Motivating Students to Excel in Science and Social Studies Karla Kiper, Magnolia Woods Elementary

Question:

Concept and Content

Formation Lessons

Inquiry – Based Lessons and

ActivitiesAssessment

What are some challenges faced when teaching

the Science and Social Studies

Units?

Project Based Learning (PBL)Our society highly values people who solve

problems creatively and using multiple intelligences!

Project Based Learning (PBL)Why use PBL?Students gain a deeper understanding of Science

and Social Studies concepts and standards.Classroom Projects also build vital workplace

skills and lifelong habits of learning. Projects can allow students to address

community issues, explore careers, interact with adult mentors, use technology, and present their work to audiences in and beyond the classroom.

PBL can motivate students who might otherwise find school boring or even meaningless.

Project Based Learning (PBL) and Technology

Students present

their work to others in person or

online.

Students give and receive

feedback from

classmates and

teachers on a class project.

Students are presented with a

choice of technology tool or list of web

sites.

Students can apply

knowledge learned in a unit or begin learning tasks with a project in mind first.

Online resources are

often best suited to allow

students to explore open-

ended questions.

Technology can widen the resources available to ask

questions, share resources, and examine conclusions from others

sources.

Project Based Learning (PBL)Works best when incorporating Marzano’s

Effective Classroom Strategies!

Indentifying Similarities and Differences .45

Average Percentile Point Gains on Student Achievement Tests:

Summarizing and Note Taking .34Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition .29Increasing the Value of Homework and Practice .28 Use of Non-Linguistic Representations .27 Incorporation of Cooperative Learning .27 Setting Objectives and Providing Feedback .23 Generating and Testing Hypotheses .23 Use of Questions, Cues, and Advance Organizers .22

Project Based Learning (PBL) -ReviewAn approach to teaching and learning in which

students complete and create tasks which:Examine or Solve real-world problemsInvolves greater student engagement vs. the

textbook. “Minds on vs. Hands on”The Common Core 3 C’s :

Communication

Critical Thinking

Collaboration

Collaboration

Communication

Critical Thinking

Which Resources to Use????

Kidspiration

ActivBoards

Microsoft MovieMak

er or PhotoStory

PowerPoint

Google Earth

Project Based Learning and Technology: Do’sThings to Do:Establish expectations. Let students know that when logging into

the school network, rules and standards of conduct apply at all times. http://technology.ebrschools.org/eduWEB2/1000179/docs/pol_internetsafety.pdf

Be Prepared with a Plan B when using online or EBR network resources…

Provide a list of Approved Websites and Programs

Project Based Learning and Technology: Some Don’ts…Use technology for its own sake.Allow students to log in anywhere without

some standards for their work or conduct.Allow unlimited access to search engines or

websites.Allow abuse of Technology Resources. Have

paper and pencil (printed articles or library books) ready for any student unwilling (or unable) use classroom computers for educational purposes only.

Motivating Tech Tool #1PowerPoint: Social StudiesStudent-Created PowerPoint presentation

projects can be used to make any topic in Social Studies more powerful and meaningful.

Student PowerPoint projects represent a wonderful culminating activity for a Social Studies Unit or could be introduced at the beginning.

The PowerPoint Project begins with student notes, a Thinking Map, or Graphic Organizer.*

PowerPoint: Other Uses and Alternatives to PowerPointUse a PowerPoint slide to create a profile page for a famous

person that “looks like” a social media page. Have students include pictures, text, video, or audio.

What would we put on Rosa Parks’ Facebook or MySpace Page if we were allowed to create one?

What facts would you include about her?

What would be her motto or theme song?

Who would her friends list include?

Visit www.history.com

Which picture of her should be her profile picture?Which picture communicates the most informationAbout her importance to us?

Other Presentation ResourcesGlogster.eduSlideshare.netGoogle Documents

Motivating Tech Tool #2 Microsoft PhotoStory: ScienceCan be used to create presentations/projects on almost

any topic.

Resources Needed: (a few images)Example – The Solar SystemExample - States of MatterSites with Great Examples –The West Baton Rouge

Parish Technology Database. http://www.wbrschools.net/technology2/vocabularyps.html

Example: What’s The Matter?Objectives: Have students work in

cooperative groups to demonstrate knowledge of the 3 states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and or physical changes.

Students can use Photo Story to import photos downloaded from a digital camera, manipulate these photos, and create a multimedia presentation to demonstrate their knowledge of matter.

What’s the Matter?Using the projector, demonstrate to students how to locate

the program, "Photo Story," and how to upload the pictures to the program.

After uploading pictures, demonstrate to students how to click and drag pictures to rearrange the order until they are satisfied.

4. Click "next" and have students create the title page (again, demonstrating each step beforehand with the projector/screen), typing in the window and using the font key to change size, color, and font of the title. Students chose the title (i.e. "3 States of Matter"), and type "by" and their first name.

What’s the Matter? At this point, show students how to save their Photo Story. Remind

students that after each step, they should save their work.

6. Students continue with the next step, which is typing in the text to record. Have students type in what they want to say for each picture. Then, hand out headsets with microphones (if available) and students can begin to record for each picture. Save after each recording.

7. The next step is to work on transitions, from one photo to the next. Demonstrate this to the students using the projector. Give students an allotted amount of time to work on transitions (or they will let it consume the rest of the time!). Save the project.

8. Students are ready to choose the background music of their movie. Model with the projector. Save the project.

9. At this point, students will be ready to publish their Photo Story project into a multimedia presentation. Demonstrate with the projector. 

Motivating Tech Tool# 3 Academic Vocabulary

www.quizlet.comQuizlet is a useful tool for teaching

Academic Vocabulary.Quizlet is a free website that allows

anyone to create flashcards.There are quizlet apps for phone,

and Android.

Quizlet.comYou can search vocabulary lists posted by

others. You can create your own academic

vocabulary lists and share them with your students or grade level.

You can e-mail vocabulary lists to students or their parents.

Includes Language support.If you upgrade, you can add

pictures/graphics. An alternative site is called

spellingcity.com.

Motivating Tech Tool#4Create An Easy, Easy, Web Page or Online Poster

www.glogster.eduwww.weebly.comwww.teacherweb.com

Tech Tool #4 Weeblywww.weebly.com

Weebly is a free drag and drop based website creator.

Weebly allows you to take pictures*, text, hyperlinks (websites), and even some video links (pay version) and put them together into a web page.

This can be useful for placing everything in one place for students.

*Use www.openclipartlibrary.org for free images!

Why Create A Web Site?Teachers:1. You can

control what they are doing.

ImagesMusic FilesLayout2. Great way to

recognize student effort!

Students:1. They love it!2. They love to share

and look at others’ work.

3. They can start with the pictures/graphics first or the text.

Project Based Learning (PBL)Can be extremely motivating to students when:Students see that projects are interdisciplinary

and connected to the real world.Students select their own topics or subtopics.Are allowed ownership and control. Example:

students help in the creation of the assignment rubric or checklist.

Set standards of excellence.Students are allowed to work cooperatively.Students are aware they are learning valuable

skills.

Final Thoughts and Questions

Karla Kiper, Computer Lab Teacher at Magnolia Woods Elementary

kkiper11#@ebrschools.org