10 Lesson Plans

1. How Animals Camouflage Themselves-
 http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/animals/camouflage.html- This lesson describes how animals are camouflaged. The lesson begins by describing how animals blend into their environment by the color or the pattern on the animal. The lesson has children look at pictures of animals that are camouflaged then they have children make a cutout of cardboard of an animal and color it with the marking so the animal is camouflaged into the color of the room. This is a good lesson for children because it allows them to take the concept of camouflage and apply it into creating their own animal that is camouflaged to their environment.

2.  Create a Tornado-
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/makeatornado.html-  This lessons allows children to create a tornado in  bottle. The students will mix together water, glitter, and dish washing liquid into a clear plastic bottle with a cap. Then the teacher is to have children turn the plastic bottle upside down and quickly spin the bottle in a circular motion. Students will see a mini tornado forming in the water. This is a good lesson because it allows children to see how to create vortexes on their own and they can learn how vortexes can be found in nature including tornadoes and hurricanes. 

3. The Harms of Pollution-
 http://www.lessonplanspage.com/aquatic-wildlife-and-pollution/- This lesson is about pollution that harms aquatic life. The lesson has the teacher have about fifteen photographs of several types of wildlife. Then the teacher will allow the students to work as a group of approximately four to five students. The teacher will have the students classify the pictures in any way that they can. Then, as a whole group then the whole class will look at how the students sorted the pictures and what pictures lie in each group. Then the teacher will have each group explain how they chose to classify the pictures. The teacher will also discuss what a good environment would be for these animals and what would be harmful. This is a good lesson because it is a hands on activity where children have the opportunity to work with other students and decide a type of environment animals need to live in to survive.

4. Parts of a Spider-
 http://www.lessonplanspage.com/sciencepartsofaspiderappearancehabitat1-htm/- This lesson teaches students about the parts of a spider. The teacher will begin by making a chart of the students prior knowledge about spiders. Then the students will be given photographs of spiders.  The student will have to organize and sort the photographs into classifications of their choice. As the students finish they will discuss the reasons students classified the spiders the way that they did. The students will look at their classification of the spiders and look what is similar or what is different. After students learn the basic structure of a spider the teacher will have the students make their own spider. This lesson is a good lesson because it teaches the students about the different parts of the spiders and the teacher can see if the student understands the different parts of the spider by how they constructed their own spider.

5. Life Cycle of a Butterfly-
 http://megan-sheakoski.suite101.com/butterfly-life-cycle-elementary-science-lesson-a100585- This lesson teaches students how a caterpillar changes into a butterfly by watching them grow in a butterfly garden in the classroom. After the caterpillars have gone through the four stages of the life cycle and emerged from the chrysalis as butterflies the students release them outdoors. At the beginning of the lesson the teacher has the whole class create a KWL chart of what they know and what they want to learn about of the life cycle of a butterfly. At the end of the lesson the teacher will get the chart back out and write what they have learned about the life cycle of the butterfly. This lesson is a good lesson because it is a hands on activity where students can observe the different life cycles of a butterfly.

6. Importance of Honeybees-
 http://www.ent.iastate.edu/zoo/lessonplans/honeybee.html-  In this lesson student will learn to identify the three types of honeybees and their responsibilities inside the hive. Students will also learn about how important honeybees are to humans and students will learn how honeybees communicate. In this activity students can role play the three different types of honeybees and their responsibilities by giving the student prompts to help them act out their responsibilities. This lesson is a good lesson for young children because they have the opportunity to get up and move around by acting out the responsibilities of the different types of honeybees. This will be a learning opportunity for children because they are interacting with their classmates by describing the responsibilities of each  type of honeybee.

