Concept Mapping in the Science Classroom: What Are You Waiting For?

Concept Maps and Graphic Organizers:  Two Tools for Success in the Science Classroom.

What is a sure-fire way to make our students hate taking a science class? Completely overwhelm them with facts, figures, data, definitions, comparisons,  diagrams, charts, tables, memorizing the textbook ... Well, I think you get the point.

There is no getting away from the fact that a science class has a lot of information!  We definitely should be teaching our students the big ideas and concepts, but these big ideas don't mean a lot if the underlying supporting information is not there.  Our science students are going to have to learn a lot of new vocabulary and definitions.  But we can make the job of learning big chunks of information a bit more manageable.  Successful students are happy students!

The idea of concept mapping is not new or innovative.  It is, however, often neglected as a tool to help our students.  Students do not naturally know how to take information and organize it into a logical fashion.  We, the teachers, have to teach them this skill.

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We are driven (unfortunately) by the end of course standardized tests that we face each spring.  When school starts, we are eager to jump right in and start teaching as hard and as fast as possible to get in all the standards we know will be on the dreaded test.

Let me suggest a different approach as you begin the new school year.  Teach your students skills that will make them successful learners.  Help them incorporate concept mapping into their daily study routine.  Make concept mapping a regular homework assignment throughout the school year.  You will find that students show less fear and trepidation when new information is presented, and that their retention of science information is vastly increased.

What are the cons to this?  It takes time to teach students how to develop concept maps and graphic organizers.  You will have to spend some of your valuable time at the beginning of the school year to teach the skill.  You then have to follow up.  It does no good to teach the skill unless you have students continue to use it all year long.  The information we teach in a science class can easily be organized into flow charts, concept maps, cycles and chains.

How do you teach it?  I teach my students how to construct three different types of concept maps  They are:  Concept maps or flow charts,  event chains, and cycle maps.  These three types of graphic organizers can be used for any type of science concept or reading passage.

I have developed a PowerPoint and student worksheets to aid my teaching of this skill.  In both the PowerPoint and the practice problem worksheets, students are given passages of scientific information to read.  The student must first decide what type of graphic organizer would be best for the passage.  Then, the student must organize and draw the appropriate graphic organizer.

At the end of each day, and at the end of the year, our classes should contain students who are comfortable learning and who are not afraid to tackle new science concepts. Providing the tools to establish this comfort in learning should be our goal from the first day of school.

Graphing in the Science Classroom

Is this becoming a lost skill?

How important is the skill of graphing to our modern day science classrooms?  I don't mean completing a graph using Excel or with a graphing calculator.  I am talking about handing the student a piece of graph paper and some colored pencils and asking them to graph the data they just obtained from a lab activity.

Just so you know where I am going with this before you keep reading, I am a firm believer in the old fashioned way.  We are making a mistake if we don't teach our students this very important skill.  In all of my science classes (biology, chemistry and AP biology) I spend some time during the first few days of school teaching graphing, data representation and data analysis.  I have done this every year I have taught school.  We are very fortunate at our school to have some pretty cool technology.  I have probeware and graphing calculators in my lab.  I love using the technology and so do the students, but.....  I have noticed that when the probe records all the data, sends it to the calculator and the student is passive in the lab process, they do not come away from the activity with the same level of comprehension.  

There is just something about collecting the data yourself with a thermometer or a ph meter, putting the data in a data table, and plotting the data on a graph that causes the neurons to connect.  I can see the light bulbs coming on and the satisfied look on the faces of my students as they realize, "This lab has a point, and I get it!"

I believe that graphing, and other forms of data representation,  is one of the most important science skills that we can teach our students.  Time saving devices (computers, probeware, graphing calculators) have their benefits, but having the students put their pencils to the paper may be one of THE MOST effective ways of insuring student understanding and comprehension.  In a nutshell, the reasons old fashioned graphing is so very important are:

Will the student have to draw a graph on the ACT or SAT?  No, they won't. But they will definitely have to read and interpret graphs!  And if the student is proficient in the graphing process, the reading of a graph on a standardized test will be a snap!

Will the student have to draw a graph on the AP Biology, Chemistry or Physics exams?  YES!  I have not taught AP Chem or Physics, but graphing on the AP Biology exam has been a constant occurrence in the essay portion of the exam.

Now, do not come away from this thinking that I only use colored pencils in my lab.  The technology is important.  I love using my probeware and graphing calculators.  But before I put the technology in the hands of my students, I first make sure that they have a good foundation in the basics of graphing, constructing data tables, and analysis of data.  

In my TpT store you find several products on graphing and analyzing data.  I use these in my own classroom.... each and every year!

Be sure to grab this graphing freebie!  Click here for Free Graphing and Data Analysis Worksheet

In conclusion, remember that these are called "basic skills" for a reason.  They are important.  They matter.  And they make our students competent critical thinkers and problem solvers.

Congaree National Park

Congaree:  The largest old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States.

