A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively
engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.
You may save this Learning Activity to your hard drive as an .html file by
selecting “File”,then “Save As” from your browser’s
pull down menu. The file name extension must be .html.
Phase:
Before/Engage
Activity:
The teacher will introduce a unit or lesson on waves by showing this video. This video activity can be shown in whole group or small group as a center activity.
After watching the video, the students will complete a quick write in their science journals to answer the question posed in the video, "Why doesn't the duck move across the container?"
When time is up, have students pass their writing to another group member.
Assign a period of time for students to review each other’s writing, adding more and/or asking questions, in writing.
Repeat steps 4 and 5 until all students in a group have reviewed each other’s writing.
Each group should then review all the ideas generated through the process.
Walk around the classroom providing positive feedback/reinforcement when key terms are discussed.
Patterns
Waves
Wavelength
Wave amplitude
Peaks
Discuss the findings as a whole group.
This video activity should be used to introduce the concept of waves and get students excited and thinking about the movement of waves.
Assessment Strategies:
The activity can be evaluated using a Quick Write in students' science journal on the question posed in the video, "Why doesn't the duck move across the container?"
Advanced Preparation:
The teacher needs to have a projector and some kind of internet device to stream the video.
Variation Tips (optional):
This activity can be conducted in a whole group or small group as a center activity.
The teacher may choose to write the question, "Why doesn't the duck move across the container?" on the board and place an actual rubber duck in a container of water instead of showing the video.
The teacher may also choose to do the quick write on sticky notes instead of in student science journals.