7. Reflection of the Sun-
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=2359- This lesson teaches students that when they see the moon at night shine brightly in the sky it is actually us seeing the reflection of the sun's light on the moon. This lesson explains that the moon gets its light from the sun, just like we do on earth. In this lesson the teacher is to use an orange as a model of the moon to explain where the moon gets its light and use a flashlight as a model of the sun. The students are to write in a science journal about where the moon gets the source of light. Then each group is to cover their orange with foil. They can make the foil bumpy and with craters to look like the surface of the moon. Then they are to place it in the middle of a desk and the teacher will turn off lights. Students are then to turn on their flashlights and shine it on the orange that is to represent the moon. This is a good lesson because it has student use a model to represent how we see the reflection of the sun's light on the moon.

8. The Importance of The Water Cycle-
http://www.math.montana.edu/~nmp/materials/ess/hydrosphere/novice/water-cycle.html-
This lesson teaches children about the water cycle and how water is essential for all plants and animals to survive. The primary focus of this unit is to create an awareness of water, its uses, and to develop an understanding of its impact on life. After the students learn about the water cycle, the teacher is to ask students to think of as many places that water might be able to go when it falls to the earth. After they form a list, the teacher should try to group these ideas into different categories such as oceans, soil, lakes, and plants. Students are then to form small groups to create a poster that illustrates the water cycle of where the water might fall into on earth. This is a good lesson because students can work as a team to show their understanding of the water cycle by creating a poster of the cycle.

9. The Four Seasons-
http://web.wm.edu/act2online/Lesson_Plans/firstlp.htm#science- In this lesson students will identify all four seasons. In the lesson students will have to determine the clothing and activities the students can do during each season. They will also learn what happens to plants and animals during the four seasons by using a felt/flannel board with corresponding season pieces. Students will have to add the animals, clothing, and recreational activity for the proper season. This lesson is a good lesson because it allows students to think on their own and identify the different seasons and what the weather is like for each season. This lesson allows the teacher to assess the students knowledge of  the different seasons to see if they understand what happens in each season.

10. Earthworms-
http://www.teachpreschoolscience.com/EarthwormObservation.html- The lesson has students go out and find earthworms when it is the best time in a warm place to find them. The lesson teaches students the best place to look for earthworms is under a pot, rocks, or bricks after it rains. The students are to bring magnifying glasses and pencils with clipboards to draw the earthworm.The lesson also has children observe a couple worms by observing their body and how they move. The lesson  has the students create a habitat in an aquarium where the earthworms would like to live. The lesson has children add rich dark soil, plant matter, water, and the worms. This lesson is a good lesson because it gives children the opportunity to do a hands on experiment with observing on their own the different movements and behaviors of an earthworm.

10 Blogs/Websites About Science

1.The Tundra-
 www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=136160- This webquest is all about the Tundra. Children will learn what they can find in the Tundra by watching videos and playing games about different animals and plants that live in the Tundra. The value of this webquest is students can learn about the Tundra and have fun doing so because they are playing games. Many students do not know much about the Tundra therefore this can introduce them to the idea of the Tundra and how animals and plants survive in this harsh climate.

2. Life Cycle of a Butterfly-
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/- This website is all about butterflies. This website describes what exactly a butterfly is and talks about the life cycle of the butterfly which  is something that many students are interested in at a young age. This website gives puzzles of butterflies for children to complete, butterfly quizzes for children to complete, and the website even gives math activities about butterflies for children to tie math into science. The value of this website is students can learn many different fascinating things about a butterfly by going to this one website. This website is very interactive and allows students to explore on their own about butterflies.

3. The Water Cycle-
http://www.neok12.com/Water-Cycle.htm- This website is all about the water cycle. The websites gives many short videos children can watch about the water cycle. The website also provides a diagram about the water cycle for children to fill out and complete. The website also has puzzles for children to complete about the water cycle. The value of this website is that children can simply go to this website to understand how the water cycle works to give them a better understanding that goes beyond what they learned in the classroom.

