Liz

If you have a great back to school idea, why not share it with us?