Sixth Graders Prepare A Scientific Presentation
Sixth Graders Prepare A Scientific Presentation
By Susan Coney
As part of the sixth grade science, curriculum students at Reed Intermediate School study the three states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases. Students from Jim Roodhuyzenâs class were challenged by their teacher to research one of the states of matter and prepare an educational PowerPoint presentation to be combined with their classmates to produce one entire comprehensive lesson.
Mr Roodhuyzen, who teaches math, science, and reading, randomly selected and placed students together in groups of eight where they were given two class periods in the computer lab to prepare a presentation. Each group of students were assigned to research either solids, liquids, or gases.
Their charge was to work cooperatively to thoroughly research their subject and compile an eye-catching and informational report. Given only two class periods to complete the task the students got down to business helping one another in order to finish the report on time.
Brandon Ziman and Peter Ovendorf scoured the websites provided as resources by their teacher for information about gases, the state of matter they were assigned. Brandon said they found a lot of information about volcanic gas and they were excited to show it in a PowerPoint presentation.
Mr Roodhuyzen intends to take all three different presentations on solids, liquids, and gases and combine the groups efforts into one presentation that will run automatically with wonderful visual and sound effects to enhance the project. His goal is to use the advanced technology available at Reed School to combine and produce an informational learning tool to teach and reinforce the three states of matter.
Mr Roodhuyzen commented that it would take him awhile to combine the separate groups presentations into one show. âIâm able to go in take the slides individually from the kids folders and build a complete PowerPoint presentation. I donât think people are aware at how much technology most of the teachers at this school use everyday in their teaching. Itâs awesome.â