Course Objectives for
Teaching Elementary Math and Science

~Examine personal beliefs and attitudes and engage in metacognitive reflections regarding learning and teaching of science and math-Assessment Paper (Math Page)
~Demonstrate the ability to plan instructional activities that integrate science and math across curricular areas, are applicable to daily life and are developmentally appropriate, apply appropriate and varied assessment strategies, and understand and apply the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards, National Science Education Standards, and the New York State Learning Standards in the context of your instructional activities-Various Lesson Plans (Math Page and Science Page), and Science Inquiry
~Appreciate the variety of strategies that children use to solve problems, develop and demonstrate effective ways to guide students in the development of their problem solving strategies, and demonstrate the ability to formulate questions which will reveal children's construction of meaning in science and math-Problem of the Week (Science)
 

To Be a Tree Lesson Plan
The following lesson was done with a group of about 50 1st graders.  The goal of the activity was for the students to learn the important parts of a tree, while actually constructing their own.  The children were thrilled to do this project, and they really understood the parts of a tree when we asked them follow-up questions after the lesson.    This, among various other lesson plans I have created, apply to goal two, as stated above, because my ability to plan a lesson, carry it through, apply it to other subjects, and have children participate in a follow-up activity to measure their understanding is demonstrated.  Most of these lessons have a reflection to go along with them to explain how the lesson went, and what the purpose was.
Click above to incorporate this into your classroom!
 

Literature-Based Science Inquiry-Arthur's Hiccups
A great way to introduce a science lesson in the classroom is through literature.  The following is a complete investigation for science, using the children's book, Arthur's Hiccups.  You will be able to see how the lesson originated, the investigation, and the conclusions gathered.  You will also see the visual constructed to go along with the investigation.  This investigation applies to goal number two, stated above, because it demonstrates my ability to plan a full lesson for students, follow it through, and also incorporate children's literature into subjects other than Language Arts.
 

Problem of the Week-Free Discovery
The following lesson was conducted in a class of my peers.  The point of the lesson is Free Discovery.  I wanted adults to be able to understand how a child processes discovery when given a task.  The activity was very successful, and the actual experiment itself can be used in a classroom.  This activity demonstrates many ways in which children go about solving problems in the classroom.  It also offers various ways in which the lesson can be manipulated to challenge the students, and really get them thinking.
Click here to get an idea of the project!
 

Science-Based Children's Books
Tying literature into science is a great way to emphasize the importance of science.  Many times, a child will be interested in a science activity and want to read more about it.  Here is a short list of books that may be used in the classroom to elaborate on certain science lessons.