EDES 365- Science
Krysten Klein & Tanya Young
The following websites are resources for teachers and students to use when learning about
Environmental Chemistry.
Website #1: Science In Context (Learn Alberta) http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/scic/?p=SCIC&u=albertak12
Description of the site
This website is very easy to navigate. There are eight topic headings with several links included in each.
Each topic also includes journal articles, featured content, news, experiments, lesson plans, diagrams, statistics and references. This website is packed full of a variety of different resources that teachers can access when needed. This website also provides the option of listening to the information via audio.
Who is the site aimed at?
This website is aimed at teachers to provide them with some background knowledge on the topics covered in the Environmental Chemistry unit in Grade 9 Science.
Why are you recommending?
We are recommending this website because it is easy to navigate, it is a suggested site used by Learn
Alberta, and the information is current and up to date. Under each of the eight headings, there is a tremendous amount of different links and topics that teachers can access in regards to their objectives.
Each topic is laid out under the appropriate headings, so it makes it easy for the teacher to search the necessary information for a given topic. We are recommending this website because students and teachers can gain a vast amount of information and knowledge.
Where would you use the site in the unit?
We would use this site throughout the whole entire unit because there are resources for every topic that the students are to be taught in Grade 9 Environmental Chemistry. Each topic provides different resources that the teacher can use to enhance the learning that is already taking place in the classroom.
Personally, we feel as though we would refer to this website as often as needed. For example, if we were teaching about Acids and Bases and didn’t have a clear understanding of what the students need to be taught in order for them to learn, we would refer to the Acids and Bases section of this website.
This website allows for teachers to teach the content in a variety of ways.
Website #2: EDQuest http://www.edquest.ca/component/content/article/204
Description of the site
The home page is nicely laid out separating the two textbooks. Each textbook has the following headings: Focus Notes and Review, Focus Practice Tests, Curriculum Links and Concept Maps. The units of study included in Grade 9 are listed in the middle between the two textbooks. They include: Biological
Diversity, Matter and Chemical Change, Environmental Chemistry, Electrical Principles and Technologies and Space Exploration. The lab safety component is laid out below the two textbooks and includes a
PowerPoint, Safety Notes and a Practice Test.
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EDES 365- Science
Who is the site aimed at?
This website is aimed for teachers. It includes practice tests, notes, reviews, concept maps, safety notes, answer keys and curriculum links that teachers can use in their classroom. This website is used with the
Science Focus 9 and the Science in Action 9 textbooks. This website includes printable PDF’s for teachers to use in the classroom. These PDF’s include notes, activities, unit tests and answer keys.
Why are you recommending?
We are recommending this website because it has a great deal of resources that any teacher could use.
This website would be great for supporting first year teachers, or teachers who are new to teaching
Grade 9 Science. This website is great because it includes Grade 7, 8 and 9 resources which allows a teacher to see where the students are coming from and where you need to take them. This website includes PDF’s for each unit as well as practice tests that teachers can use to see where their students are at.
Where would you use the site in the unit?
We would use this site for every unit taught in Grade 9 science. We would use this unit all throughout
Environmental Chemistry as it contains notes and key terms that students need to learn in order to master the curriculum concepts. Environmental Chemistry includes notes, a summary sheet and a review booklet that the teacher could use to enhance the learning in the classroom.
Website #3: Chem4Kids.com
http://www.chem4kids.com/files/react_acidbase.html
Description of the site
This website is very user friendly, it includes five main topics and is geared toward students. The website is colorful and includes a variety of images. The website contains information, quizzes, tutorials and it also has the option to search the site in a different language (Spanish). Under each topic there are several links embedded to provide the students with the opportunity to gain a better understanding and review the concepts taught in a variety of units.
Who is the site aimed at?
This website is at students, although it does state on the home page that this website can be used by everyone. It is not limiting just students, but it is also a valuable website for parents and teachers to access so they can promote a community of learners.
Why are you recommending?
We are recommending this website because it is easy to navigate, it is appropriate for all ages and it provides curriculum based material. This website includes a variety of resources, including activities, vocabulary and quizzes for each specific topic. This website includes a variety of images that make it user friendly and engaging for the students. Under each of the five main headings, there is a list of resources that are provided. These include, real world problems, a glossary and quizzes. It is recommended that you access the site map to get a full list of available resources and topics.
Where would you use the site in the unit?
We would use this website in our unit when we are discussing the elements on the periodic table. Each elements has its own webpage with information and examples to help better the students understanding. The information is written so a Grade 9 student could read and comprehend the material and it also includes real world examples. There are many other areas of the unit that the students could use this website for to enhance their learning within the curriculum outcomes.

EDES 365- Science
Discuss advantages/disadvantages of using this tool versus dissecting real frogs and owl pellets.
Relevant Curriculum Objectives
Grade7-
General Outcome 3

Monitor a local environment, and assess the impacts of environmental factors on the growth, health and reproduction of organisms in that environment.
Grade 8-
Specific Outcome 3.1 & 3.2:
 describe, in general terms, body systems for respiration, circulation, digestion, excretion and sensory awareness (e.g., describe how blood is circulated throughout the body to carry oxygen and nutrients to the body’s various tissues and organs)
 describe, in general terms, the role of individual organs and tissues in supporting the healthy functioning of the human body (e.g., the role of lungs in exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide, the role of bronchia in providing a passageway for air)
Students who are squirmy and easily grossed out, this virtual dissection would be more beneficial.
Cost- this virtual dissection is a free website that teachers and students can use, so it doesn’t cost a penny to watch.
Materials- this virtual dissection requires computers and an internet connection.
Less preparation- Teachers don’t have to collect all of the materials needed (Frog, scalpels, pins, etc).
This virtual dissection can be watched at home, so if the students were confused, absent, or want to learn more they are still able to participate.
The owl pellet website provides students with the terminology that they would need to know in order to place the bones in the correct location.
The owl pellet website provides the terminology of the bones, fun facts and labels for the students.
Technology glitches- if the computers or internet was down the virtual dissection would be unavailable.
The virtual dissection is not a hands on experience for the learners that learn best this way.
Teachers can’t assess the students learning because the dissection is online and provided for the students. Whereas, if the students were dissecting the frog/owl pellets, the teacher could assess their skills and processes.
The students may find it hard to click on the specific spot the website is requiring when locating the different organs. We found if you did not click directly on it, it did not accept your request.
Students may get frustrated with the owl pellet virtual dissection because the students have to place the bones in the exact spot or they will not stick.
The owl pellets website does not seem to be as engaging as the frog dissection is. The pictures do not appear to be real life like.
The owl pellet virtual dissection seems to be a long process, and we feel as though you may lose students focus and attention quickly.
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