Why do plants grow toward the sun?

Middle School Life Science Lesson:
Energy Transfer and Transformation in Photosynthesis

MS:LS 1-6: Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms.

Ultimately, we want students to have a deep understanding of how photosynthesis provides the connection between energy and matter in an ecosystem. Looking at this "Matter & Energy" graphic organizer, it's not going to be easy for students to truly explain this process (though I bet they all think they could!). 

From the set of Crosscutting Concepts Graphic Organizers in 11x17

Breaking the concept apart, however, allows student to focus on the individual components before putting it all together. I built this lesson so that students discover exactly what's going on inside the leaf when it absorbs sunlight. 

(A funny side-story that will serve as caution to you... I find a lot of great digital resources that we use in class. But sometimes this leads me down a path where I forget to do some traditional activities where students really can learn a lot by observing in class. In this case, I was looking for a way for students to see chloroplasts... and spent a half hour looking for the perfect pictures before I had the "Aha!" that we should just find them ourselves in spinach leaves by doing a microscope station! DON'T make the mistake of ignoring those tried and true experiences when you're writing 3D lessons!)

Link to full lesson slideshow with teacher notes

After completion of this lesson (it takes 2-3 class periods), students can begin to fill in the graphic organizer. They will have the inputs on the left and the beginning part of the process. To follow this lesson, students will next learn about glucose and how it's made, and about how carbon dioxide travels into the leaf to become a huge part of the "matter" involved in the process.

One phenomenon... two ways

Choosing a good phenomenon to have students explain is a critical step in designing 3D lessons. Fortunately, the best phenomena can be used to address multiple Performance Expectations; it just depends on how you want to use them. Great phenomena can anchor lessons for multiple grade levels and subject areas.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2267504/The-sealed-bottle-garden-thriving-40-years-fresh-air-water.html

I was inspired to think about a lesson that would use this phenomenon when Saranac Middle School's Rebecca Shuman posted on Instagram about her students making these really cool biosphere ecosystems. (Secretly I just wanted to fill my classroom with cool stuff like this.) What I didn't realize at the time was that Becky had developed an awesome lesson sequence (called "There is no Planet B") with the biospheres as the culminating experience. Becky's biosphere lesson incorporates MS:LS2-1 and 2-3 and serves to compare the model biospheres to the closed system of the Earth as a whole.

In my classroom, we used our miniature biospheres as a model for the larger human-designed ecosystems such as Biosphere 2 and the eventual (?) biospheres used to colonize Mars or other distant places. (MS:LS2-5) We plan to observe the biospheres throughout the course of the school year to monitor changes and to model the matter and energy flow in the system.

Link to the Ecosystems in Space lesson

How can we help you navigate the NYSSLS transition?

Do you or your colleagues wish there was someone to help with the NYSSLS transition? We've been working with local schools in the North Country, and would love to help others across New York State. We would love to hear from you!

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Looking forward to the STANYS conference... less than a week away!

A lot of exciting things are happening at the 3D Science Cafe, and we hope you can join us in the work we are doing to connect teachers, schools, and NYSSLS standards across New York State.

Will we see you at the STANYS Conference this weekend?? 

--Hall of Sections (Saturday 3-4 pm) - come visit us at the North Country table and get one of our new 3D Science Cafe stickers!

Check out our new 3D Science Cafe stickers available at STANYS!

--Workshop sessions offered by the Cafe's NYSSLS Transition Team and our collaborators (in order of appearance):

Physics Institute (X-26) Saturday 9:30 - 12:00... hosted by a great group of Physics teachers from around the state, including the North Country's Charlene Rydgren.
CTLE Approved: This institute will provide a strand of physics based professional development to help assist you in the transition to NYSSLS. Join us for “Science In Action” as all participants engage in a GRC, 3-D lesson centered on a phenomenon involving Hoops & Marbles. You will witness how science & engineering practices, along with cross-cutting concepts are used to teach core ideas for the performance expectation HS-PS2-1. From there, you will pick which one of three smaller groups you want to participate in. All groups will be following the same 3-D lesson template but will focus on different units. Your choices include: waves, energy or physics & engineering. Finally, we will reconvene as a whole group for a phenomena and resource share out. There will be discussion on what are good phenomena to incorporate into instruction planning, as well as what resources are accessible. Please bring any you are willing to share. Overall, teachers will collaborate to improve instruction, student achievement, content knowledge and to develop appropriate instructional strategies. You will see research based strategies that meet the needs of all learners and provides equitable learning environments. Use of student data & technology will be discussed. The Institute will run during Sessions A-26,27,28 and B-26,27,28.

