Teach Science With Fergy

Engagement Through Application

Science Videos and Funnies

Many of you have already checked out my video page but I wanted to update you on its scope. Currently, I’m up around 400 videos, all sorted by subject – Biology, Ecology, Chemistry, Physics, Space, and Miscellaneous. The is increasing every day so come by and check it out. As well I’d like to draw […]

Grasshopper mice not affected by scorpion stings

http://goo.gl/PivRFV The Arizona Bark Scorpion is perhaps the most dangerous scorpion in North America. It’s venom can cause severe pain in adult humans, immobilizing and potentially causing convulsions. Many people say it’s similar to getting a bad electric shock. Some also experience swelling of the area, frothing of the mouth, and respiratory failure. Despite its […]

Colour Blind Test

Please pay attention as there will be a test when you are done. The tricky thing about colour blindness is that many people don’t know they are colour blind until they get tested (40% of colour blind pupils currently leaving secondary school are unaware that they are colour blind – http://www.colour-blindness.com/general/prevalence/).  Why would they?  They naturally […]

Scientists Discover How to Turn Off Hunger — With Lasers

This posting was originally posted by mashable.com and can be found HERE: If you’re interested in losing weight and aren’t afraid of having your brain controlled by a laser beam through your eyeballs, then science has the perfect solution for you. In a recent study involving mice, scientists think they have discovered the part of the brain […]

Dear Science, where's my flying car?

Dear Science, This is not an easy letter to write. You know I love you very much, and I’ve always been a huge fan of yours. But this is getting ridiculous, Science. It’s 2013. I want you to know that I am not writing this letter from the moon right now. I want you acutely […]

Fergy's Book of Faces

So I’ve finally done it, I got myself on Facebook.  If you are a fellow Facebooker, I would greatly appreciate a visit and a follow on my page. My page can be found here:

Using online simulations in the classroom

            Technology is vitally important in today’s classroom as we need to keep up with the knowledge and interests of our tech savy students.  Kids today use twitter and facebook like we used email and home phones.  Their cell phones are 10x more powerful then the computers we used in […]

Chemistry Application – Pancakes

Ah pancakes, who doesn’t love them? But do you know the science behind them? Do your students? Here is an amazing activity that could be done cross-curricular with your school’s Hospitality department or not (I’ve done both) and involves your students really getting into their assignment. I’ve also used it as a reading activity with […]

How to find a teaching job

Getting a job as a teacher is brutal let me tell you. I live in Ontario Canada and right now we are undergoing a terrible stretch where it’s almost impossible to find a job. Not only are there few positions but the competition for those jobs is immense with many excellent and fully qualified teachers […]

Teaching the history of the atom in an interesting way

Wow what an amazing idea to teach the history of the atom to students with learning difficulties. Not only the atom but this method of teaching can be applied to any number of teaching topics. Please have a read, at the very least you will get an amazing way to teach the history of the […]

How low household income affects classroom engagement

Students from low-income households are more likely to struggle with engagement—for seven reasons. This posting was originally posted by http://www.ascd.org and can be found HERE: Poverty is an uncomfortable word. I’m often asked, “What should I expect from kids from low-income households?” Typically, teachers are unsure what to do differently. Just as the phrase middle class tells us little about […]

25 Things Successful Teachers Do Differently

Teachers should always be trying to improve their teaching technique. By staying current, teachers will more effectively reach their students and provide the best educational opportunities possible. This posting was originally posted by teachthought.com and can be found HERE: If you ask a student what makes him or her successful in school, you probably won’t […]

Fireworks Explained – Teaching Tool

While teaching middle school as well as grade 9 and 10 science, the topic of fireworks always seems to come up when we discuss chemical reactions. Everyone loves fireworks but for many, they truly are works of magic in the sky because the science behind them is so poorly understood. I came across this article […]

Teaching the Phases of the Moon

I came across this activity for teaching the phases of the Moon and thought it was amazing. Here’s a look at the finished product and also some details so that you can implement this activity in your classroom – CLICK HERE.       Want some more classroom activities? Teaching the Phases of the Moon Grudgeball […]

Tech & Teaching: Principals Share Best Uses of Classroom Technology

This posting was originally posted by Education World and can be found HERE: Technology can be used to engage students in ways that other tools cannot. So what are the most fun or creative ways principals have seen teachers use the technology they have at hand? That’s the question we asked the principals who comprise […]

Principals Offer Advice to Job Seekers

This posting was originally posted by Education World            Especially where I live it’s so difficult to get a teaching job these days.  Therefore, here is the first post dedicated to helping you find that elusive position. Have a plan, a portfolio, and a good attitude! That’s just some of the […]

Animated Explanations

I’d like to pass along a really great site I came across today.  It’s still growing but I think the potential is there and it’s already got some fantastic animations and videos including a heart animation which does a good job showing how blood flows inside the heart. http://www.explania.com/en Fergy    

SGM Factfiles

I came across this website and wanted to share. It’s an excellent collection of “short accessible booklets on the major global microbiological health issues.” Excellent educational reference material. The booklets include: Factfile_Cholera Factfile_Climate_Change Factfile_Cold_Wars Factfile_Influenza Factfile_HIV_AIDS Factfile_Malaria Factfile_Swine_Flu Factfile_TB SGM_Factfiles_Set Click here to be directed to the original page.

Refraction Demonstration – Scooter Style

When I teach refraction in my optics unit I find the students have a really hard time understanding why the waves change direction.  I explain that it’s because one side starts moving slower relative to the other causing it turn, similar to what occurs when a car has its two right wheels on the shoulder.  […]

Educators Reference Section

I know going through Teachers College and even into my own teaching career, I’ve always wanted a convenient place to access reputable teaching materials and references. I remember thinking that it would be great to have a book full of demonstrations, activities and lessons that I could use to jump start my teaching career. Many […]

The Home-School Connection

This article was published by Scholastic.com. As a parent, you are the major provider of your child’s education from birth through adolescence. You guide the development of her character and mental health and help form the foundation from which she’ll develop lifelong attitudes and interests. And because your home is the primary environment in which […]

How to Expel Hurtful Stereotypes from Classrooms across the Country

This article was published by Scientific American and was written by Geoffrey L. Cohen, Julio Garcia and Ferris Jabr on May 22nd, 2013 In this month’s Scientific American science writer Ed Yong explores new research on stereotype threat—the fear of confirming derogatory stereotypes about one’s social group. Such anxiety can undermine people’s performance in school, sports and the […]

Misconceptions: How They Hinder Student Success And How To Overcome Them As An Educator

Misconceptions are one of the most difficult things we as educators face.  “It is only reasonable that students would not accept a new idea without first feeling that their existing views are unsatisfactory in some way” (NARST).  Due to many factors including time restraints, lack of creativity and laziness, many teachers simply tell their students […]

Exploring Current Scientific Ethical Issues In Society

“Modern practice shows that new conceptions arrived at over time or through guided inquiry and student discourse are in fact stable and do in fact come to replace old conceptions” (Mason, 2006). Engagement through application is my moto and therefore, as an educator I feel that it’s vitally important to expose my students to content-related […]

Human Digestion Demonstration – The Bread In The Bag

Human Digestion Demonstration – The Bread In The Bag. In the first post, I talked about a demonstration I use with my science class to show what digestion looks (and feels) like in the mouth.  Click here to read Part 1. In this post, I will be talking about a digestion demonstration I use to […]