Teaching gr 9 Science in the fall, major topics are astronomy, intro to periodic table, reproduction, and static and circuit electricity. I was thinking of a PBL approach where students have to create their own world. Anyone done anything like this? 🍎🎢 - ThreadSky

csarkonak.bsky.social • 575 days ago

Teaching gr 9 Science in the fall, major topics are astronomy, intro to periodic table, reproduction, and static and circuit electricity. I was thinking of a PBL approach where students have to create their own world. Anyone done anything like this? 🍎🎢

Comments

physgal.bsky.social•575 days ago

Fun. Do you mean world like planet? I did something like that in fourth grade.

randallphysics.bsky.social•575 days ago

This is a really cool idea! I can see a fun PBL unit around designing your own element, something like what properties would it have, what would it be used for, and where would it be on the pTable and why in your universe? Each group member could design a different “type” of element.

randallphysics.bsky.social•575 days ago

Might end up basically being elements from our Universe but it might be an interesting way to get them to think about the pTable. Also, the topics in your course are very wide ranging (reproduction and circuits?). I’m having a hard time seeing one storyline, but design your own Universe might work.

csarkonak.bsky.social•575 days ago

I was thinking lots of compare and contrast throughout. Ss start with singular, binary, or tertiary star system. Ss then decide where their planet is. They decide whether it will have tilt. We use proportional reasoning to approx temps and which elements are in which state. Then decide composition

csarkonak.bsky.social•575 days ago

From there Ss could create some cycles, similar to water cycle, carbon cycle, etc. Ss could use this to invent a dominant life form and what it may need to evolve to survive on this planet. Create a small food chain and how each could reproduce

csarkonak.bsky.social•575 days ago

For electricity, we could have that dominant life form evolve intelligence and we must look at how to generate power for civilization. Throughout all of this, Ss compare to ours and have to justify their decisions. They could learn material as the questions come up

csarkonak.bsky.social•575 days ago

At the end of the course, Ss would have this really cool project that builds throughout and almost acts as a learning journal. It could have a low entry point for Ss that struggle, more earth-like, but allow for lots of creativity

csarkonak.bsky.social•575 days ago

They’d probably learn more if they got too creative and made something that didn’t work, but could explain why. Throughout the course they could also revisit previous decisions and explain the ripple effect of something changed. I’m hoping it would be accessible and engaging for most

randallphysics.bsky.social•575 days ago

I really like this storyline. It’s ambitious, it connects and provides lots of “hooks” for students at different points. I would love to see how it goes if you do it.

msmagaryphysics.bsky.social•575 days ago

One more thing, not sure if you've seen these but good for some of the astronomy you want to do. They now all work in browser. https://astro.unl.edu/vlabs/

msmagaryphysics.bsky.social•575 days ago

Ok I would have been all over this as a 9th grader but I’m probably not the best person to ask as a physics/geology person who DMs in her free time 😉

msmagaryphysics.bsky.social•575 days ago

Did you see My Solar System is back https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/my-solar-system

physgal.bsky.social•575 days ago

We used this one in my class for future elementary teachers. So much fun.

csarkonak.bsky.social•575 days ago

I hadn’t seen that one before, it looks awesome! And like it could be a perfect piece to this project! 😉

msmagaryphysics.bsky.social•575 days ago

Oh also, the advanced version 🤩 https://universesandbox.com/

csarkonak.bsky.social•575 days ago

Love it! I think I might end up playing with that sim more than some of my students!!