Calling all science teachers...

[Grootveld]

Hi there, I am relatively new to this board, but it seems like a great place to share some ideas and 'tactics' that have worked for you.

Recently I had to teach several classes of students valencies, while I did this with varying success most of it was sheer memory work. I racked my brains looking for fun and interesting ways to present this but in the end there didn't seem to be much I could do. Hence, I was wondering if anyone has come across any interesting ways of teaching a topic like this without just having to remember things.

[sibiology]

I teach college level biology but we learn organic chemistry at the begining of each semester. I sometime play pin the electron on the atom - like pin the tail on the donkey. When they get it right then that is great... but when someone puts it in the wrong place that is great too because when the other students can pick out that it is wrong you are doing a great job!!! I do not blindfold them - but I do not give any hints on where the next electron goes either. I play a lot of games in class - it seems to help them relax and learn instead of freaking out and studying and not getting anything out of it.

Jenny

[dhom]

That sounds like fun. :) Students love to play games in class. Another way to do this is to divide the class into groups and turn the game into a contest. Give them tough problems and see who can get the answers first!

[SCIENCE GUY]

Just Use The Coliumns In The Periodic Table For The Representative Elements And No Memorization For These Will Be Necessary And The Students Will Also Become Familiarized With The Table

[docteacher]

Do you have bingo in the US ?

Anyway, this seems to work when students are required to remember knowledge based stuff.

1. On an A4 piece of paper list words that are answers to questions from 1 to 16 or 1 to 25.

2. Create a 4x4 or 5x5 grid.

3. Students are given this (photocopied) sheet.

4. They randomly place numbers in the grid.

5. You then choose a question.

6. The students are given some think time and put the answer on a whiteboard.

7. They hold up their answers.

8. If correct they cross off that number.

9. The game continues until a student has a complete line (can be vertical or horizontal or diagonal - up to you).

10. Continue, allowing all students to get 'Bingo'

This is great fun and students don't even realise they are learning !!!!!

[SLP]

I'm sure you science teachers all know about Dragonfly TV. This is just a sampling of some of my favorites to make science come alive for students:

http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/web_assets/pdf/dftv_teacherguide_7.pdf

The guide involves the science/physics of hockeysticks, kites, forensics, and engineering (build a hovercraft). FUN!

[Carolyn B]

Do you have bingo in the US ?

Anyway, this seems to work when students are required to remember knowledge based stuff.

1. On an A4 piece of paper list words that are answers to questions from 1 to 16 or 1 to 25.

2. Create a 4x4 or 5x5 grid.

3. Students are given this (photocopied) sheet.

4. They randomly place numbers in the grid.

5. You then choose a question.

6. The students are given some think time and put the answer on a whiteboard.

7. They hold up their answers.

8. If correct they cross off that number.

9. The game continues until a student has a complete line (can be vertical or horizontal or diagonal - up to you).

10. Continue, allowing all students to get 'Bingo'

This is great fun and students don't even realise they are learning !!!!!


This also works really well when kids need to memorize Periodic Elements, or chemistry equations (combinations, too, such as NaCL or HCL)