Cool alternative type activities

This site has some interesting ideas on how to mix up what you're doing in class. It has some examples of Web Quests, Problem Based Learning (I have a cool one on Cholera if anyone is interested), case studies... etc.

http://science.uniserve.edu.au/school/support/strategy.html

Global warming

I found this awesome lesson plan on global warming... check it out!


http://www.pbs.org/now/classroom/global-warming-lesson-plan.pdf

Issues about Energy

I just found an interesting lesson in which students study the advantages/disadvantages of different energy source in a debate format
http://www.need.org/needpdf/Great%20Energy%20Debate%20Game.pdf

The Evolution Solution

A great article by Larry Flammer- Teaching Evolution without Conflict
http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/evo.sol.pdf
Here is an excerpt:
“We didn’t come from monkeys.” “Why
don’t we learn about creation and evolution, so we can
make up our own minds; isn’t that more fair?”
If such questions cause you to minimize or avoid evolution
in your curriculum, maybe you should consider a
different approach. Evolution is clearly a well-documented
process that informs all of biology and its many applications.
It is a disservice to students to teach biology without
an accurate and comprehensive treatment of evolution.
Surveys reveal that many in our society have an inadequate
and inaccurate understanding of evolution (Alters &
Alters, 2001). Much of this can be traced directly to popular
misconceptions about the nature of science. This, in
turn, can be linked to misrepresentation by those opposed
to evolution, although inadequate or ineffective treatment
by ill prepared teachers can also be a contributing factor.
Teachers must do all they can to correct this; otherwise we
all lose many of the potential benefits that can come from
a more scientifically literate society.

Science and Evolution

Dr. P shared this site when we studied the Nature of Science. It is hands down the best site for planning to teach what science is, what science does, etc. BEFORE teaching about evolution.
It is ENSI-the Evolution and Nature of Science Institute. It contains so many ideas and lessons.
http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/info.fs.html

Local Issues

Getting the kids involved in understanding local issues is not only a great way to develop their critical thinking skills, but also to make the content meaningful and relevant. For the past several years, a controversy has surrounded whether or not to introduce the Asian oyster into the Chesapeake Bay. Since the Bay ecosystem is right in their backyard, this was an engaging issue. It also tied in with SOL's on invasive species and human impacts in the ecosystem.
A current issue is placing wind turbines off the coast. With Virginia Beach as a tourist destination and home to a naval air base, there are many issues to discuss on this topic. I have not used socratic seminar before but this may be an opportunity to use it.

Case Studies

Hey everyone. I use case studies in my classroom whenever I can. They students really seem to get involved with them. Some of them are "issue" topics that maybe you would like to integrate in your class. Many of them are written for undergraduate level but could be tailored to high school or even middle school.
Here's the website:
http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/ubcase.htm#teaching

Hope you enjoy

Stacy