4. Classifying Animals-
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/classification/kc_classification_appearance.htm- This website is all about different ways to classify different animals. The animals can be classified by  land mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and fish. The  website also describes the difference between warm and cold blooded animals. The website gives examples of warm and cold blooded animals. The value of this website is that children can learn different ways to classify different animals.

5. Biomes Around the World-
http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-for-kids/0165-biomes.php- This website will teach children about the different biomes in the world. They can click on the different biomes and learn what types of animals can be found in the different biomes. The students can also learn about how the animals survive by adapting over time to the environment that they are living in. The value of this website for children is they can learn on their own about the the different biomes around the world. The students can learn on their own about the different biomes and how fascinating it is by how they adapt overtime to survive in the environment that they live in.

6. Life in the Ocean and the Marine-
 http://www.earthskids.com/ek_science-marine.htm- This website is all about the ocean and marine life. The website has many videos about the ocean and marine life. The website gives a video about why the ocean matters and gives twenty five things humans can do to save the coral reefs. The value of this website is that children can learn at a young age of how important it is to take care of our oceans. Children who go to this website can learn about the facts about the different animals that can be found in the ocean and marine. The website also gives children coloring pages for children to color of different animals that can be found in the ocean. This will be good for children who are younger to get a chance to see what different animal creatures look like.

7. Parts of a Plant-
http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=139070- This webquest teaches students about the different parts of the plant. The webquest also describes to students that they are going to be botanist which is a person who studies plants and flowers. This is something that the children may not have never heard of before. The webquest has videos that children can watch that teaches them about the life cycle of a plant. Students can learn and practice labeling the parts of a plant. The children can also have the opportunity to play a game about labeling the parts of the plant. The value of this webquest is children can have the opportunity to learn all about the different parts of plants by having many choices of practicing the different parts of the plant by playing games and labeling the parts of the plant.

8. Life Cycle of Animals-
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/scienceforkids/life_cycle/index.htm- This website teaches students about the different life cycle of different animals. The students can click on either the frog, butterfly, or bird to play a game about the life cycle of the animal. The website also has a video about life cycles of different animals. This can teach children about the different stages of the life cycle. The value of this website is children can learn about the life cycle by watching the video but they can also have fun practicing what they have learned by playing the games of putting the stages in order of the animal's life cycle.

9. The World of Weather-
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/- This website teaches children to learn more about the fascinating world of the weather. Students can learn about the different types of weather such as hurricanes and tornadoes. The website also gives children safety tips of what is safe to do during different types of storms. The website gives different games for children to play such as a memory game that has children match different pictures of weather and also a word search of weather vocabulary.  The website also has answers to common asked questions that children ask such as why is the sky blue. The value of this website is that it gives many different activities for children to do that will teach them about the different types of weather that can occur. What I found most useful from this website for children to do is the safety tips that the website gives for children to do in certain weather circumstances. Weather can be dangerous at times therefore children need to learn at a young age what to do.

10. The Solar System-
 http://home.earthlink.net/~tpabon/kindergplanets.html- This website is all about the different planets that can be found in the solar system. On the website there is a picture of each planet and the student can click on the planet that they want to learn more about. When the student clicks on the planet they want to learn more about, they can learn how close the planet is to the sun and the temperature that it is on that planet. The website also gives parents and teachers activities that they can do with their children to better understand the location of the planet to the sun. The value of this website is children can learn facts about the different planets on their own by going to this website. I know some children love to learn about the different planets therefore this websites allows them to to find facts on their own and see what the planets look like up close.

