Inquiry Lesson: Reducing Surface Tension

This week I taught a lesson on surface tension and cohesion of water molecules. I led the students through a guided inquiry activity which asked the question "Which liquid, when rubbed onto a penny, can reduce the cohesion of water molecules?". First I had the students perform a control test, which involved using a pipette to count how many drops of water will stay on a clean, dry penny. Then the groups of students were asked to choose a liquid (orange juice, carbonated water, or soapy water) which they thought might reduce the cohesion of the water molecules, causing less drops to stay on the penny. Students made their choices and performed an experimental test. The terms surface tension, cohesion, variable, and control test were reviewed before and after the lesson.

I found that using this inquiry lesson increased student engagement, but it also caused some argument between group members over what liquid to choose and why.

Will Melting Polar Ice Caps Cause a Sea Level Rise?

For my Master's course at Walden University, we were asked to do an experiment in which we filled a bowl with ice sticking out the top and filled the bowl with water. When the ice melted, the bowl did not overflow. I thought the bowl would overflow, and maybe I will repeat the experiment to make sure my results are accurate.

I found an article in the Seattle Times that could explain why the bowl of water did not overflow. The melting of Arctic ice caps does not contribute to rising sea levels. Floating ice already displaces water. When the ice melts, the sea level remains the same. Sea level rise associated with global warming would occur from large chunks of ice breaking off the caps, causing the water to displace. (Doughton, 2007). This is intersting to me, because I always assumed that the melting itself would cause a rise in sea level.

Doughton, S. (2007, September 7). Arctic ice cap to melt faster than feared, scientists say. Seattle Times.
     Retrieved from http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/

STEM Strategies Lesson Plan

This week I was required by my Master's program to develop a lesson plan using the 5 E's (engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation). This lesson plan format is brand new to me, and is very in depth (7 pages)! Although it took a lot of work and planning, it really made me realize how best to reach all of the learners in my classroom and inspire them to possibly consider a STEM career in the future.  Although it was not a requirement, I chose to implement the lesson with my eighth grade class.

The lesson plan format, like other ones I have used in the past, requires writing clear objectives that are measurable and addressing the state and national standards. It goes farther than others I have used to include real world connections, collaboration, and verbalizing how the plan will help develop scientifically literate students. It also places an importance on student inquiry and addressing all learning styles.

Although this lesson plan took me more than two hours to complete (I can't do this for every lesson!), it really made me understand how I can better reach my students. When I implemented the lesson, I was surprised to see how the students really enjoyed having more freedom to make their own decisions during the inquiry activity. I will definitely include more inquiry in myu upcoming lessons this school year.

My very first blog!

Hello, my name is Karen Pompilio. I teach eighth grade science in Irvington, New Jersey. I have never blogged before, and I am excited to share new ideas with other science educators.