Survived to the Last Day of Fall Classes!

I am pleased to announce I have survived up to my Last Day of Fall Semester Classes. This does not include all my finals. As of today, I have one final left (next Tuesday) and a paper to turn in by next Friday. So, I am soooooo close to being done with this semester! I cannot wait! Below is a photo of the NSTA (National Science Teacher Association) - UW Chapter! This group consists of my Methods I cohort and a few additional individuals. We had a meeting and a luncheon right after our Methods I course, so we got a group photo together to celebrate the end of the semester! I absolutely love my Science Secondary Ed Methods Cohort. What a great group of people to work alongside with - so thankful Kate Welsh introduced me to Dr. Burrows and this wonderful bunch of people!

Now onto studying for my last final!

TheChristyBel

NSTA - UW Chapter 2014/2015

Making a 'How To' Video

For our Methods I class, we were assigned to make a video that portrayed: an issue within science education, introducing an engineering career, or a 'How to' video. Working with Ceira, we decided to do a 'How to' video. Since it is getting close to the holidays and thanks to Pinterest, we found a 'How to Make a Mini Robot' and we jazzed it up to being 'How to Make a Mini Robotic (Dancing) Elf! 

Enjoy! Sean, what do you think? Do I have a possible career in making robots? Haha

TheChristyBel

Getting a Push on My Plan B - Art & Science Integration

My Satellite Image: I Think I Have Vegetated Mountains!

Using a Lens View Finder, I've Narrowed Down My Design

Advanced Topics in Pedagogy course has begun our Art and Science Integration unit. This unit is really fun. The Science Methods students (my class) will work in collaboration with the Art Methods students in an art project.  How perfect is this activity? Completely perfect for what I wanted to focus my Masters' Plan B on.

I'd like to thank Professor Dr. Kate Welsh for informing me of this course and connecting me with Dr. Andrea Burrows. Being able to work with her about letting me take this course and to also use this activity in conjunction with my Plan B is incredibly awesome! I'm already conducting research. So I feel I am definitely ahead of this whole Plan B thing! I'll get into my Plan B and that research later...

But back to Science and Art: today, we learned about the scope of this project: silk batik painting with a scientific focus. We were introduced to satellite imagery. We learned that satellite images are able to give us interesting perspectives of a landscape based on the reflected light off objects and the landscape. So for example, plants absorb red light and so that is the color you would see through a satellite image.

My Final Piece

We were given photos of satellite images that were taken of the geographic landscape. By choosing a satellite image and using a view-finder lens, we were to choose a specific area in the photograph to focus our silk batik painting on.

Then we were taught how to paint on silk! So cool! You first create a design plan and outline your images on the silk with this plastic resin. After it dries you are able to apply paint. You have to mix colors in order to make new ones (using the information you gained from your art methods' group members. Along with painting, you can use salt, vinegar, and alcohol to create different textures and designs in the paint.

What a fun project. Hopefully this can be a great addition to my Plan B!

TheChristyBel

Woah!

Lunar & Meteorite Workshop

For my Science Methods I (Advanced Topics in Pedagogy) class, we were invited to go to the NASA Lunar & Meteorite Sample Disk Certification workshop tonight. This was such a cool event for us. Not only were we getting inspired about Earth Science classroom lessons and activities, but we were also getting certified to sign out actual meteorite and lunar samples from NASA! So cool, so when I become a school teacher, I can borrow and sign these out from NASA and use them in my classroom! So pumped!

Kali Placing Fish Aquarium Rocks into a Water Balloon
Prepping us for Meteorite Impact Patterns & Which Surface is Better to Find Meteorite Impact Evidence
When We Go Outside and Collect Data!

Kali's Meteorite Impact on Asphalt Surfaces

And Then the Moment Came!
Examining the Samples!
Susan Nerding out!

Oh My Gosh, It Was Super Awesome to See These Samples Up Close!

Lunar Samples Too!

Total Earth Science Nerd Out!

Now, I am certified to borrow and sign out samples for teaching! It was the best night ever!

TheChristyBel

Rainbows & Science

My Advanced Topics in Pedagogy Class (Science Methods I) has us perform labs with activities and lessons that we would use with our students in the classrooms. Today, we got to play with colors, varying liquids, and relative density. Can you guess which liquid is the most dense?!

Playing with Play Doh, Colored Sugared Water, & Relative Density

School is Pretty Cool!

TheChristyBel