After College Board reworked their AP Physics C curriculum I started going through all the questions in AP Classroom before each unit. I noticed that they moved the discussion about the center of mass to unit 2 (forces/Newton's Laws) from unit 4 (momentum). I also noticed that in the energy unit, they talk about path integrals. This is all first-semester material, but integrals aren't covered until the second semester in AP Calculus (and in other calculus classes too).

So, how are you introducing these topics to students when they don't even know what an integral is? I have tried to show them how to do an integral as an operation, but they struggled with it. Some of my students really freaked out too.

Did you try the same thing? Did it work for you? Or are you just waiting until review time to bring it up?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hey Everyone!

I have a VERY unique teaching situation. I work at a very small rural alternative school with about 60 students in the whole high school program. I teach ALL of the math and science. I also do not have a lab space. Because I teach so many things my classes only meet twice a week, so students are expected to take a lot on independently. I post absolutely everything for the quarter at once and give students pacing guides, and pull small groups or work one on one with students in class( Modern Classrooms Project type stuff). Honestly everything is great, but I don't currently have any framework for students to do projects. We do some labs and group activities, but never projects. So my question is this: what are your ideas for how I could incorporate projects into this whole thing? Any frameworks/ websites/ books/ key words/ ideas are welcome. Just trying to brainstorm how to do this.

hey I’m gearing up to start my pgce in chemistry next year (this is teacher qualification for non-UK folks). I’ve been working as a science tutor for the past few years (my degree was in biochem).

I know there’s loads of materials out there, so I’d love to hear from seasoned teachers: What are your fave GCSE science resources? Books, websites, interactive tools, even apps. I've had a friend recently do her pgce and she felt overwhelmed by the lesson prep, so am trying to get ahead of the curv

Yesterday some lovely members of the school admin, happened to overhear a conversation I had with a coworker. I mentioned it was taking me a long time to get my lessons done for my AP physics C class, so I opted to not join my coworkers for lunch.

My admin later came to me concerned about what they heard. They told me it should take me less than 20 minutes to complete everything, lesson plan, gather resources/materials, and have a finished PowerPoint...

The PowerPoint is where it takes me forever！ All the diagrams, annimations, and equations, that i need, take me more than 20 minutes for each section. And then I have to create and solve problems to use for the students, and solve all the homework problems too!

Im fairly new to teaching, so if im missing using some exceptional tools, please let me know. Otherwise how long does it take you to create a complete lesson for your AP class?

I really like kurzgesagt.

Does anyone have any solutions for a science lab classroom without sinks?

My classroom is an addition to the art room, so we have to walk through art to get to science. Art has two large sinks, but it is frustrating and disruptive for both myself and the art teacher to send kids in or run in to refill water.

I have tried prepping and having large containers but when we do something where temperature is a factor, there are issues that always arise.

Any ideas for what to buy/set up/do for this situation?

**light switches are also in the art room, and I only have one window lol. Classroom or closet, who knows!

I just need some thoughts and encouragement. I will have a new class 2nd semester. This will be my fourth prep so keeping things "easy" is a huge goal of mine.

Now it's a class I have taught before and I use fill in the blank notes. This is a freshman biology class for struggling students so I try to make thigs as easy as possible for all of us.

Here is the thing. I have videos I created of me lecturing and providing the answers for the fill in the blank notes. Their current teacher is using my videos and resources in their class. Is it okay if I just keep using the videos even though I'm there in person? I'd like to do a good job, but I don't have ppts to go along with the fill in the blank notes. (They are Doodle Notes from Mrs. Lau if you are familiar with them.)

Has anyone ever done a fun activity involving smell for a lab or stations? I teach high school chemistry and we were thinking about ways we could incorporate smell into our intermolecular forces units that would be fun for our students.

I have been teaching high school science for 10 years and my coworker/friend is on his 4th year. I try to help him here and there, as much as I can in my spare time. But I'm worried he's not progressing. His room looks like a tornado hit, every day. Sinks are full of dirty test tubes since August. Students off task, possibly unsafe. and he doesn't notice. Though he tries, he seems to acknowledge his disorganization as a somewhat immutable personality trait of being "laid back".

