I decided to explore mass, volume and density as my topic for finding 21st century learning tools. But focus on density as my main topic. I thought it would be interesting to see what I could find for online resources. Since most of the experiments dealing with mass, volume and density are hands on. Mass, Volume and Density retrieved from http://ippex.pppl.gov/interactive/ is an excellent site and resource for students to use. The website is a great tool to introduce students to mass, volume and density. It defines the basic concepts of mass, volume and density using simple definitions. Also, it gives the students how each is measured or calculated. It walks you through each concept and gives you interactive and visual examples. Students could work in groups and work through the website answering the questions and solving the problems given. At the end of the tutorial there are questions to ignite the students learning. I could have the students work together and answer the questions together. The great part is if the students are having trouble answering a question they can go back through the tutorial. Then the students are able to check their answers. After viewing the website students should have a clear understanding about mass, volume and density.
But if I wanted to further the students understanding of density before performing a lab this same site has a virtual lab called “Virtual Density Lab”. Students are able to manipulate the materials to see their weight, measure volume and then calculate density. The students are also able to drop them into a pail and select 6 different liquids to see if they float or not. Using the Virtual Density Lab is a great resource to teachers and students. This way teachers do not have to worry about clean-up or human error. The students are getting the experience of using a web based lab and learning about density. The challenges I might face with this is I might not have enough computers for everyone to use. Also, as much as technology is evolving in classrooms I would still want to allow the students to physically handle materials and liquids in a hands on experiment. I would allow the students to use the website since they use different materials such as gold, which I could not probably find.
I found another website where students could work on solving for density, mass and volume, http://www.algebralab.org/practice/practice.aspx?file=algebra_densitypractice.xml. I would use this website to allow students to work in groups solving the questions. I would use this in the classroom as practice for the students. When they are done they can check their answers. If the students were having trouble with their answers we could go over the questions together. No problem I see with this website is it only gives the formula for density. Therefore, the students would need to know how to convert the formula so you can find mass and volume. I could explain this to the students before using the website.
Algebra lab. (2011). Science: Practicing using the formula for density. Retrieved from
Ippex Online. (2011). The Interactive Physics Modules. Mass, volume, and density.
Retrieved from http://ippex.pppl.gov/interactive/.
Ippex Online. (2011). The Interactive Physics Modules. Virtual density lab. Retrieved
Thanks for sharing these websites, I will pass them on to my colleauges in 7th grade science, since this is their state standard. Your ideas are great in how to utilize the websites. When I had to teach this topic, I had the students complete a density project. They had to have 3 liquid layers in a jar and 3 solids, one in each liquid layer. The students always enjoyable this hands on inquiry.
ReplyDeleteSara, as you have mentioned, there are a number of advantages to having your students use these sites to explore density, mass, and volume. I especially like the virtual aspects of it since it does eliminate the messiness that can come along with discovery. I agree that it is not a full replacement for hands-on experience. Since many students are concrete learners, it is imperative that we present them with that opportunity to build concetual learning through the senses they can't take advantage of through the use of the computer. In response to the challenge you mentioned, not having enough computers can be a nuisance. However, you may be able to allow the students to rotate to the computer as center. In this way, each student could access the site at some point during the week and enjoy the same opportunities of learning as the rest of the class.
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