Mystery Item Objectives: – Write a descriptive paragraph using proper sentence structure and a variety of adjective and adverbs – Use careful scientific observation – Understand physical and chemical change in matter – Use creativity (think outside the box) – Answer “What if” questions – Stump your peers with your creative description Stem connections: Science, Technology Writing skills, careful observation, critical thinking, cooperative learning

Example Mystery Paragraph Teacher Example : My item is usually spherical but can be made compact if necessary. It comes in a variety of hues and is considered quite enjoyable to people of all ages. It is flexible and is either a petroleum product or a common artificial chemical. People enjoy it especially on popular ground quartz surfaces. It can be dangerous to very young children if it is ruined. Its odor tends to be very unpleasant, especially if it gets very hot. Water won’t hurt it, but sharp items could make it less useful. It would not please the taste buds. Can you guess what it is? Student sample: My mystery item is kind of stretchy. Its color is tan. If I flung it at you, it could give you a welt. You also use it for wrapping different things. It can be short or long. You can buy them in packs of 100. It has a bad odor if it gets too hot. My brother cries when I hit him. My mom hates them.

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Brochures Using a Word Processor

More Word Processing STEM Activities Geography or Health – – Visit the grocery store and find out who our food producers are? Plot them on the map. – Then have students write a paragraph on how transportation has changed eating habits. “Necessity is the mother of invention.” – Research the history of a type of invention (check Time Liner data or create a database) – Then have students use the data to write a paragraph on how that history has affected them personally. Have students write a procedure for doing something. Have students cut and paste sentences on the word processor to put events or steps of a procedure in order.

Databases in STEM Careers Scientific research Statistical analysis (environment, medicine, weather, engineering, etc.) Forensic science Computer programming & new technologies Engineering Analysis Using database sort & filter functions … requires following directions encourages critical thinking/problem-solving provides opportunities for statistical analysis gives students practice at finding facts quickly fosters cooperative learning

Databases Use databases to Use databases to … Discover the status of endangered species in PA. If you were in charge of conservation, what would you do? Discover the location of major volcanoes and earthquakes, plot them on a map & analyze the data. Discover what birds with long beaks eat. Why? Discover life in the sea bed? Explain how the organisms depend on each other. What are some compounds of carbon? How do they affect you? Find transportation inventions of African Americans. Discuss the reason for the inventions and explain how they affect you.

Resources method.shtml About Sandra Dounce  Technology Curriculum Integration Specialist Computer Teacher – 21 years  Technology curriculum design (Methacton & Philadelphia Archdiocese)  Workshop presenter (Methacton, PETE&C, MEC (AZ) Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and Montgomery County Intermediate Unit)  Author/co-author of various journal articles  Author of Database Magic: Using Databases to Teach Curriculum in Grades 4-12 (ISTE, 2008)  Teacher certification in PA ( Elem. & Instructional Technology ),  BA in French, MA (Student Personnel Work)  Additional course work in math & computer programming Please see my WIKIS for presentations and more classroom projects