I absolutely LOVE national parks.  In fact, one of the things that tops my bucket list is to visit all 58 national parks!  This past week end I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to mark another national park off my list:  Congaree National Park.

Located near Columbia, South Carolina, this floodplain forest lies along the Congaree and Wateree rivers.  The park protects over 26,000 acres of old growth bottomland hardwood forest.  This is a wetland system and the vitality of the area depends upon the flooding and receding of the rivers with seasonal rains. Until the late 1800s huge areas of South Carolina were covered by these floodplain forests, but in the 1880s the lumber industry began to harvest the trees.  In less than 50 years most of these forests had been cut.  The area now protected by this national park was spared cutting because logging was especially difficult in this area.

Congaree National Park is known for its unusual array of giant trees that hold the record for size of their species.  Species include loblolly pines, hickories, and bald cypress.  The combination of loblolly pines with hardwoods is an uncommon forest association in floodplains.

Bald cypress trees grow in abundance at Congaree.  The largest bald cypress in the park is over 27 feet in circumference.  The cypress trees thrive in this area despite their strict growth requirements.  Look for the characteristic wide trunk base and cypress knees.  This gives the tree stability during floods.  The bald cypress is different from most conifers in that they shed their needles each winter.  The "knees" are roots that have grown upward.  Their function is not completely understood, but may help anchor the tree in the soft soil.

Loblolly pine and two daughters
who eagerly share in all of my "mom" adventures.

My favorite is the loblolly pine.  Unlike most pines, the loblolly can thrive in this wet ecosystem.  The tallest in the park is over 170 feet and has a circumference of over 15 feet.

Congaree became a protected area in 1976 when a public campaign was launched to protect it from logging.  It obtained National Park status in 2003.

Hiking through this old growth forest was a snap. The boardwalks and trails are well maintained.  Signs and directional arrows are placed in such as way as to provide excellent information without being overly intrusive. There are many different trails to choose from, ranging in length from 1 to 12 miles.  The photo collages below will give you an idea of some of the highlights of our walk.

I especially loved the activities designed for the kids.  A science teacher living in this area would be remiss not to take advantage of this marvelous field trip opportunity.  The brochures for children are attractive, engaging and provide fun and informational activities.

While perhaps lacking the grandeur of Yellowstone, Grand Canyon or Yosemite National Parks, I enjoyed visiting Congaree National Park very much! My only regret is that the visitors center was closed on the Sunday that we visited.

Now to find that next national park to mark off my bucket list........

Respiratory System Warm Ups and Interactive Notebook Pages

These snazzy new warm ups, bellringers and interactive notebook pages on the respiratory system will take your breath away!!  

(Cue up the canned laughter....)  All corny jokes aside, I am very excited to share my newest set of interactive notebook pages with you.  I am slowly but surely working my way through the human body systems.  This set of 19 student pages covers the respiratory system.  The following pictures and images will give you the best idea of what is included in this newest product.

Click on any image below to view the product in my TpT store.

This product can be purchased individually, or as part of a growing bundle. This is the first time that I have tried out the idea of a "growing bundle."  I have many return customers who are eagerly awaiting the completion of all of the human body system warm ups.  In the past, I have bundled together many sets to offer at a discounted price.  Many people have requested that I give them the opportunity to buy the bundle from the very beginning.  So I have tried to honor that request by offering this growing bundle.

What is a growing bundle?  A “growing bundle” is a bundle of products that is being posted to my store before all of the individual products are complete. As the new individual products are developed, they will be added to the bundle.  With this “growing bundle” I am offering you the option of buying the bundle before the completion of the individual products.  

As of this writing, the bundle contains:

•  Introduction to the Human Body

•  The Skeleton System

•  The Muscular System

•  The Integumentary System

•  The Circulatory System

•  The Respiratory System

The rest of the of the human body systems will be added to the bundle as I get them completed.  Click the image below to view the growing bundle in my TpT store.

I hope that you are having a restful and relaxing summer.  Take time to recharge and regain your sanity because the new school year will be upon us soon!

Happy Teaching!

Science Calendars: Important Dates in Science History

Did You Know??

July 1, 1796:  First smallpox vaccination by Edward Jenner.

July 20, 1969: Neil Armstrong walks on the moon.

May 5, 1963: First human liver transplant.

May 26, 1676: Leeuwenhoek observed his "tiny animalcules."



Kids and adults alike love science fun facts!  These science calendars will provide a fun science fact for each day of the year, as well as provide a cool bulletin board or wall display.

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My students really enjoy reading the science fact of the day, and it has sparked some great questions and conversations in my classroom.








You can print these calendars for your bulletin board, or post them in the hallway outside of your room for a cool wall display.  Or you can simply write the science fact of the day on the chalkboard.

However you decide to use them, they are interesting, students will learn some new things, and well.....they are just fun!!

