During my AFX in the fall of 2024, I created a Unit Plan for the Grade 7 Science topic on Heat and Temperature. As part of this unit, students conducted an experiment in groups to build their own thermometers, allowing them to directly observe the expansion and contraction of liquids and gases.

Initially, students marked the liquid level at room temperature. After adding heat, they noted the new level indicating expansion. Next, the thermometers were placed in a refrigerator, and students observed the liquid contracting due to cooling. Finally, the thermometers were left overnight to gradually return to room temperature.

The following day, students noticed that the liquid levels had risen above the original room temperature mark. This prompted a discussion about potential causes. One hypothesis was that the current room temperature was higher than at the start of the previous day.

Additionally, students observed that thermometers containing more air had higher liquid levels in their measurement columns. This indicated that air, being a gas, expands more significantly than liquid, pushing the liquid higher. The experiment effectively demonstrated two expansions occurring simultaneously: the expansion of the liquid itself and the greater expansion of the gas.

This observation directly supported textbook concepts and provided an excellent opportunity to integrate hands-on experimentation with theoretical learning. Including a photo of this result in my teaching slides helped students clearly connect their practical experience to the course material.

The Insulated Cup Holder Experiment

In this work-from-home project, students created insulated cup holders designed specifically for coffee cups in the staff room. Following a rubric and clear instructions, students experimented with various materials to determine which offered the best insulation. They considered different options for materials, the potential use of lids, and how to effectively create insulated spaces around the cups. Additionally, they incorporated user-friendliness and artistic elements aligned with a winter theme. However, the insulation capability was the most critical aspect of the design and carried the highest weighting in the evaluation.

The cup holders were tested during class on the project due date, with temperature measurements recorded periodically as students continued other coursework. This process produced a clear and informative graph illustrating which designs performed best. Highlighting tangible results through this graph effectively demonstrated the impact of different design choices.

In the future, within my own classroom, I would provide a selection of materials for students and allow class time for project construction, offering broader access to resources. However, the flexibility of this home-based project led to diverse and unique designs. Some students displayed significant creativity, while others took inspiration from existing commercial products, adding personalized improvements.

Overall, connecting student designs to measurable outcomes, as demonstrated by the resulting graph, was a valuable way to showcase the practical effectiveness of their ideas.

halloween pop art

During my AFX term at St. Thomas More Catholic Junior High, I organized an exciting Halloween Pop Art project for students during our Flex block. In this engaging activity, students transformed regular images into dynamic pop art by tracing them onto transparencies using sharpie markers. They then added vibrant color using acrylic paints, bringing their designs to life before backing them with colored paper of their choice for striking visual contrasts.

While many students enthusiastically personalized the provided images, several showcased exceptional creativity through original artwork, demonstrating impressive artistic initiative. The classroom atmosphere was lively and inspired, filled with enthusiasm and focused energy as students eagerly engaged with their projects.

This Halloween Pop Art activity not only encouraged creative expression but also fostered a joyful, diligent, and collaborative environment, highlighting the students' dedication and diverse artistic skills.