ONLINE CLASS

     Since we're not sure when face-to-face classes will resume I'll start by outlining what we'll do online for the next 3-4 weeks.  Rather than listing class by class activities, I'd like to provide a description of the four major activities you can work on and you can decide how to best allot your time over the next few weeks.  I will post updates from time to time and if you have any questions please e-mail me.

So, to begin:

Your Unit.  We've discussed this in some detail, and I've posted guidelines for the unit on this website.  I think this is something you can work on individually and complete by the day of the final.  

STREAM Project.  The assignment description is posted on this website.  Ideally, this could have been an individual or small group project (and if you are able to work online with another student or two, please do so.)  I'm guessing at this point it will be an individual project for most of you, but that may depend on when we can meet in the classroom again.  
     If we were meeting as usual, we would have been looking at several examples of completed projects and discussing what materials you might need to gather for your project.  The best approach for now is to consider this a "wish list" project.  That means still plan the activities, locate and price materials (Amazon is a great site for lots of this stuff, also many online science kit sites), look for appropriate children's lit books or resources.  You can think of this as a possible grant application you might develop in the future.  So - it's all on paper for now.  As we get closer to the end of the semester, I'll provide more info about the format for what you'll be turning in and give you an example completed assignment.

Demonstration/Mini-Lecture.  This assignment would have you develop a 5 minute lecture on an SOL topic.  Your audience for this would have been the grade level students, but it would be presented to the 303 class.  The lecture would include a simple science demonstration that would help students understand the concept you're teaching.  There are tons of good examples of elementary science demos online, one example: https://www.keslerscience.com/a-science-demo-day-that-students-will-never-forget/You can also look at Pinterest.  The demo should be interesting and help students understand the concept you've been talking about.  You should plan on using very simple materials - and practicing the demo to make sure it works. 
     So, for now, you can start deciding which SOL you'll use, outline your mini-lecture, and find a good demo.  The key is finding a demo that really helps students understand the concept you're talking about.  I don't know if we will do this in class - depends on when we return - but you can start planning.  If we don't do this in class, you will turn in a one-page outline of your mini-lecture and a one-page description of your demonstration activity, listing materials and procedure, and a reference for where you found the demo.

Small Group Teaching.  For this assignment, you would be sitting at a table with four or five classmates.  Each person would take a turn leading a 12 minute small group lesson on an SOL concept.  You can choose any grade level and any science SOL.  The lesson would be a brief intro to a concept, then an activity that has students making some sort of learning aid (lapbook, foldable, cards) related to the concept, then a closure reviewing the learning aid and how students might use it.  Pinterest is a great site for this.  
     We usually do this activity the last day of class, so you have time to develop this one.

Practicum.  This really depends on how soon we'll be back and when the schools re-open.  If it's looking like you won't get your 20 hours, I have a number of projects for you to work on that will involve developing teaching materials and resources for the schools and public libraries.  I'll post a description of these later, when we will have a better idea of how much practicum time you'll still need.