Thursday, November 12, 2015

Third Grade Students Delight in Using the Dlite Microscope

Students in Mrs. Timson's third grade class have been using a variety of tools to collect, record, and analyze information in their Science Classes. In the study of soil, the students experienced using the Dlite Zoom Microscope to magnify soil samples. 
The microscope plugs into any USB port and comes with a software that allows students to freeze frames or capture images.
Images could then be projected up on the screen, which enabled them to see things that were so microscopic that they would be missed with the naked eye.

It is intriguing to see what the world must look like to ants and bugs. 

There's a whole other world beneath the lens of a microscope!

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Weather Reporting

Mrs. Vazquez's Next Generation Digital Classroom is learning about weather maps.  The kids did a great job and synergized to create a weather report with the support of snippets of weather maps to bring it to life! Awesome job Putting First Things First and getting the job done!

Monday, November 2, 2015

What Is Wolfram|Alpha?


WolframAplha is a great site for finding how to computer answers and provide knowledge. As we try to provide resources for students to use, this is one that may come in handy.

Frequently asked questions about WolframAlpha: (taken from the site)

What educational levels is Wolfram|Alpha suitable for?

Any level, from kindergarten to graduate school and beyond. On the elementary end, Wolfram|Alpha can do arithmetic showing steps, make clocks, work with colors, and so on.

Can I use Wolfram|Alpha to do my homework?

That depends on your teacher. If you do use it, don't forget to cite it as a source.

Why does Wolfram|Alpha give a different answer from my textbook?

Check to see if your book's answer appears under "Alternate forms". It's pretty common for some forms to look different but be effectively equivalent.

Should I cite Wolfram|Alpha when I use results from it?

Yes. For academic purposes, Wolfram|Alpha is a primary source.

How should I cite results from Wolfram|Alpha?

The citable author is Wolfram|Alpha. Don't forget to include the time and/or place at which the query was made, as it can affect the result. You can reference results in individual pods by giving their names. See standard citation elements for Wolfram|Alpha for specific elements and an example.

How can I find out what to cite when I use data from Wolfram|Alpha?

Wolfram|Alpha should be considered the source, just as an encyclopedia or other reference would be. If you include the Wolfram|Alpha URL in your document, your readers can go to the "Source information" button to get further references. Note that Wolfram|Alpha often combines and adapts data from multiple sources.

Is the content of Wolfram|Alpha peer reviewed?

Yes, the content is reviewed by domain experts. It is also extensively validated using automated testing. For external data, we strive to use the most reliable sources available.

Can I find out how specific results in Wolfram|Alpha were derived?

Elementary math results often have "Show steps" buttons, and combinations of data have "Details" buttons. "Source information" buttons give information on background sources for external data.

Does Wolfram|Alpha contain "adult content"?

No. It has no adult images or narrative. It gives only factual answers to factual questions.

New to Wolfram|Alpha? Take the Tour: What Is Wolfram|Alpha?