FCAT Science » Dr. Diana Wehrell-Grabowski

Teachers Conduct Hands-On-Minds-On Inquiry-Based Investigations During Teacher Training Workshop

Diana Wehrell-Grabowski — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:16:27 +0000

Teachers were actively engaged in the learning process as they conducted hands-on-minds-on, inquiry-based investigations to explore FCAT science content and concepts. I began the workshop with having teachers discuss how they help to develop and strengthen critical thinking skills in their students. Teachers conducted investigations to explore the nature of matter, physical science, earth and life science concepts. It was a great group of teachers, and fantastic Central Florida school. I expect great strides in the science classroom from this group of motivated teachers and their students.

A Coastal Science Program Helps Mayport Middle Boost Its Enrollment

Diana Wehrell-Grabowski — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:47:41 +0000

Mayport Middle School has added a coastal sciences magnet program to its curriculum. The addition of the Coastal Sciences magnet program has helped to increase student enrollment at Mayport Middle School by nearly 100 students. The Coastal Sciences magnet program is the the first of its kind in Duval county, and the first middle –school magnet in the Beaches and intracoastal area. The school’s enrollment had declined in recent years due to the departure of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy from Mayport and the closing of numerous mobile home parks and apartment complexes in the surrounding area. In addition to taking the traditional sixth-grade science class. Students enrolled in the Coastal Sciences magnet program take another science class divided into four nine-week areas: microbiology, oceanography, marine environments, and living coastal zones. Students conduct hands-on labs such as using dip nets to collect marine specimens within a pond located on the campus. Additionally, Mayport Middle School has a new lab, outfitted with laptops, aquariums, microscopes, and other equipment. The new lab was paid for with a federal grant. Perhaps other Florida school districts facing a decline in student enrollment should consider revamping schools with declining enrollment with science and/or STEM magnet programs. Check out The Florida Times-Union article Marine Biologists: The Next Generation by Mary Kelli Palka.

Implementing The Next Generation Sunshine State Science Standards Teacher Training Workshop

Diana Wehrell-Grabowski — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 20:01:28 +0000

I recently had the pleasure of conducting a full-day teacher training workshop for a charter school in Florida. Thirteen teachers were actively engaged in inquiry-based investigations that tie directly to the Next Generation Sunshine State Science Standards. Teachers conducted numerous hands-on-minds-on explorations to investigate:

Nature of Science;
Earth and Space Science;
Physical Science; and
Life Science concepts.

The administrator of the school requested that I reinforce the importance of writing and journals within the science classroom, as well as across the disciplines. Thus, a major focus of the teacher training workshop involved the teachers maintaining a journal throughout the session. We spent the early part of the morning exploring the school yard. Making observations, collecting leaves, seeds, soil samples, insect exoskeletons, and more… While outside the teachers recorded their observations in their student notebooks. When we returned to the classrooms teachers were given time to reflect on their observations within their journals, observe specimens with eye loupes and microscopes. Teachers then attached specimens inside of their journals. Additionally, were introduced:

To effective strategies to differentiate between weathering and erosion;
How living things interact with their environment via designing and constructing a bottle biology ecosystem;
Botanical concepts;
States of Matter;
Differences between chemical and physical changes; and
Differences between mixtures and solutions.

At the end of the teacher training session, the teachers left the session with their arms filled with models they had constructed, references, manuals, and an interactive student notebook/ journal from the session. I’m quite certain that these teachers will incorporate many of the strategies they were introduced to as they implement the Next Generation Sunshine State Science Standards (NGSSS) in their classrooms.

Florida Teachers Attend Teacher Training Workshop to Explore Life Science Concepts

Diana Wehrell-Grabowski — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:19:21 +0000

I’ve been conducting full-day teacher training workshops for the past two weeks at a quaint beachside elementary school located in Volusia county, Florida. The six hour workshops are conducted for specific grade levels, aligning with their curriculum maps for the last 9 weeks of the 2009–2010 school year. The following photos were taken from the 4th and 5th grade teacher sessions. During the workshop teachers conducted numerous inquiry-based hands-on science investigations to explore life science concepts. Teachers recorded notes, observations, and attached specimens in their interactive student notebooks. Investigations made connections to the Big Ideas 14–17 from Florida’s Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. The teachers left the workshop revitalized, energized, and excited about exploring life science concepts with their students. Great group of teachers, and an example of a school that has placed emphasis on the importance of conducting meaningful science with their students. During the teacher training workshop teachers conducted the following investigations:

Conducted investigations to explore classification concepts (animal)
Conducted investigations to explore classification concepts (plant)
Conducted investigations to explore life cycles within the plant and animal kingdoms
Conducted investigations to compare and contrast among the plant and animal kingdoms
Designed and constructed a model of a plant or animal cell using a ziplock bag filled with Karo Syrup (represents cytoplasm), with additional materials placed within the bag to represent the cell organelles.
Designed and constructed a classroom terrarium representing a complete ecosystem (garden snails, pill bugs, earthworms, bird seed, soil, water, and decaying plant material were placed inside aquariums). Concepts covered included: interdependence, ecology, environment, food web, community, sun, energy, energy transformation, producers, consumers, and decomposers.
The key concept integrated within all investigations undertaken was structure and function in the plant and animal kingdoms.

Teacher uses a microscope to observe pond water organisms.

Teacher builds model plant cell from simple household materials.Cell model lab sheet used in making model of plant and animal cell.

Teachers used interactive student journals during teacher training workshop.

Teacher builds classroom terrarium to teach about life science concepts.

Teachers studied the Hibiscus plants as well as the animals that live on or near the Hibiscus plants.