When I was teaching full time in the public school classroom, one of my favorite resources was Bill Nye the Science Guy. Periodically, I would share the videos with my students to fill in gaps or keep each of my fifth grade classes in sync with one another when classes were cancelled due to assemblies or holidays.
We would occasionally talk about the experiment the cast would demonstrate but unfortunately, I did little else to incorporate the video content into the classroom. I didn’t really know how to use the resource to go more in-depth.
Learning the Vocabulary with the Generation Genius video: “Wave Properties”
Generation Genius Streaming Video
Generation Genius takes the concept farther, providing the tools and resources for teachers and students to get more engaged. The videos are educational, energetic, and fun – sure to capture the attention of students in the target age.
Presently, Generation Genius offers 36 video lessons for grades 3-5. In September 2019, they will cover science for grades K-2 and then grades 6-8 the following year.
Made in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association, science topics from the Next Generation Science Standards are brought to life. Each video is approximately 12-minutes long and comes with a lesson plan, teacher guide, vocabulary, DIY activity guide and stopping points for class discussion.
The website is very intuitive and easy to navigate. I love that the vocabulary and discussion questions (both pre-video and post-video) are self checking. This encourages students to work through the material independently and is thereby appealing for advanced students.
As my daughter watched the videos with me she noted, “I really like that these videos give me the option to pause and give me time to reflect on the question. Many educational videos will ask me [the viewer] questions, but I never have time to respond.”
Watching the Generation Genius video: “Wave Properties”
Generation Genius & the 5 E Lesson Model
As a science teacher, I love that the Generation Genius videos and accompanying lesson plans utilized the 5 E model. This format supports inquiry-based instruction allowing children to make discoveries and to process new skills in a fun, engaging way. Teachers can also plan objectives more effectively by using the 5E process.
Children are not just learning with this method, they are more aware of their own learning growth because they are coached along and not dictated by teachers as they are in traditional lecture-based instruction.
The 5 Es are:
- Engage
- Explore
- Explain
- Elaborate
- Evaluate
The Generation Genius lessons incorporate each of the 5 Es which makes teaching the lesson easier. The activities are set up, the lesson sequence is well thought out, and the objective is thoroughly covered. In turn, students are more willing to learn.
The following words can help assure that you keep the scientific method in mind as you and your students work through the lessons:
- What do you observe?
- Make a hypothesis.
- Analyze the data, what can you conclude?
- What connections can you make?
Doing the Engage Activity from the Generation Genius 5E Lesson “Information Transfer”
Generation Genius Nitty Gritty FAQs
The Generation Genius videos are streamed over the internet – there is no need to download or install anything. You can access them from your desktop, tablet, or phone.
Upon subscribing (an individual account is the best choice for a homeschool family) and setting up your account, you get instant access to the Generation Genius library. Teachers and students share a single account, but the teacher has a special pin to make administrative changes.
Eva is passionate about education. She has extensive experience in both formal and informal settings. She presently homeschools her two young children (Academia Celestia), teaches professional development courses through the Heritage Institute, and writes a middle level science curriculum called Science Logic. In her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling, learning new languages, and above all spending time with her family. ♥
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