CHAT STATIONS IN ELEMENTARY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

As an elementary teacher, you are always looking for innovative ways to engage your students and make learning about science and technology more interactive. One strategy that has been gaining popularity in recent years is the use of chat stations in the classroom. 


Chat stations are small group discussions that take place at different stations set up around the classroom. Each station is focused on a specific question related to the topic or unit being taught. Students rotate through the stations, spending a set amount of time at each one, and engage in discussions or complete activities related to the topic at that station.

Chat stations are a great way to introduce a unit and activate prior learning or to review what has been taught after the unit is finished. By engaging in small group discussions, students are able to share their ideas and build upon each other's knowledge. This not only reinforces what they have learned but also encourages them to think critically and creatively.

Here are some tips for using HANDS-ON~MINDS-ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CHAT STATIONS in your elementary science classroom:

• Use prompts and images that are relevant to the topic or unit being taught. This could include introducing or reviewing key vocabulary and discussing important concepts from the curriculum.

• Set up the stations in advance. Print out the prompts and put them up around the classroom. Make sure that students have a copy of the recording sheets and a pencil. Provide each student with a clipboard, if possible.

• Provide clear instructions for each station. Explain the purpose of the activity or discussion and give students a clear task to complete.

• Keep the rotations short. Depending on the age and ability level of your students, rotations should last between 3-5 minutes to ensure that students are engaged and focused.

• Encourage student participation. At the end of the stations time, provide opportunities for students to share their ideas and ask questions. This can be done through whole group discussions.

In summary, chat stations are a great way to activate prior learning or review what has been taught in your elementary science classroom. By engaging in small group discussions and activities, students are able to share their ideas, build upon each other's knowledge, and think critically and creatively. Try incorporating chat stations into your next science lesson and see how they can enhance your students' learning experience.

Click on any of the images below to see the Hands-On~Minds-On Science and Technology Chat Stations for Ontario Science and Technology. 

GRADE 7 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CHAT STATIONS

GRADE 6 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CHAT STATIONS

GRADE 5 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CHAT STATIONS

GRADE 4 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CHAT STATIONS

GRADE 3 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CHAT STATIONS

GRADE 2 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CHAT STATIONS

Grade 3 Strong and Stable Structures

Grade 3 Strong and Stable Structures from the 2022 Ontario Curriculum, Science and Technology focuses on students learning about different types of structures and the materials that are used to build them. Through hands-on activities and investigations, students will learn about the properties of different materials and how they can be used to create strong and stable structures. They will also learn about the different types of forces that act on structures and how engineers and architects use this knowledge to design and build safe and functional structures. 

Some key concepts that are covered in this topic include:

• Different types of structures (e.g. bridges, buildings, towers)
• The properties of different materials (e.g. strength, flexibility)
• The different types of forces that act on structures (e.g. tension, compression)
• How engineers and architects use this knowledge to design and build safe and functional structures.

In addition, students will also have opportunities to design, construct and test their own structures using a variety of materials, such as cardboard, straws, pipe cleaners and tape. This will give them a chance to apply what they have learned and explore different design possibilities.

Overall, the Grade 3 unit on strong and stable structures is an engaging and hands-on way for students to learn about the world around them and the principles of engineering and architecture.

Below you will find a variety of linked resources to help support the teaching of Grade 3 Strong and Stable Structures in your classroom!

HANDS-ON~MINDS-ON STRONG AND STABLE STRUCTURES

HANDS-ON~MINDS-ON GOOGLE SLIDES™ STRONG AND STABLE STRUCTURES

STRONG AND STABLE ILLUSTRATED WORD WALL 

STRONG AND STABLE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CONCEPTS POSTERS

STRONG AND STABLE STRUCTURES WORD WALL AND POSTERS BUNDLE

STRONG AND STABLE STRUCTURES ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING TEST

STRONG AND STABLE STRUCTURES TOPIC BUNDLE

2022 ONTARIO CURRICULUM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

In case you have been wondering what I have been doing for the past year? After a challenging 2021-2022 year of a grade change to Grade 3, I spent the summer  updating resources so that they would align with the expectations for the 2022 Ontario Curriculum Science and Technology. 

I have finished updating ALL of the HANDS-ON, MINDS-ON resources in both PRINTABLE PDF and GOOGLE Slides™ format. You can find these included in the MEGA BUNDLES and TOPIC bundles on Teachers Pay Teachers. 

