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Lisa Stanley

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Mrs. Stephanie Belli
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Silverado Middle School
Class Information:
Students per Class: 4 classes of 35
Class Description:
In my 7th grade science class we engage in many hands on lessons. The labs are guided inquiry with a focus of communicating and debating ideas. Throughout the year I tie in many forensic mysteries to teach problem solving and critical thinking. The mysteries involve the kids recording the crime scene, both on paper as a scaled drawing and by digital photos, carefully collecting and analyzing data, and submitting a final report including the photos to support their theories. The crime scenes range in subjects and lead to a culminating project at the end of the year. In addition, our team carries out Two major cross-curricular units, one each trimester. In the first trimester, students read the book Freak the Mighty. In science, the students become scientists contracted through UC DAVIS MEDICAL HOSPITAL and try to figure out what is medically wrong with the boy. They blog with Gwen (the mother) and each other, and perform research to answer the question. Once they think they have it they "solve" the problem. As a culmination, the students organize and participate in a walk-a-thon for THE CHILREN"S MIRICLE NETWORK. Trimester 2, students become part of the WHY organization and work on solving world hunger in Language Arts. Experiments are preformed based on their hypothesis and solutions are presented. Unfortunately, the results are a population explosion and a lack of resources to support the growing demands. Students then must colonize space. They become a design team that works to solve the issue of living in space in terms of energy and food. They will create pod casts journaling their progress in space. Problems and solutions will be discussed in class and via blogs. In addition, students look at their own energy consumption and, based on that, figure out the energy needs of the future population. They look at renewable sources of energy and how people can help to save energy now. They create a final product (web page, editorial, pod cast, commercial for school TV) detailing why saving energy is important and what individuals can do to help. All activities are video taped and a DVD in made of their accomplishments for the year. Currently, the teacher tapes and creates the DVD but I would like to move that to the students, so that they can take even greater ownership and pride in their work.
Position:
Teacher
Needs:
8-16 digital cameras, 2-6 moble computers, Video cameras, pod casting equipment and software, video editing software, web page software, web space for pod casts and web pages.
Personal Information:
College and Degrees:
B.S. in Science from the University of California, Davis. Single subject in Science Credential from the University of California, Davis.
Activities:
Reading, working on projects around the house- painting, landscaping, etc, playing with my kids, working on curriculum.
Favorite Books:
Fantasy and mystery. I mostly read what my students read/recommend so that we can discuss them. Love Harry Potter, Eragon and Eldest, Inkheart and Inkspell.
Interests:
I love to read, be outdoors, be with family and science. The last two years I have taken students on a science Camp to Florida. The students learn about how we are affecting the environment and some things that they can do to help.In addition, they are learning in a way that they will always remember!
Why Do I Teach?:
I love to engage the students and watch them come alive while learning. I have had students tell me that they did not know that learning could be fun. I want students to leave my class and look forward to finding out new things on their own- to seek them out in a variety of ways. Learning doesn't just have to be about reading a book. It should be hands-on and pertain to their life or their future.