Scott,+Christine+Lynn


 * Tuesday**: The Cool Tools sessions that I attended on Tuesday during the first session were great. One focused on how to compare and choose the right tool for your task. Another focused on how to find tools on your own. While the third provided a review of several tools I was not familiar with. For the second session, I choose to attend the PBL cool tool session because I teach using PBLs and was looking for some tools to use with them. Unfortunately the session was to show us what a PBL was and why we should use them.


 * Wednesday**: This was a great Cool Tools session! We attended sessions based on our curriculum. The science tool section focused on how to use computer simulations with students groups. As students our groups designed an experiment based on a specific topic. The group I was in worked on mass. We explored the simulation, designed an experiment then evaluated the experiment another group designed. After receiving our evaluation feedback we redesigned and conducted the experiment the another group had made. The simulation used was not one that I could use with my students, but we explored some additional web-based simulations. The process we used is definitely something that I will use.


 * Application Plan**:
 * __Compelling Question:__ Is Pluto a planet?


 * __Activating Strategy__: Students will watch a clip from the PBS video, "The Pluto Files"


 * __Lesson Activities__:
 * 1) Hate Mail from 3rd Graders - In small groups students view letters sent from upset 3rd grade students who were upset that Pluto was left out of New York’s Hayden Planetarium display of the planets. They discuss why these students were upset and if they agree or disagree with the 3rd graders. List the ideas shared in your group along with the reasons you agreed or disagreed with them.
 * 2) Venn Diagram - Students will create a YES / NO Venn Diagram and populate it with ideas they have about the compelling question.


 * __Guided Practice__: During guided practice students will continue to add to their Venn Diagram as they explore media selections of each side of the debate.
 * 1) Yes, it is! - Podcast interview of Alan Stern
 * 2) No, it's not! - NOVA "What is a planet?" Video based on IAU decision of the definition of a planet

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 * __Summarizing__: You Decide! Tricider Response with support. In Tricider students will answer this question in one paragraph or more. Responses need to include facts to support opinions and explain why they believe this side of the argument is the strongest. Then respond to 3 other student’s ideas.
 * __Homework__: What is your favorite planet? Why?