The Rhyming Peg Mnemonic Device Applied to Learning the Mohs Scale of Hardness

NOTE: This is a large file, 55.7mb in size! This article describes the use of the rhyming peg mnemonic device to teach Moh's scale of hardness. The "pegs" consist of a set of words, each rhyming with a number from one to ten, to which the mineral names are linked. The mnemonic drawings are incorporated into a poem. This technique is effective because it is meaningful, helps students organize information, provides many associations, uses the creative thinking skill of visualization of images, and focuses student attention. Educational levels: Graduate or professional

Creativity Skills Applied to Earth Science Education: Examples from K-12 Teachers in a Graduate Creativity Class

NOTE: This is a large file, 10.7 mb in size! This article briefly explores different aspects of creativity, and then examines K-12 teachers' reactions to exercises applied to earth science concepts in a graduate creativity class. Different types of puzzle activities centering on geoscience content include a quiz game based on Odyssey of the Mind spontaneous problems, and other exercises related to embedded words, transformed cliches, remotely associated word sets, and wordsmithing. Teachers used visualization for an imaginary interview with a geoscientist, along with personal analogy of an earth science feature. As a culminating activity, teachers fashioned a geoscience curriculum material with a given set of items. Ideas for applying the activities to geoscience classes at various grade levels are included. Educational levels: Graduate or professional, Graduate or professional

Using Poetry to Teach about Minerals in Earth Science Class

This article describes how a high school earth science teacher and a college education professor team-taught a lesson to ninth graders on using poetry to learn about minerals. The professor, a geologist, shared an electronic slide show of poems she had composed about gem minerals that incorporated physical properties, formation, uses, and other information. After instruction, students researched a mineral of choice and wrote poems that contained facts and a personal reaction to the mineral. Some students reported difficulties in finding words to express their ideas in rhyme, but expressed satifaction in the sense of accomplishment in producing a scientific poem. Educational levels: Graduate or professional

Mathematics in the Real World

This paper reports on a class assignment written by preservice teachers on the use of mathematics in different professions. The professions included licensed practical nurse, auto mechanic, research and development product manager for industrial cleaning products, dental office assistant, snack bar employee at a beach club, beauty salon owner and operator, apple orchard and fruit stand owner, secretary at a university alumni hall, bus person at a restaurant, video store clerk, professional mover, convenience store assistant manager, pizza restaurant server, meteorologist, and land surveyor. (YDS

Spatial Thinking Skills and STEM Connections: How Does this Issue Address Them?

In this editorial, the Editor considered the importance of spatial thinking skills to STEM careers, provided examples of ways scientists use spatial thinking, noted sex and socioeconomic differences in spatial skill proficiency, and reviewed ways that activities included in articles in this issue involved spatial thinking. Brief summaries and preview images were provided for the articles in the issue. The four-component spatial thinking classification scheme with categories of intrinsic-static, intrinsic-dynamic, extrinsic-static and extrinsic dynamic was applied to the activities from this issue of the Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions. All categories of this classification scheme were addressed, providing examples for practitioners and parents to consider implementing with youth

Editorial: Welcome to the Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

The Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions is a scholarly journal that seeks to engage professionals, including preK-12 teachers, in a conversation about the benefits of arts integration; the ways that the STEM subjects can be integrated with the arts to produce effective teaching (STEAM Education); and how the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), can be effectively implemented with integrated arts, crafts, or constructions. Manuscripts, including guest editorials, are blind peer-reviewed by usually two reviewers and an associate editor or by three reviewers. This editorial explains the Journal’s origin in a faculty professional learning community. The Journal has a national reach with plans for two issues each year. The editorial discusses what the Journal is looking for in manuscript submissions, how the Journal may be of use to readers, and highlights of the articles in this issue. Finally, the editor explains the 5E’s learning cycle lesson model, which is an effective format for inquiry lessons to readers who may be interested in incorporating this format into lessons and future manuscripts

Crystal Shape Bingo: A Bingo Game for Teaching Recognition of Three-dimensional Crystal Shapes and Planar Geometric Shapes of Crystal Faces

This document describes a game that provides students with practice in recognizing three dimensional crystal shapes and planar geometric shapes of crystal faces. It contains information on the objective of the game, game preparation, and rules for playing. Play cards are included (four to a page)

EleFantastic Bingo: A Bingo Game for Teaching Science Concepts and Vocabulary Associated with Elephants

This game allows students to learn new science vocabulary and relevant facts about elephants. This bingo game is a valuable curriculum resource for any teacher who is teaching about elephants or other endangered animals. Directions for play, calling cards (six to a page), and play cards (four to a page), are included

Wolf Bingo: A Bingo Game for Teaching Concepts and Vocabulary Associated with Wolves

This document describes a game that provides students with practice in learning vocabulary and concepts associated with wolves. Directions for play and play cards (four to a page) are included

Measurement Activities for Increasing Student Curiosity for Animal and Space Topics

These materials are intended for use by classroom teachers to generate student curiosity during an anticipatory set of a lesson or at the beginning exploration phase of a learning cycle lesson. Several different animal and solar system topics are presented