Click on the links below to download the updated versions or to purchase any of the revised and updated resources!

Bundle Up for Bundles Sale! January 1st

Happy New Year! Despite the challenges we are facing as educators these days, there are still things we can celebrate! Like a great one day sale from some of your favourite Ontario sellers on TpT. Be sure to check out the hashtag #bundleuptpt to find lots of amazing deals.

 For the first time EVER, all of my individual grade MEGA BUNDLES will be on sale for 50% off. Grab one (or more) of these bundles and get everything you need for teaching science in Ontario.

Mega Bundles include:

-Printable PDF student activity versions of ALL topics for the grade 
-Digital Google Slides versions of the student activities (force copy link in PDF)

-Fill in the blanks VOCABULARY word wall cards for all topics for the grade

-Science and Technology Concepts Posters for each topic in the grade

-*NEW* editable Assessment of Learning Tests for each topic in the grade

-Getting Started Guide with pictures and instructions for setting up your program

Click on the images to see all the sale bundles in my store!

ONTARIO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING TESTS

"The primary purpose of assessment and evaluation is to improve student learning. Information gathered through assessment helps teachers to determine students’ strengths and weaknesses in their achievement of the curriculum expectations in each subject in

each grade. This information also serves to guide teachers in adapting curriculum and instructional approaches to students’ needs and in assessing the overall effectiveness of programs and classroom practices." (The Ontario Curriculum Science and Technology, pg. 22)

The Ontario curriculum is designed in such a way that evaluation focuses on students’ achievement of the overall expectations, although all curriculum expectations must be accounted for in instruction and assessment. (See Growing Success: Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting in Ontario Schools, p. 38.)

For as long as I have been creating resources for science and technology, teachers have been asking me how to assess what students have learned.  Having been an Ontario teacher for over 30 years, I have developed a repertoire of assessment and evaluation techniques based on my lived experiences with students. When they are working I am making observations, giving them oral feedback and checking that their written work is accurate and complete. 

As teachers we record our observations on checklists and use rubrics for major projects and notebooks. Each time I teach a new topic in science and technology, I use the student notebooks and their Let's Create! and Let's Inquire! tasks as part of my triangulation of data but I wanted to create an assessment piece that would help tie all of the parts of my assessment data together.

Enter my NEW editable assessment of learning tests!

These tests:

• address both what students learn and how well they learn;

• are based both on the categories of knowledge and skills and on the achievement level descriptions given in the achievement chart on pages 26–27

• accommodate students with special education needs, consistent with the strategies outlined in their Individual Education Plan;

• accommodate the needs of students who are learning the language of instruction;

These tests are aligned with all of the science and technology resources that are available in my Teachers Pay Teachers store and will give teachers, students and parents a way to share what students have learned during the unit of study.

Click on any of the images below to see the BUNDLES available in my store. All of the assessment of learning tests are also available individually and you can view the links to each within the bundle for that grade.

Classroom Friendly Supplies Pencil Sharpener Review

Back to school was anything but back to normal for me! I have changed grade assignments three times and have taught two entirely different classes of students so far this year. 

As I was scrolling through social media, looking for teaching ideas to inspire me in my "new reality", I came across an amazing opportunity to try out a new pencil sharpener from 

https://classroomfriendlysupplies.com. 

Honestly, right now anything to brighten up my days and my classroom is a win, so I signed up to test one out! The package arrived very quickly and I took the box to school to unveil it.

Inside the cardboard box, the sharpener was packaged in a see through plastic box which also contained an attachment that will allow the user to secure the sharpener to a desk or other platform.

I chose the classic fire engine red for my sharpener, but it comes in lots of amazing, 

classroom friendly colours!

The sharpener itself is super easy to use, just pull out the front plate, insert a pencil and turn the handle. The pencil will pull inwards towards the face of the sharpener until it is finished sharpening. Once the handle stops turning, you remove the pencil by squeezing together the two black handles and VOILA you have a perfect point! 

My students oooohed and ahhhhhed over how sharp the point was and how quiet the sharpening was!  I was really lucky that sharpener arrived when it did, as my electric sharpener completely died the week before! 

If you are looking for a quiet, super easy to use and easy to clean pencil sharpener for your classroom or your home, be sure to head over to https://classroomfriendlysupplies.com.