CSI Challenge Course a great place for Science Methods!

We have started another semester at CSI and ISU, and last week I took my new class of Science Methods students back to the challenge course.  It is a great way to start the semester, because the instructors spend time helping us work through exercises and challenges that remind us to use critical thinking when teaching students.  We use communication, teamwork, support, and experiential learning to move from our "groan zone" to our "grow zone!"  It was a super night with these teachers in training!

Iron Scientist Demonstrations

The last assignment that my ISU students needed to do was their Iron Scientist projects.  I gave each group a secret ingredient, and they chose a science topic that related to their Unit Plans.  I have done this activity for years, and I love the creativity that is shared by students.   I have loved teaching this Science Methods class!!

Capillary Colors

Ice Cream in a Bag

Hot Air Balloons and Homemade Agar...not the same demo!

Pipe Cleaner Neurons

ISU Science Methods Class at the Challenge Course

Well, class last night was awesome!  We spent three hours on the CSI Challenge Course covering important topics in Experiential Learning.  It was so great!!

ISU Science Methods

I have been really busy this semester, but when I was given the opportunity to teach an additional class for ISU on the CSI campus in Twin Falls, I jumped at the chance.  It is an elementary ed science methods class for pre-service teachers just about ready to student teach.  The class is small, but full of characters! 

I will spend a few posts talking about this experience, sharing what we are learning together, and my reaction to elementary education in general.  But today, I will just post our activity when we discussed how to bring science into holidays and themes and down time. 

A few years ago, I was a parent helper for a Halloween party.  I was in charge of the "game."  Well, I thought a science experiment would fit well with the theme, so I brought cow eyeballs to the school, with teacher and principal permission, and we dissected them.  Great party I thought.  Kids, too.  But the other parent who was there, not a fan! 

Here are a few of my students dissecting eyeballs in our class.  We had some fluid escape a few times.  Good times!