Integration of Science, Math, & Literacy in Middle School Using Common Core

1. Integration of Science, Math, & Literacy in Middle School Using Common Core Presented By: Aimee Remillard Brittany Furlan Christy Cumbest

2. Common Core Benefits Possible Challenges • Students draw connections to the real world • Provides differentiated instruction for SPED students • Allows for student led activities • Improves literacy and students’ ability to locate facts within text • High student engagement and rigor • Difficulties with co-workers who teach in different ways • Time constraints • Lack of Resources/Money (Check out Donors Choose) • Preconceived negativity by parents

3. Create a Baby The purpose of this activity is to incorporate probability and ratios with the process of genetic inheritance. The students will work in groups using either cell phones with a QR scanner application or coins to decide the alleles that are handed down from each parent. They will combine these alleles to determine the appearance and genetic make-up of their “child”. Following the activity, they will draw their “child” and chart the data.

4. Create a Baby Pictures

5. Barbie Bungee Jump • The purpose of this activity is to draw connections between Newton’s laws of motion, basic concepts of physics, graphing on the coordinate plane, and measures of central tendency. The students will use various numbers of rubber bands to create bungee cords for Barbie. They will chart data, record measurements, determine the line of best fit, and answer follow-up questions about the procedure.

6. Barbie Bungee Jump

7. Hurricane Tracking and Math Graphing • The students will watch a brief video on the formation of hurricanes. Following the video, they will use latitude and longitude coordinates to graph hurricanes and answer discussion questions about their results. http://app.discoveryeducation.com/search?Ntt=hurricanes

8. Hurricane Tracking Pictures

9. Mentos Lab • Students will use the well known activity of mixing Mentos with Diet Coke to understand the factors of chemical reactions. They will also practice basic measuring skills, create ratios, and calculate simple area. Although it may be messy, it gets the point across!

10. Mentos Lab Pictures

11. Winter Olympics • The purpose of this lesson is to incorporate the Winter Olympics with everyday concepts students have learned in school. They will read a brief history of each of the games, complete a mini-hands on demonstration, and answer follow up questions. Upon completion of the activities, students will use a graphic organizer to plan and write a 5 paragraph essay.

12. Winter Olympics Pictures

13. The Great Race • The purpose of this activity is to use the concept of race cars and aerodynamics to discover the relevancy of math and science in everyday life. The students will analyze an article discussing various factors of aerodynamics, complete journal prompts, and use common household items to create a car within a specific budget and sizing guidelines. The class will race the cars against one another and complete post-lab calculations and questions.

14. The Great Race

15. Cross Curricular Scavenger Hunt • The purpose of this activity is to encourage the students to locate examples of school lessons within the real world. The students will either take “selfies” or cut out magazine/newspaper clippings with everyday objects, scenes, etc. that are relevant to educational standards. They will use basic technology skills to create a spreadsheet describing their pictures and the direct connection to the subject area. They will also use their pictures to create a collage in Microsoft Publisher which they will write about in a follow-up 5 paragraph essay.

16. Cross Curricular Scavenger Hunt

17. E-Mail Contact Information: • Aimee Remillard: aremillard@jcsd.k12.ms.us • Brittany Furlan: bfurlan@jcsd.k12.ms.us