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BIG Question Science QR Codes to Engage Students. 

8/31/2015

1 Comment

 
QR codes are now common in todays society, primarily for advertising purposes. First designed in Japan for the automotive industry in 1994, they have, in recent years established themselves are a very useful and effective tool in education to move learning beyond the classroom and the world into the classroom.  

The following is one example of how I use QR codes to engage students and to stretch and challenge the most able of students. I provide students with a BIG question, such as "How can folding paper get us to the moon",  and ask them to compose their own scientific theory with evidence. This can be either an individual or small group task. The students then scan the code using a mobile device or tablet, watch the video, and evaluate the content and then compare and contrast this with their own model.   
This activity works well as a starter, a differentiated task or most effectively enabling students to understand the meaning of the term hypothesis and the thought process scientist go through to generate a new theory.  Additionally printed on to coloured paper they make interactive visual displays for classrooms. 

Click here for the BIG question files. 
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Lyric Sequencing

2/19/2014

0 Comments

 
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This activity can be used as behaviour for learning (BfL) activity to relax students at the start of the lesson and get them into learning mode, a literacy exercise where students have to highlight nouns, pronouns, verbs, transitive verbs, adjectives etc. The activity also enhances listening skills and is particularly effective for EAL students. Finally is can be used as the introduction and foundations of a lesson, where the basic lesson content is delivered through a song. 

Cut out each line of the lyrics, the students then have to place them in the correct sequence on hearing the song. This requires complete focus and silence and is most effective as a paired activity. The activity can be applied to any song, but I recommend that is has a low tempo as it has a calming affect on the students and they will need to find each line of the song before the next one is sung.  

They Might Be Giants the, '90's band of Birdhouse in Your Soul fame have produced many songs which are education related, their album and DVD Here Comes Science is an excellent resources and contains 19 tracks on various science topics which make really useful starters. 

I've included some of the tracks I've used many times which has had positive outcomes below. Songs that the students are not fully familiar with work best as they are then forced to listen intently to the track as opposed to just using their memory to complete the sequence. 

Meet the Elements - They Might Be Giants
File Size: 12 kb
File Type: xlsx
Download File

Close To Me - Kaki King
File Size: 12 kb
File Type: xlsx
Download File


Dream Catch Me - Newton Faulkner
File Size: 12 kb
File Type: xlsx
Download File

Chasing Cars - Snow patrol
File Size: 11 kb
File Type: xlsx
Download File


Titanium - Madilyn Bailey. Low tempo
File Size: 12 kb
File Type: xlsx
Download File

ROY G. BIV - They Might Be Giants
File Size: 12 kb
File Type: xlsx
Download File

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Differentiation Strategy #5 - Post-it Starter

2/8/2014

3 Comments

 
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Using the template below questions are printed out onto Post-it Notes. The colour of the Post-it Note corresponds to the level of difficulty of the question.

The Post-it Notes are then placed onto the desk of each student before they enter the room; the students then have to answer their question as their starter activity. Post-it Note starters enables the teacher to differentiate the question each student receives to challenge them, but at the same time make it achievable. I use the five different colours of Post-it Notes for five levels of difficulty. 

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Post-it Template 3x3.docx
File Size: 26 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

Post-it Note 1x3 Template.docx
File Size: 23 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

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3 Comments

Differentiation Strategy #4 - Balloon Starter

12/9/2013

1 Comment

 
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Balloons are hidden under tables and chairs before the students enter the lesson. On the teachers command the students have to find the balloon with their name written on it. Inside each balloon is a piece of paper with a question written on it, the students have to pop the balloon to obtain the question and then answer it. 

The questions can be based upon the previous lessons objectives and differentiated for each student. 

An alternative is to place a letter in each balloon, the students have to gather into groups of the same colour balloons and work as a team to arrange the letters to spell a key word associated with the topic and then compose a precise definition for that word.


1 Comment
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    Paul McCormack BSc(Hons), MRSC, FCollT, PGCE

    Author

    Paul is Head of Science in a secondary school in the South West of England, and a Fellow of the College of Teachers, with an interest in developing new and innovative learning and teaching strategies to enable students to achieve their potential.

    Tweets by @mccormackpj

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