GK-12 at Gobles Public Schools
What's New!
Raffica is beginning her first year as the GK-12 fellow for Gobles. So far, she has visited 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th grade classrooms to meet some of the students to talk to them about what it's like being a scientist. |
Project Overview
Gobles science teachers and GK-12 fellow Raffica La Rosa will be working together to implement several goals in the Gobles Public Schools this year. Their main goals include:
- To implement inquiry-based lessons in science classes
- To give students more experience conducting their own experiments and analyzing (displaying and interpreting) real data.
- To help students learn more about scientists.
- To develop cross-district experiments where students can share data with students outside of the Gobles school district.
Visit Gobles Public Schools' website
Read the Gobles GK-12 plan for the 2008-2009 school year
Read the Gobles GK-12 plan for the 2007-2008 school year
Read the Gobles GK-12 plan for the 2006-2007 school year
GK-12 Fellow
Raffica La Rosa
Ph.D. in Plant Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, Michigan State University
Email: larosara (at) msu.edu
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Partner Teachers
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Chris Quist, Becky Drayton, Sigrid Smith, and Ken Eisenberg at the 2006 KBS K-12 Summer Institute. |
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Gobles Elementary School |
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Christine Quist (Mentor) - fragala@gobles.org |
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Karen Ryder - kryder@gobles.org |
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Gobles High School |
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Becky Drayton (Mentor) - rdrayton@gobles.org |
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Steve Schmidt - sschmidt@gobles.org |
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Kristi Tullis -ktullis@gobles.org |
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Bob Lisowski - blisowski@gobles.org |
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Sample Lessons developed by Sigrid Smith (GK-12 fellow 2006-08)
Sea Monkey Adventures
-Abstract: In this session, we’ll explore the idea of stimulus and response. We will think of possible stimuli that brine shrimp might respond to, and then design an experiment to test the responses of the brine shrimp to the stimuli. Students can conduct an experiment, collect data, and then draw conclusions based on the data they collect.
Files: Sea Monkey Lesson Plan, Student Worksheet, Introductory Powerpoint
Comparison of historical lake ice cover data from three lakes in Michigan and Wisconsin
Abstract: Students will plot long-term data sets on duration of ice cover for three different lakes (Gull Lake, Fair Lake, and Lake Mendota) and examine variation at different time scales to see the importance of long-term data, as well as, the importance of having multiple sources of support for scientific hypotheses (in this case, global climate change).
Files: Lesson Plan, Student Handout, Introductory Powerpoint
Excel Data Files ( Standard, Simple, Teacher)
Exploring sinking rates of phytoplankton
Abstract: In this laboratory, students explore the effect of body shape on the sinking rates of aquatic organisms. They do this by dropping clay models into columns of corn syrup to measure the sinking rates of different shapes. This lab could fit into several units within physics and biology courses
Files: Lesson Plan, Introductory Powerpoint Presentation, Handout
Shadows in plant communities
Abstract: Plants often compete for light, and whichever plant is tallest (or highest above the others!) often will capture the light best. Any producer growing below the high plant experiences a shadow instead of light, and cannot perform photosynthesis. This demonstration uses duckweeds (a common group of aquatic floating plants in ponds) to show the role of shadows in plant communities. This short demonstration can fit into a longer lesson about competition (ecology), light/shadows (physics), or other topics.
Files: Lesson Plan
Pond pondering: a closer look at data from ponds
Participants will gain knowledge about factors correlated with the plant composition of ponds through the use of a learning cycle. Participants will use data from several ponds to practice techniques to compare and contrast data and to link independent variables. Students will make predictions about other ponds.
Files: Lesson Plan, Handout, Photos
Photo Gallery from 2006-08
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