10 Great Science Books

1. Scientists Ask Questions by Ginger Garrett- This book introduces to young students what exactly scientist do. The book explains how scientists use their senses to observe different things.
2. You Can't Smell a Flower with Your Ear! by Joanna Cole and Illustrated by Mavis Smith- This book deals with science because it teaches students about the different senses that they have. The book describes how we use our senses to explore different objects. The book also describes how scientists use their senses to explore. This can explain to students how they can be like scientists by using their senses.
3. Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss- This book is something that children would enjoy to read because Dr. Seuss uses silly words throughout it. This book can be related to science because at the end of the story students can create the oobleck. They can learn about mixtures and how some ingredients dissolve when adding it to water and others do not. The students can also use their senses to observe the oobleck by using their sense of touch to feel the oobleck.
4. The Big Bug Search by Caroline Young and illustrated by Ian Jackson- The is book is good for students because they can pretend like they are scientists and look for different types of bugs. The students could go on a nature walk after  reading this book and look for the different bugs that they read about. Most young children love bugs therefore this will give them a chance to learn about them as well.
5. Look Who Lives in the Desert by Alan Baker- This book relates to science because it teaches students all the different plants and animals that can be found in the desert. This describes to the students how the plants and animals survive through adaptation overtime. It also describes the harsh weather in the desert.
6. A Walk in the Rainforest by Kristin Joy Pratt- This book describes the rainforest to young children. The story is perfect for young children because it walks through the alphabet by describing different things that can be found in the rainforest. The book begins by talking about the anteater and it explains where the anteater can be found. The students will also enjoy the illustrations of the rainforest. This book relates to science because it describes the habitat and what can be found in the rainforest.
7. Butterflies  by Emily Neye and illustrated by Ron Broda- The book relates to science because it describes the fascinating life cycle of butterflies. The book also describes how butterflies migrate and how they are camouflaged. The book also describes the differences between butterflies and moths which may be confusing for young children.
8. Ocean by Sheila Rivera- This book deals with science because it is all about the habitat of the ocean. The book describes what different plants and animals live in the ocean. The book also describes what the ocean is and where they can be found in the world. This book is good for young children because it introduces to young children what an ocean is.
9. Nature Spy by Ken Kreisler and illustrated by Shelley Rotner- This book relates to science because it is all about the nature. It is important that children are familiar with the natural world that they live in. The book is about a young girl who describes the sizes, shapes, and patterns found in plants and animals in nature. This book is something that young children can read and then they could go on a nature walk looking for different patterns that they read about in the book.
10. Across the Solar System by Rod Theodorou- This story is perfect for science because it is all about the solar system. This book would be a good way to introduce the solar system to young children. The book takes the reader on a journey through the solar system and describes each planet to the reader. Most students are interested in the solar system therefore this book would allow them to learn about how the solar system works.

Investigation Box

I created an investigation box for students in a third or fourth grade classroom. The investigation box is about exploring different mixtures and textures. In the box I have included sand, salt, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, cornstarch, confectioners sugar, canola oil, and orange Kool-Aid. I have note cards in the box to prompt the students to explore the different materials in the box. I want the students to use their different senses to explore the mixtures and textures. I have magnifying glasses in the box and I have an explanation to students on a note card to use the magnifying glass to observe the mixtures and textures. I also have on a note card to feel and smell the different mixtures and textures. I want the students to see if any are similar by the sight, touch, or smell of he mixtures and textures. In the investigation box I have water and cups provided. I have on a note card to have the students pour water in each cup and place each mixture in a separate cup with the water to observe what happens with the mixture in the water. I have a spoon in the box to have them stir the mixtures in the water to observe what it looks like. I have created an recording sheet of the different mixtures and textures for them to write or draw what they experienced. In my investigation box I provided two books about how scientists use their senses to explore. The books are Scientists Ask Questions by Ginger Garrett and You Can't Smell a Flower with Your Ear! by Joanna Cole and Illustrated by Mavis Smith. I also have provided the book by Dr. Seuss called Bartholomew and the Oobleck. I provided this book because I wanted the students to create the oobleck. I have provided the ingredients and measuring cups to make the oobleck which is one cup of water and one and half cup of cornstarch with a big mixing bowl. After the students have made the oobleck I ask for them to use their senses of touch, smell, and sight with the magnifying glass to see what the oobleck is like. This provides the students with an interesting hands on activity about the use of senses and exploring different mixtures and textures.