Science Gets Tagxedo’d!
Science Gets Tagxedo’d!
Science Gets Tagxedo’d!
This school year, I have been working to create a group of Subject Area Experts in my 4th grade science class. This group of students will be able to explain key terms and concepts to their classmates. My students created word clouds using text from their online textbook and Science Reference Journal. The word clouds assessed the students’ understanding of our science unit on electricity and magnetism.
Subjects
Other Keywords
EDMT; Emergent Technology; RILS; Science; Tagxedo.com; Word Clouds Grades
K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 >12 Objectives:
To demonstrate student understanding, while creating and illustrating key terms from our unit on electricity and magnetism.
Materials:
To research, create and present their word clouds, my students utilized:
*Their online textbook
*Their Science Reference Journals
*www.Tagxedo.com
*Their flash drives
*Our classroom’s interactive white board
Lesson Files
Cle Cooks
About the author
I was born and raised in Jacksonville, where I still live with my wife and our 3 children, two of which we adopted a little over a year ago. I teach fourth grade science at a local charter school. I was originally hired as a part-time substitute teacher at the beginning of last school year, but transitioned back into a full-time teaching position last November, taking over a third grade math and science class. I previously taught language arts and television production at the high school level. Then at a private school for students with learning disabilities. Orignally, I did not plan to return to the classroom until I finished my master's program at another university, but time and tide brought me back sooner than I expected. The great thing is that I get to see all three of my children at school everyday, since they attend the same school. I am here at Full Sail to learn how to use current and future technology and media platforms to facilitate student learning at their own pace, enabling them to learn from each other, about each other and lessons that can't be found trapped in the pages of a book.
Procedure:
Working in pairs, my students used their Science Reference Journals and our online textbook to create word clouds of key terms from our current unit on electricity and magnetism. Students then presented their word clouds to the rest of the class.
1. Group Discussion: Introduction to Tagxedo.com and word cloud review (Wordle.net)
2. Group Discussion: Overview of the assignment and examples of word clouds that I have created, including a live, in-class word cloud creation.
3. Working in pairs, students used their Science Reference Journals and online textbook to define and find examples of the following key terms: static electricity, push, pull, attract, repel, pole, North pole, South pole, compass, magnetic field, magnetism, electromagnet, series circuit, parallel circuit, electric current.
4. Buddy Assignment: Each pair of students were given 5 terms to define and then create a word cloud based on the definition and the word.
5. The students saved each of their word clouds on the computer lab server, to be retrieved and printed by the teacher.
6. The students reflected on their word clouds, noting the dominant and emphasized words.
7. The students shared their word clouds with their classmates on the interactive white board.
Assessment:
The students used the following rubric to as a guide to demonstrate their understanding of the activity and the key terms.
Required Elements: The project includes all required elements as well as additional information.
Use of Class Time: Used time well during the class period. Focused on getting the project done. Never distracted others.
Content - Accuracy: All 5 words accurately defined, using textbook definition.
Technology:
Reflection:
During their presentations, each pair of students discussed why they chose a particular word or shape for their word clouds and any difficulties they experienced creating their word clouds. The students also shared their ideas for using Tagxedo.com’s word cloud creator in the future, not just in my science class,
but in other classes, as well.
After the lesson, I reflected on the assignment for clarity, proper time allocation, accuracy in assessment and other areas of improvement, including student interest and integration of the Common Core Standards for 4th grade science. Because Tagxedo.com requires Microsoft Silverlight in order to run, you should check with your IT department to ensure that Silverlight is actually installed on your computers, before you attempt to use Tagxedo.com.
Audience:
Their target audience were their classmates.
Making Connections:
Prior Knowledge
Relevance
Cross-Curricular