I am very detail oriented, and I can't expect him to become like me. But I question whether it's even possible to be an effective science teacher when you're that disorganized. I fear he is burning out and his instructional coach/admin hasn't helped him for 4 straight years, now maybe he is past the window of opportunity to learn good teaching habits. He copies all my lesson worksheets and he teaches only one prep, but still gets super behind on grading. When I was in my 4th year, I was prepping two subjects all on my own and I could decently control my classroom.

My friend has ADHD, and I've known plenty of teachers with ADHD but none had classrooms as chronically chaotic as his. Does anyone have any resources for teachers struggling with this?

Trying to show a film (can be a documentary) for last day of classes related to Earth Science. Preferabbly something newish. Hope to find some guided questions for it too. Any recommendations? Thank you!!

We are being asked to evaluate new curriculum options. The most promising options so far seem to be Inspire science (mcgraw hill) HMH Science Dimensions (Houghton mifflin harcourt) Other options are STEMscope, Discovery Education and Savvas- but based on teacher reviews I've seen so far it seems like these wouldn't work. Any input or experience (positive or negative) would be appreciated. Our district uses google for a lot including Google classrooms so any expierience with using the curriculum with google apps would be awesome. Thanks!

During a holiday lab with my 8th graders:

“What do I do next?” “Read the procedure.” “How do I clean this?” “Did you read the procedure?” “Where do I put this?” “Read. The. Procedure!”

You just have to laugh. I swear I’m going to get a t-shirt with “READ THE PROCEDURE” printed in big, bold letters by the end of the year. Almost break!

Hi all, I've noticed our STEM web games (and in particular the one shown above) getting some regular attention and referrals from reddit and various blackboard sites. I'm happy they've been useful, but if you recognize this can you please drop some feedback below? What do you like, have trouble with in a technical sense or feel is lacking in content. Student feedback is great too! Planning on designing the next gen wave of games and want to do them better. TIA!

https://www.straightfromascientist.com/viral-replication-a-covid-19-game/

I recently graduated high school and a past teacher of mine inspired me to pursue a teaching degree. I’m taking a gap semester at the moment and starting a few classes at my community college this spring, then transferring to my state university in the fall. Though I work with young children, I’m gaining some classroom experience with my job right now as a preschool teacher. I took his Principles of Biomedical Studies class and his Human Body Systems class in high school, and being someone who’s fascinated by the human body and has thought about pursuing some occupation in the medical field or education, I decided what he does for a living is exactly what I want to do. What should my first steps be? What does this academic path look like? How can I prepare myself? I’d appreciate any advice here—I just can’t wait to get started:)

Like title says, I'm looking for weather maps where you can toggle data layers on and off. This is because I'd like to create a jigsaw information gap activity where students study one data set at a time and later combine to answer a complex question. Ideally, this would be something I could print. The data layers I'm looking for are:

• stations
• fronts
• precipitation
• temperature
• wind
• pressure

Thanks!

So we currently have Vernier equipment for our digital collection but it relies on an outdated computer program (it's fun trying to boot up the Windows 7 machines to see which ones will work for lab day). We are looking to upgrade to the standalone systems for photo gate timers. I am noticing that force sensors are not a part of this. Should I be looking for some sort of digital force sensor? I'm thinking that, for example, for a friction lab students would be able to see more clearly how force varies as it starts moving/continues moving as compared to a spring scale. The issue is I'm not finding a lot of digital force sensors. Is this not a common thing in classrooms? Should I be able to do labs with just photo gates?

Hello all, 4th year Chemistry teacher here. I came into teaching on an alternative certification path. One of the things I'd done previously, was work in Forensics, so when I came across a Forensics Case File that I could use to help teach Nuclear Chemistry, I jumped on it.

