John Aschenbrenner- Elementary Science Methods 1

 1. This week we talked about the different kinds of technology that we use in the classroom. We talked about things like computers we use and tablets but also things like the websites such as Kahoot and jam board to use for lessons to help improve learning. We then moved on to talking about simulations and their benefits of them like they are more cost-effective, accessible, easier to run, and safer. We then moved on to talking about AI programs that you can bring into the classroom and ones like chat GPT that write stuff for you and then talked about AI generators that generate images. Using that this week we wrote a story on evolution and used AI to generate images for it.  2. I was able to relate what I learned to what I already knew because I knew a little bit about AI generators. I knew about chat GPT and that software but I did not know about the AI generators that can generate images and I did not think about the idea of using these generators in the classroom and for ...

 1. This week we talked about natural selection. We talked about the idea that natural selection is where species that have favorable traits are the ones that are more likely to live and reproduce and therefore pass down these traits and keep those within the pool. We modeled this through an activity where we were given utensils that we had to try and "hunt" beans with and the one with the least amount of beans would "die". In its place, a new offspring of the ones that survived would replace it. We also did a simulation with bunnies that showed what can affect natural selection such as predators, weather, climate, and food.  4. I really liked the idea of the bean activity to represent what traits were favorable and hunted better and therefore were able to eat better and live. There were a couple parts of it that made it a little confusing so I would change that in my future classroom to make it easier but overall I want to include an activity similar to the one we ...

 1. This week we talked about mutations in DNA. We learned about the three different kinds of mutations that exist with those being substitution, insertion, and deletion. Substitution is when a nucleotide is switched with a different one. Insertion is when an extra nucleotide is inserted into the chain. Deletion is when a nucleotide is deleted from the chain. We then did an activity where we looked at the different kinds of mutations and what they would do and how they would change a person into a superhero, villain, or stay the same. We then looked at if mutations are a good thing or a bad thing and decided that they can be both but most mutations are neutral and end up having no effect.  2. I was able to remember and relate a lot of what I already knew to what we learned in class. I remember a lot about the different kinds of mutations that exist and what they all mean. I was able to use that to help me when doing the activity because I had a prior understanding that was abl...

 1. This week we learned more about DNA and its process and parts of it. We looked a lot at the structure of a DNA double helix and the parts that made it up and made our own model using candy like dots and Twizzlers. We then went into looking at gene inheritance and alleles and talking about dominant vs recessive genes. We used this information to flip a coin for traits for our imaginary child to see what they would look like. We flipped the coin which represented alleles and was able to see what different outcomes would be. We also checked in on our fast plants to look at where they were in the process and decided that next week we should be able to see seed pods.  2. I was able to relate what we learned this week to what I already knew about recessive and dominant traits from what I learned in high school. I remember learning about dominant and recessive traits and what the alleles have to look like in order to count for recessive or dominant and what the passing down of tr...