Science Lesson Plan - Water Cohesion

Lesson Title: Drops on a Penny

Lesson Length:  3 days, 45 minutes each 

Materials Needed:  Pennies, water dropper, liquid soap, cups, plates, tweezers, water, small counting cubes

Objectives:  Students will be able to understand the science process by observing and recording data from their investigation. 

Vocabulary:  Water cohesion, surface tension

Focus:  Class discussion: Teacher has a clear cup with water, filled to the top of the cup.  Teacher has about 50 small counting cubes.  “How many cubes do you think I can put in this cup before it overflows?”  Class offers answers, discusses, teacher places cubes into the cup one at a time as the students observe. 

Instruction:  Teacher reads the worksheet labeled Drops on a Penny Lab. "Will someone in the class tell me how many drops of water you think will fit on this penny?"

Guided Practice:  Teacher explains the lab set-up and procedures to the students.  Instructions are on each table.  Students make their predictions. 

Check for Mastery:  Teacher asks the students to verbalize what they saw during the experiment. 

Independent Practice:  Students explain in their science journals what they observed during the lab and draw a picture labeling the appropriate parts. 

Closure:  Class comes back together and discusses what each group observed. Follow with higher-level questioning.  

Enrichment:  Water cohesion video   http://www1.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=167366

Evaluation / Assessment:  Teacher will engage in discussion with the students and evaluate their journal entries. 

Schedule of Lesson:  Day 1:  Open the lesson with the students observing the first experiment.  Class will complete and discuss water cohesion and surface tension worksheet. 

Day 2:  Teacher will review with students the experiment from Monday, review vocabulary.  Begin the Drops on a Penny lab. 

Day 3:  Teacher will lead a discussion with students about what they observed during the lab.  Students will write in their science journals what they observed during the lab, and draw a picture, and label the picture appropriately.  

Teaching Philosophy

I believe that as teachers, we have the pleasure of helping pave they way for student success.  Working alongside parents, administrators, and community we help show our children a pathway lined with compelling challenges, dependable resources, and innovative solutions. 

I believe that I will make an extraordinary addition to the any educational team.  I have always been an positive team player who loves to provide encouragement and enjoys working with others.  As educators we never stop loving to learn and should always focus on growth in our own right.  Our first priority should be growing life long relationships with our children, as their education and emotional needs are our responsibility.  I believe that once these relationships have been built, educators can ensure that the students are receiving the education they truly deserve. 

I am a very organized, energetic, and have friendly personality.  Therefore, I feel that a well structured classroom along with engaging and student focused teaching methods would best serve all students.  With preparation and resourcefulness this can be achieved.  I feel a successful classroom would integrate thematic lessons, differentiated learning, cooperative group activities, modeling, scaffolding, and clear expectations and objectives.  

"Children are like wet cement.  Whatever falls on them makes an impression."  - Haim Ginott