Please see the piece on TEXTBOOKS. ------>
Science texts are notoriously "dense" and students at this level sometimes have difficulty accessing the material in them. This is why, I believe, group work has demonstrated better outcomes. It is also why I anticipate the material with the Word-A-Day.
Before we can do any "hands on" work we have to understand the concepts. In this Lesson we are discussing air masses, which "cause" all atmospheric weather activity.
Class Participation scores are based on the student's ability to focus and work with his/her group. Students who are disruptive or distract their colleagues will receive fewer points. Students who ask, "What do I do?" before reading the directions or who don't even try to work through the material before asking for the answers will receive fewer points as well. Science is observation, exploration and collaboration, not just getting the "right" answers!