The calendars run from July through the following June.  I update the calendars each year.  Once purchased, you simply download the new versions each year.

Start your class period with a couple of minutes of "science fact fun" to set the stage for a great class period.

The Circulatory System Interactive Notebook Pages

Good news!  Thirty-three student pages on the human circulatory system are now available for your biology or anatomy / physiology interactive notebooks.

I believe I have included a great range of content starting with the basic concepts of the circulatory system and progressing through more and more complex information.  My goal was to write pages that could be used with my general science students all the way up through my AP Biology students.  There are enough pages included in this product that you can easily pick and choose the perfect mix for your science class.  As a result, these pages are suitable for general science students in the 8th grade, first year biology students in high school, honors biology students, anatomy and physiology students, and even advanced placement biology students.

Read on for a preview of the circulatory system warm ups and bell ringers, and be sure to download my free sampler pack to get free samples from all of my interactive notebook products.

Click the image above to download free sampler pack.

Looking for interactive notebook pages on other topics?  All of my interactive notebook products can be viewed by clicking this link.

Thanks for stopping by my blog, and have fun teaching!

Take an Amazing Virtual Field Trip With The Nature Conservancy

Link up and hang out with The Nature Conservancy for a super-fun classroom virtual field trip!

Field trips are a common occurrence in schools, especially near the end of the school year.  However, funds are often nonexistent, and with the crushing pressure of end of course testing, time may not be available to take the kids out of school for the day.

What is the solution?  Take an exciting virtual field trip with The Nature Conservancy!

Tell me more!  The NatureWorks Everywhere website (presented by The Nature Conservancy) offers a wide range of lessons, videos and virtual field trips for our science classrooms.  The videos are highly engaging, and the downloadable free lesson plans are perfectly designed to complement and enhance your teaching.

What about the virtual field trip?  The third virtual field trip is just around the corner!  It is entitled:  "The Coral Reefs of Palau: Nature's Amazing Underwater Cities."  The mission of this field trip is to design, plan and execute a live Google Hangout for grade 3 - 8 classrooms in order to learn about the diverse ecosystem of Palau's Coral Reefs.  Students will learn about the symbiotic relationships between the many organisms, the environmental dangers facing the coral reef, and how people can act to protect the reef. From the developers, "We hope the virtual field trip will build student's knowledge of and emotional connection to environmental issues that are at the heart of The Nature Conservancy's mission."

When is it?  The live Google Hangout will take place on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 12:00 pm.

How do I sign up?  Click this link to sign your class up  for the coral reef virtual field trip.

What will my students learn on this virtual field trip?  "Join the Nature Conservancy on a Virtual Field Trip to the Coral Reefs of Palau: a remote network of islands deep in the Pacific Ocean. Here, sharks snatch up smaller prey; decorator crabs apply bits of shell, algae, and sponge to their own backs for camouflage; and massive 2,000-pound sea cows graze. Our journey to the Coral Reefs will open students’ eyes to an amazing, interconnected ecosystem built on symbiosis and mutualism, where diverse organisms are designed to protect, clean, nourish, and even camouflage one another. In this underwater city, the coral supports its many “workers” and they, in turn, keep the coral healthy. 

Called “the medicine chests of the sea,” Coral Reefs provide ingredients that are leading to new lifesaving medications. They are also an astonishingly rich source of food for many species, including humans, and provide a perfect buffer to protect shorelines from erosion. Join our expert scientist, Marine Biologist Stephanie Wear, as we take a deep dive to learn about one of the “seven underwater wonders of the world.” May 19, 2015 at 12:00 pm (ET). Length: 40 minutes."

Many of the key ecological concepts that we have been teaching all year long will be reviewed and reinforced:  Symbiosis, mutualism, interactions within communities, predation, competition, food chains and food webs.  

Who will be leading this virtual field trip?  Marine biologist Stephanie Wear will be leading us on this adventure.  Stephanie is Director of Coral Reef Conservation for The Nature Conservancy.  Stephanie is articulate, engaging and explains concepts in a clear and easy to understand manner.  You can take a look at one of her coral reef videos at this link:  Coral Reefs - Feeding and Protecting Us.

Are there resources I can use to get prepared before we take the virtual field trip?  YES!!  These links will provide you with many free resources to prepare you for teaching and your students for learning.

• The Need Is Mutual Lesson Plan
• NOAA: Coral Ecosystems Education Collection
• NOAA - Ocean Acidification Education Collections

You mentioned above that this is the third virtual field trip presented by The Nature Conservancy.  Can I still view the first two fields trips?  Absolutely!  The first two virtual field trips can be viewed below:

Wild Biomes:  From America's Rainforests to America's Deserts

Deserts and Grasslands of Africa

This sounds great!  What do I do now?  Be sure to sign up for the live Google Hangout.  Then sit back and get ready for a fun classroom adventure!

Disclosure:  This post has been sponsored through a partnership with WeAreTeachers and NatureWorks Everywhere.