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Tips, Tricks, and Ideas for Earth Teachers

Driving Question Boards in Science Class

2/24/2023

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A Driving Question Board (DQB) is a visual tool that can be used in a science classroom to prompt student inquiry related to a specific topic or unit. Never used a DQB before? Here are the steps to use a DQB in a science classroom:
  1. Choose a topic or unit: The first step is to choose a topic (or maybe a whole unit) that you want your students to investigate. This could be a unit on earthquakes, climate change, or the water cycle.
  2. Introduce a driving question: Next, introduce students to a driving question. This is a broad, open-ended question that will guide students' inquiry and investigation throughout the rest of the lesson or unit. For example, the driving question for a unit on the water cycle might be, "Which forms of energy and matter are included in the water cycle?"
  3. Brainstorm supporting questions: Once the driving question has been introduced, have students brainstorm supporting questions that will help them answer the driving question. These supporting questions should be more specific and focused than the driving question. For example, supporting questions for the water cycle unit might include, "What parts of the water cycle can we observe in our community?" and "What happens to water after it enters the ground?"
  4. Create the Driving Question Board: Create a physical or digital board to display the driving question and supporting questions. This could be a bulletin board in the classroom or a shared Google Doc. Personally, I love using Padlet!
  5. Update the board: As students learn more about the topic or unit, encourage them to add additional supporting questions to the board. This will help them refine their focus and deepen their understanding. This can be an excellent starting or ending activity for each lesson.
  6. Use the board to guide inquiry: Refer to the DQB throughout the lesson or unit to help students stay focused on key questions and guide their inquiry. Encourage students to use the board as a reference when conducting research, discussing ideas, or creating final products.
*Teacher Tip: You have full control over the DQB
  • If you feel a question shouldn't be on the board, remove it and ask the student(s) who wrote the question to reword it.
  • Combine like questions. Group questions by topic.
  • Add in some of your own supporting questions if necessary.
  • Plan your lessons in the order you want to follow, and use the DQB to give students the illusion that they are in charge. For example, you may have planned a lesson on the process of infiltration. You can start class by pointing out a question on the DQB about what happens when water enters the ground.
By using a Driving Question Board in a science classroom, you can help students develop their inquiry skills, as well as their ability to think critically and make connections between different concepts. DQBs also give students ownership of their learning. 
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How to Email and Call Parents

7/14/2021

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Emailing and calling parents is something you should do as often as possible. It can be scary, intimidating, and emotionally exhausting just thinking about what you are going to say.
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I had so many great friends help me during my first few years. One of the best gifts I was ever given was a template from my friend Amy. She will forever be a gift to my teaching career!

​Now I want to share some of my own templates with you. But first a few tips:
  1. Never write an email or make a phone call when you are emotional. In email those are known as "poison pen" letters and will never make the point you are hoping to make.
  2. Contact home as quickly as possible. Get that information home before the end of the school day if possible. This is where having a template really helps!
  3. Be brief. Keep your email to 1-2 paragraphs or your phone calls between 3-5 minutes.

Conversation Starters for Phone Calls:

  • Hi, this is (your name) from (school). Is this ________'s mom/dad? I wondered if you had a minute to answer a question for me? (Pose your concern as a question and not an accusation)
  • Hello, is this (guardian's name)? I'm (your name), (student)'s science teacher here at school. I recently noticed something that seemed out of the ordinary, do you have some time to talk about it right now?
  • Hi, am I speaking with (guardian's name)? This is Mr/Ms _______ and I have your student (name) in my class. Is this a good time to talk about a couple things? Yes? I wanted to let you know how well (student) has done on (task/assignment/project/behavior). I also noticed (concern) and wondered if you've seen something similar at home?

Email Templates:

When you need parent support
Hello,

I am (your name), your child's science teacher here at (school name). We've had a great school (term/week/year) so far. It's been wonderful to get to know (student's name) and see (a positive trait you've noticed).

Today I noticed something and wanted to check in with you to ask if this sounds normal for (student's name). In class today (describe a specific behavior that was inappropriate). It seemed unusual for (student's name) and I wondered if (he/she) is (doing OK/under stress/feeling well)? Will you talk with (him/her) tonight and let me know if there is anything I can do to help so that this doesn't become a regular habit for (student's name)?

Thank you,
(Your signature)

When a student has had a great day!
Hi (Family Name),

This is (your name). I'm (student)'s teacher this year. I just wanted to send a quick note to let you know about (an achievement you've noticed).

As his/her teacher I really appreciate (student) for making my job enjoyable. I also appreciate the support I receive from great parents like you.

​Thank you,
​(Your Signature)
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20 Must-Have Earth Science Lab Supplies

6/25/2021

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The unfortunate thing about teaching is that you rarely have control over your own teaching schedule. If you've been a science teacher more than two years you have likely been thrown into a new curriculum.

My own experience was to graduate in Biology with a teaching degree, only to accept a job in integrated science (a mix of physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science). Not only did I not understand some of the Earth Science topics that I was about to teach, but I had ZERO idea about what materials would help me. It is not uncommon for biology teachers to pick up a chemistry class period, or for a physics teacher to be asked to take on an astronomy elective.

Let me share with you my 20 MUST-HAVE lab materials for a successful Earth Science year. This is not an all-inclusive list, and it is not a list of free materials. These are the materials that helped illustrate the most difficult topics of the curriculum. At the time of this blog publication all of these materials will cost about $600. But you'll be surprised which of these materials you already have in your storage room!
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Stay tuned for specific information about how I used these materials for my Earth Science lessons. This list will cover labs about:
  • The Universe: Spectral Tubes and Power Supply
  • Nebular Theory: Planetary Formation
  • Plate Tectonics: Magnetic Reversals and the Ocean Floor
  • Plate Tectonics: Mantle Plume Formation
  • Plate Tectonics: Topographic Maps
  • Ocean Currents: Salinity and Temperature Currents
  • Ocean and Fresh Water: Density Differences
  • Climate: Angle of Sunlight
  • Climate: Greenhouse Effect

Check back for updates and links to these ideas.
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"All About Me" Earth Science Activity

6/1/2021

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The first day of school is KEY to building relationships and engaging students in your content. It took me a long time to figure out the balance between these two things. Over the years I found that the majority of my junior high school students (age 12-15) were incredibly anxious those first few days. We tried a variety of get-to-know-you games that required students to move around the room, but the conversations were brief, forced, and awkward.

​So what to do?
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I wanted students to get engaged in our Earth Science curriculum and I desperately wanted to get to know each student. Other teachers had shared "All About Me" worksheets related to their content areas, so I thought I'd try one too!

In the past, this worksheet is historically only available in my Earth Science Full Curriculum Bundle, but you can grab it for free when you head to the link below:
Free Lesson Here
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  • About
  • ESS Blog
  • Free Lessons!
    • Astronomers Throughout History
    • All About Me Earth Science
    • Earth's Geologic History
    • Stellar Fusion
  • Paid Lessons
    • Full Curriculum
  • Earth Science Newsletter
  • My Science Outfits