I really had fun with the unit, it was a casefile from the 70s, about a guy who used a radioisotope to harm his own son as part of a bad divorce. I made major changes to everything, to fit my teaching style, but the actual information was solid. My kids, most of them, really enjoyed the deduction process, narrowing down a list of possible radioisotopes based on radiation emitted, determined form wounds sustained, half life, and industry availability. I of course, had a great time.

What I'm wondering, is if anyone had any notion of what other chemistry units could be taught utilizing forensic case files, or forensic techniques? Have you taught anything similar? Could you point me to a resource?

I'm not looking for a straight up Forensics course, I'll happily teach that if we ever offer it here, but right now I'm focused on general Chemistry ,and if it's possible to use Forensics to teach some of the basic concepts.

Any idea?

Hello, I am a college student who has recently started his associates biology this year. I am currently wondering if I should focus on becoming a teacher since it seems to be the best fit for my region and ideals.

I am passionate about the natural world and I live talking and teaching about the amazing things that entail biology, evolution, paleontology, etc. (I wanted to be a paleontologist but those jobs are hard to come by in my area.)

Most of the biology jobs in Michigan are focused around Detroit and Lansing, but I have noticed a solid and steady amount of Middle through High-school teaching jobs for biology and general science in my area. I think it might be my best shot at earning a fulfilling job and steady income. (I know that is laugh worthy because many might not see the income as good...)

I live in a rural area, which has relatively low property taxes, and I am inheriting my parents property and the new home we are building, so the income is easily enough to survive here. Especially if it's a 40,000 dollar a year average income.

I love the idea of teaching the fundamentals of biology and how this amazing planet we call home sustains life, and I have so many great ideas to teach.

For general idea of where in SW Michigan this is, it is near Nile, South bend, etc.

My current curriculum is pretty full with a lot of book work. Looking at ways to get it more hands on and model real life more. Struggling with our accelerated schedule 42- 88 minute blocks for the class. What are your absolute must dos or cover in enviro sci? Working with our NRD to do sample testing and potentially game and parks to talk about conservation

A chemistry student asked if he could take a test despite not being in class for most of the material. After looking at the test, he admitted, "I don’t know this material." I explained to him the importance of being present in class to understand the concepts and jokingly mentioned that for the multiple-choice portion, if he answered "C" for every question, he’d have a 25% chance of getting some correct. When I graded his test, I saw that he had indeed written "C" for every answer—including the essay questions. Sigh Facepalm. Maybe being in class wouldn’t have helped after all.

Hello,

I will be student teaching chemistry in January. If anybody is willing to share any resources (calendar, ppts/guided note sets, worksheets/activities) it would be so incredibly helpful. Feel free to send me a pm and I can reply with my email if you are willing.

I will be teaching the following chapters (but any resources from other chapters in the year welcome as well!!)

• Chemical Reactions
• Stoichiometry
• States of Matter (+KMT)
• Gases/Gas Laws
• Solutions
• Acids & Bases

Thank you!! I've been scouring TPT and AACT as well, but some resources from teachers directly would be awesome. I'm in California for reference.

Hi! I'm a middle school teacher and I'm teaching, for the first time, a university class. It's a "lab" class designed to give future K-6 educators a variety of strategies for teaching elementary life science concepts. What fun lab-based ideas do you have for basic science concepts? What are your favorite activities? Anyone ever teach something like this before? I have a lot of freedom to teach whatever and however I want. Looking for inspiration. Thanks!!

Hi, so I'm going to be student teaching chem in January. My mentor teacher gave me a copy of the teacher edition textbook, and I was wondering how you all would recommend I use it? Is it useful to you personally? I was thinking of taking notes based on what is in each chapter, copying down examples I can use for notes, etc.

Also, if anyone has experience of having a student teacher, what types of things do you expect from them? I want to be as useful as possible, but not get in the way of course. I myself don't know a whole lot about what I will be expected to do because my program is... not so great. Would it be acceptable for me to use a lot of my master teacher's resources i.e. notes, ppts, etc.? Or should I create all of my own stuff?