Re-align Your Wheels (Don't Reinvent Them!) (D-12) Sunday 8:00 - 9:00... Cookie Barker NYSMT, SAR Biology Northeastern; Sarah Fink NYSMT, SAR Applied Sciences Northeastern
CTLE Approved: Making the leap to the NYSSLS means analyzing, adapting and extending current lessons in a manner consistent with 3-dimensional instruction. Participants will engage in a 3-D lesson showcasing the instructional strategy of gathering, reasoning, and communicating. Graphic organizers will help center the focus on crosscutting concepts, and the workshop will culminate in exploring phenomena by which to develop your own lesson performance expectations. Sound daunting? @3DScienceCafe will walk you through a way to organize this shift in instructional practice at any grade level or subject area.

Chemistry Institute: Practicing the Practices (Y-21) Sunday 9:30 - 12:00... this promising Chemistry institute includes the North Country's Sonal Patel-Dame.
CTLE Approved: Join us as we take a deeper look into the purposeful integration of the science and engineering practices into everyday instruction. Participants will be immersed in hands-on activities that could be used to address different phenomena and three-dimensional learning in their own classrooms. Time will be taken to reflect on how teachers could begin to or continue to integrate three-dimensional teaching this year and in the future. The Institute will run during Sessions E-21,22,23,24 and F-21,22,23,24.

Transform Your Phenomena into Phenomenal Lessons! (G-11) Sunday 1:45 - 2:45... Rebecca Shuman NYSMT, SAR Intermediate Northeastern
CTLE Approved: Don’t reinvent the wheel to drive your NYSSLS transition. Adapt existing phenomena to engage students in three dimensional science practices. In this workshop you will collaborate to improve instruction through the use of scientific phenomena. Participants will construct models, engage in arguments from evidence and identify cross-cutting concepts while increasing their understanding of the NYSSLS. Resources for adapting existing phenomena will be shared and examples from classroom experience will be provided.

Re-align Your Wheels...Part 2: From Realign to Storyline (H-12) Monday 8:00 - 9:00... Cookie Barker NYSMT, SAR Biology Northeastern; Sarah Fink NYSMT, SAR Applied Sciences Northeastern
CTLE Approved: So, you already have a few lessons aligned to NYSSLS; here’s your chance to work with @3DScienceCafe to create a cohesive unit. We’ll have you analyze a NYSSLS-aligned, three-dimensional unit (Energy Transfer and Transformation in Life Science) to model a storyline that can weave your lessons together into a cohesive unit. Strategies for organizing individual lessons with student handouts in 11 X 17 format will be shared. Participants will be given time, templates, and support to help create their own NYSSLS 3-D mini unit.

Please let us know if you've used the 3D Science Cafe's resources... it's great to get feedback to improve upon our ideas. We're getting excited to see you at STANYS!

How do leaves change color in the fall?

Middle School Life Science

MS:LS 1-6: Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms.

I've been looking for a good lesson to try out the Experimental Design & Report Sheet that Cookie Barker designed last year, and found it when thinking about the phenomenon of fall leaves. The series of lessons and investigations were really successful, and we stayed organized as a class for a whole week (due to an unfortunate series of fire drills interrupting class) thanks to Cookie's template.

Click here for a copy of the full lesson. 

How often have you thought, "If I only had the time..."?

We consistently hear (and echo the same sentiments) that the #1 barrier to the NYSSLS transition / implementation process is TIME! Teachers need the time to practice lesson planning, to unpack the standards, and to build a professional network of colleagues.

Guess what?? The 3D Science Cafe team is going to help you find that TIME!

Register for the workshop | See other Fall 2018 offerings from the NCTRC

3-D Science Cafe - NYSSLS Work Session In Collaboration with the SUNY Plattsburgh Master Teacher Program Join experienced NYSSLS facilitators and teachers for a day exploring and extending your knowledge of 3- Dimensional teaching and learning. The day will include time for teachers to experience a 3-D lesson, receive guidance in lesson planning and have the opportunities to work with others to generate materials compatible with NYSSLS. Please feel free to bring lesson ideas and questions. This workshop is open to all science teachers in the North Country. Open to: All teachers of science Prerequisite: None Instructors: New York State Master Teachers Date: Saturday, November 17 Times: 9:30am - 3:30pm Place: North Country Teacher Resource Center Cost: $135 (includes cost of lunch) Register by: November 9 6 CTLE hours Class limit: None

Unpacking Performance Expectations

It's nice to see that materials we've developed really DO work!

Have you tried any of our templates or resources yet? PLEASE mention us @3DScienceCafe or leave a comment below to give us some feedback.

Frayer-type 3D Lesson Planning Template for unpacking performance expectations:

3D Earth and Space Science - HS ESS 2-5... using the blog and template = planning success!