My goal for the 2014-15 school year was to teach my students the foundation of physical science: matter and energy. In truth, the foundation of life is matter and energy. These are abstract concepts and challenging for any young person to comprehend. I employ a variety of strategies and methods that make it concrete, accessible and authentic. We studied the parts of the Periodic Table, wrote chemical formulas, explored the difference between chemical and physical change. It was exciting, yes exciting to guide my students through labs, watching demonstrations, and reading non-fiction text because they got excited too. Second semester I introduced energy as an undeniable presence in our universe. Energy is everywhere, in everything and because we are unaware of its existence we take it for granted. I introduced my students to the concepts of potential and kinetic energy. Through visual, kinesthetic, and auditory methods I immersed the class in the idea of energy as "stuff that never goes away". It always there as long as the sun is in the sky we are going to have energy all around us. My goal for the 2015-16 school year is to build on their foundation of knowledge by adding the concepts of force and motion. Look out Newton!
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