Science Teacher Visit

On March 22, 2018 Mr. Spencer let me join in on his ninth grade science class. This is the class that Agricultural Science can replace in course studies. However, I find both classes beneficial to a students course study. 

While I was visiting the students were learning about atomic structure. The objective for the lesson was for students to be able to:

1. Identify the periodic table.
2. Determine atomic structures. 

Some key vocabulary in this lesson are:

• Atomic number
• Mass number
• Number of protons 
• Isotopes
• Neutral atoms

Mr. Spencer is a unique teacher at Cowanesque Valley High School. In my opinion I I found the lesson very interesting, but that is because I was able to connect content I learned in my college chemistry courses with the content in a high school science 9 lesson. I feel that the students might not have found the lesson as interesting because this was their first introduction to atomic structures. Therefore, they seemed to be a little lost in the material. 

Atomic structures is new content for his Science 9 class, and this made me feel he was giving information. This day was a note day on Atomic Structures. The students were capturing down their notes in a Cornell Notes format as Mr. Spencer would write on his smart board to add to his powerpoint. If the students were doing a lab I feel they would have engaged in a facilitated lesson. 

Mr. Spencer has a wonderful presence in the classroom! He is making jokes that connect to the lesson, and giving examples that relate to students. Because of Mr. Spencers upbeat personality I feel this helps him connect content with the students to meet each lessons goal.

What were the objectives of the lesson.

At the end of the period Mr. Spencer passed out homework to help see if the students met his objectives for the day. Below I have included a picture of the Cornell Notes, Atomic Structures Guide, Homework, and a Lesson Summary.