Methods of Teaching Science By: Jessica Dailey

INQUIRY PROJECT

Question: Do the hairs on a spider’s legs help it move across its web?

Hypothesis: Yes, the spiders legs help the spider move across the web.

Materials Spider Web Pattern Spider Web Pattern Regular tape Regular tape Double-stick tape Double-stick tape Eraser Eraser Toothbrush Toothbrush

Procedure 1. Make a model of ¼ of the web of a garden spider. Use the Spider web pattern. 2. First put down double-stick tape where shown. The double stick tape is a model of the sticky threads of a spider’s web.

Procedure 3. Next, put down regular tape. The regular tape is a model of the non- sticky threads of a spider’s web. 4. Put an eraser on one of the sticky outer pieces of tape. The eraser is a model of a spider’s prey.

Procedure 5. Start your “spider” at the center point of the web. Tap the side of the toothbrush without the brush along one of the non-sticky pieces of tape. Move from the center toward the prey. Record what happens.

Procedure 6. When you reach the outer ring, rap across the sticky tape. Record what happens. 7. Repeat steps 4 and 5, but this time use the other side of the toothbrush. 8. Collect and record your data.

Results

Conclusion The stiff hairs of the spider helps it move across the web.

Reflection The overall experience was wonderful. My mentor teacher is over the Science Fair at Marlton Elementary. So, she aloud me to do the Sample Science Experiment for the school. The students truly enjoyed this hands-on experience. The only set back was that it was a little time consuming. The overall experience was wonderful. My mentor teacher is over the Science Fair at Marlton Elementary. So, she aloud me to do the Sample Science Experiment for the school. The students truly enjoyed this hands-on experience. The only set back was that it was a little time consuming.

Science Teacher Interview

Q:How do you feel about science? A:Science was never my favorite subject in school but now with testing I think that science allows me to be creative with my students.. I try to make Science the subject that the students cannot wait to participate in. I try to incorporate a hands on activity in all of the units that we cover.

Q:How does the district support you? A:The district is somewhat supportive of science. With no child left behind the district only really looks at reading and math at the elementary school level.

Q:How do you fit science into their day/week? A:I do science, social studies and health on a three-day cycle. The lesson usually last about 30 minutes. If the students have an mini experiment to complete I have to run into the language arts block.

Q:How do your children feel about science? A: When I surveyed my students in the being of the year on how they felt about science a lot of the students expressed a dislike for science. But, as the year progressed I saw that the students enjoyed doing the hands-on activity, allowing them to be part of the experiment.

Q:Where do you find the best science resources? A: Honestly, there are not a lot of science resources for K-4 so I made friends with one of the fifth grade science teachers and she allows me to borrow supplies. A lot of the supplies that we use I have went and purchased myself.

Q:What advice do you have for me? A: The only advice I would give to you is to allow your students to be apart of science. Foster a love for science that you may not even have for science.

Q:Is there anything else I should know about teaching elementary science? A: If you teach science understand that you may have to purchase something for your class to make it interesting to your students.

Reflections I am a person that really does not like Science but, from interviewing my teacher I realize that I should put just as much interest in teaching Science as I do Mathematics. If I show my students that I have a dislike for Science I will not give them the opportunity they deserve to like Science. I think that my teacher is an exciting teacher and that transfers through on her lessons. I think I am truly learning what I need to know in this class. Now, I am going to try to look at Science in a positive light.

Trackstar /viewTrackMembersFrames.do?number= &password= /viewTrackMembersFrames.do?number= &password=

Reflection Using Trackstar I believe can be a very valuable tool in my classroom. By using trackstar I give my students a chance to get on the internet to reach information. But, by using track star I can make sure the places that they are getting the information is correct and from a valuable source.