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The Lab ReportA Monthly Newsletter for the Discovery Education Science Techbook

SEPTEMBER 2011

Welcome back to school! This is such an exciting time for educators and students as you embark together on using the Discovery Education Science Techbook in your classrooms. We’re here to support you along this amazing journey.

Our monthly Lab Report will provide you with quick updates, instructional strategies, best practices and professional development opportunities surrounding the Discovery Education Science Techbook. Meant to be a quick read, many of our updates will link you to the the Discovery Education Science Blog where you may dive deeper into the story and explore other posts focused on science instruction. If you’re reading this and thinking I’ve got a great strategy to share, contact us and we’ll feature you in our next issue.

T h e D i s c o v e r y E d u c a t i o n Instructional Implementation Team

is very excited to kickoff the school year with you. We’re here to support you

through in-person and virtual events, as well as updates through this newsletter. Meet the team:

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Let’s go Beyond the Textbook

Patti DuncanManager, Instructional ImplementationNewsletter Section: Einstein’s EsClick here to Learn More about Patti

Mike BryantDirector, Instructional ImplementationNewsletter Section: Technically SpeakingClick here to Learn More about Mike

Brad FountainDirector, Instructional ImplementationNewsletter Section: Fountain’s FavoritesClick here to Learn More about Brad

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING with Mike BryantDiscovery is well known for it's breath-taking video, and there are many ways to use a video segment in class beyond simply clicking play. In this edition we’ll focus on Closed Captioning. Turning on Closed Captioning is a strategy utilized in English Language Learner classrooms for years, but this strategy proves useful for other student populations as well. The majority of the videos in the Discovery Education Science Techbook have closed captioning available to be easily downloaded.

Learn how to download closed captioning here

Learn how to activate closed captioning on your computer here

FOUNTAIN’S FAVORITES with Brad FountainA lot of the educators we work with spend a lot of time during the first few weeks of school emphasizing process skills. The Discovery Education Science Techbook is an inquiry-based program so there is an intentional and ongoing focus on process skills. We also pay particular attention to them in our Process Skills Library. If you head over to the Teacher Center and click on Process Skills you will find access to all of the Virtual and Hands-on labs, as well as the Science Sleuths and Mythbusters content. At the top of the Virtual Lab list you will find two great resources. The first is the "Master Teacher Guide". This guide will provide you with an overview on how students should conduct a virtual lab as well as a rubric for assessing students’ mastery of the process skills. The second great resource is the "Master Student Worksheet". This guide explains the virtual lab process for students. Both of these resources are invaluable as you and your students begin conducting virtual labs.

HUBBLE’S TELESCOPE

‣ Seasonal Science Streams Monthly live video broadcast focused on engaging hands-on science activities fit for the season. Lesson plans included

Register below for the September 21st event: september2011seasonalsciencestream.eventbrite.com

‣ Science Instructional Webinar Series The Instructional Implementation team brings you a webinar series that highlights integration strategies for using the Discovery Education Science Techbook

Click here to access the Archives, Learn More & Register

‣ 2011 Streamathon - September 14th 11 hours of information-packed sessions on how to integrate digital media and the newest online technologies used by today’s media-savvy students into classroom instruction

Click here to Learn More & Register

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A quick look at upcoming events from

EINSTEIN’S Es with Patti Duncan

Welcome to "Einstein's E's"! Each month we will highlight one of the E's of the 5 E Model of Instruction. This month we will discuss ways to "Engage" students using resources from the Discovery Education Science Techbook. Engage activities should be designed with two main purposes in mind. First, they should activate a student's prior knowledge of the science concept. Every student comes to the classroom with life experiences and prior knowledge that we can use to help them make connections. By activating that prior knowledge, we give them foundation on which they can build their understanding. With that foundation, they have something on which they can "stick" future learning. The second purpose of an Engage activity is to generate interest and curiosity regarding the concept. Building in an opportunity to ask "why" or "how" about the science encourages students to dig further and want to learn more. Read all about some specific ideas for "Engage" activities in the “Engage” With the Discovery Education Science Techbook blog post.

"TECH" This Out!

‣ Powering the Future Series‣ Last Shuttle: Our Journey‣ Head Rush: Science Shorts Series

Grades 6-8 Sample: Water Bending Electrons

‣ The Science of Plants Series Grades 3-5 Sample: Nature’s Neighbors Grades 6-8 Sample: Environmental Enclaves

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A quick look at new content recently added or coming soon to the