Slice of PIE
September 2005 Volume 1, Issue 2
www.bsu.edu/fseec/pie
Greetings from a PIE Donning
Scientist
hip waders,
Last May, PIE hosted an
outdoor field trip to Ft.
Benjamin Harrison State
Park for the 6th grade
students at JMMS. As a
new PIE Scientist, I went
along to observe first hand
what PIE scientists do.
At “Ft. Ben” there is easy
access to a number of
different environments:
lake, river, meadow and
forest, making this an
ideal place for a science
field trip, especially for
urban students. The
abundance of these areas
allow for the set-up of
different science stations
to explore the outdoors.
PIE set up four stations on
this trip.
At the soil station,
students got their hands
dirty by comparing the
texture of different soils.
They did an infiltration
experiment and collected
data to compare pores
between different soils.
On nature walks, students
searched for as many life
forms as possible. Using
nets, they collected
insects, plants and frogs.
For many students, this
was their first time
collecting and studying
organisms in the field.
students walked into the
lake to sample macro and
microorganisms for
viewing under the
microscope. At this
biology station, students
were able to identify the
organisms they had
collected and were thrilled
to watch them undulating
under the microscope.
Students also become
familiar with the lake by
testing its water quality.
Students collected
samples of water and
tested for pH, conductivity
and turbidity using probes
and tubes. Students were
surprised that their data
Community Lessons - Physics
This section will feature
several lessons from PIE’s
Community Lesson bank.
These lessons can be
found at the PIE website
http://www.bsu.edu/fseec/
pie. Go to the
“Community Lessons” link.
If you are interested in
using these in your
classroom with the aid of
a PIE Scientist, contact
Gary Basey.
Physics topics often elude
the most dedicated
students and educators.
However, the concepts
are fascinating and the
tools fun for students to
use. Aaron Debbink has
designed a number of
physics activities to address
Indiana standards and to
de-mystify physics.
Sound & Waves What is a
wave? What causes
waves? How do waves
move? These questions
guide students through a
number of sound and light
exploratory stations using
simple materials. Students
apply what they learn in a
creative writing sample
about the impact of a
potential tsunami.
Exploring Motion Students
hold misconceptions about
objects in motion. Here
they will unwittingly
experiment with Newton’s
Three Laws of Motion to
http://www.bsu.edu/fseec/pie
yielded a higher quality
than their visual
impression.
This trip is a good way for
urban students explore the
outdoor world and become
familiar with their natural
environment, and to make
a direct connection
between science inside to
science outdoors.
Matt Belobraydic
Important
Dates:
9/19/05-9/30/05 – ISTEP
10/07/05 – IAS Conference, no
PIE in classes
10/12/05 – PBA day
create their own rules about
how objects move. Students
will use simple materials and
a sensor to graph movement.
Our Unique Planet Just what
does it take for a planet to
support life? A number of
complex factors create a
unique environment for life to
exist on Earth. Students will
manipulate two of these
variables using Microsoft
Excel as they design their
own planets to support life.
build a series of parallel
circuits with circuit boards.
Energy Conversion
Students explore various
kinds of energy –
electrical, chemical, light,
and sound – with simple
materials in a series of
stations. The goal is for
students to determine the
energy transformations
occurring at each station.
Exploring Electricity Static
electricity and circuits are the
focus of this activity. Students
will gain an understanding of
electric charges and their
affects on one another. Using
these principles, they will then
September 2005
PIE = Partners
Investigating the
Environment…a
partnership
between
scientists and
educators.
Science Puzzle
Q: What is a shooting star?
A: A shooting star is a meteoroid – a fragment of an asteroid or comet,
made of iron, silicates of a mixture of both. When the asteroid or
comet is shattered by an explosion in space, meteoroids are propelled
through the earth’s atmosphere, creating friction, which heats up the
shooting star and gives it the glow we see.
www.bayerus.com/msms/fun/riddles/
Current Events
“One thing I have learned in
a long life: that all our
science, measured against
reality, is primitive and
childlike – and yet it is the
most precious thing we
have.”
Albert Einstein
be complex and difficult for how the complexity of
students (and adults) to
physics creates comfort
comprehend, simple
and convenience at:
experiments allow your
http://physics.org
students to explore
Do you or your students
physical principles and
wonder if and how boards
theories. See the PIE
and blocks can really be
Community Lessons for
September is National Physics
broken with bare hands?
some classroom ideas.
Month and 2005 has been
Find out the facts at:
declared the Year of Physics
If you don’t find what you
www.kungfuscience.org
in honor of one of Einstein’s
are looking for there try a
Stage a class debate about
most contributive years as a
few other places:
nuclear power. (This is a
scientist. Would like to bring
Send your students on a
great segue into October,
more physics to your
WebQuest to discover the
Energy Awareness Month.)
classroom to celebrate?
everyday influence of
How did scientists
While the laws of physics may physics in our lives. See
determine the
Websites
circumference of the
planet before measuring
tapes and GPS units?
By the sun and some
poles, of course.
Participate in a revival
of the Eratosthenes
experiment by
measuring the earth’s
circumference with
other students around
the world. See:
http://physics2005.org
or www.globe.gov for
more information.
Journaling
th
http://in6.msscience.com - This links to the IPS 6 grade
textbook. It is chocked full of activities and resources.
http://www.physics.org - Common physics questions
answered for teachers and students.
**Teachers: do you have websites that you would like to
share with other teachers? E-mail me sshines@bsu.edu.
Coming in October: Chemistry and Energy Awareness
Months.
For information or
questions, contact:
Dr. Gary Basey
gbasey@bsu.edu
765-285-8833
http://www.bsu.edu/fseec/pie
Many teachers find journaling an effective way of monitoring
their students’ progress and assessing student knowledge
before beginning a new concept. Here are some writing
prompts that can accomplish these two things.
To pre-assess
 Have you heard of (new concept) before? Describe
what you think it means and/or what it involves.
 What do you think of when you read the word (words
relating to new concept or new concept)?
To evaluate progress:
 What did you do in science this week?
 What did you learn in science this week?
 What were some of the materials/equipment you used
in science today/this week and why did you use them?
 How does (new concept) connect to (old concept)?
September 2005