Classroom Presentations and Activities
Classroom presentations are a major component of the KATYC Program. We have developed a variety of presentations that directly address the Career Preparation, Science and Technology and Social Studies curriculum areas. As life events are seldom encompassed in a single discipline, we have endeavored to construct our presentations to be cross-curriculum. While each presentation is built to target a primary Content Standard, they also touch upon different Performance Indicators.
The presentations can be structured to run as a single period event or a multiple period/day program. For multiple period presentations, we are happy to lead each period or just intro the topic and let the teacher present the remaining information.
Following
is a summary presentation topic list followed by a more detailed description
of each presentation:
Classroom Presentations
| Career Preparation | |
| A Day in the Life | (K – 2nd) |
| Day Tripper | (5th – 8th) |
| Science and Technology | |
| Newton's Laws of Motion | (5th – 8th) |
| The E’s of Transportation (Environment & Economics) | (5th – 12th) |
| Climate Change | (5th – 12th) |
| Environmental Implications - Wetlands | (5th – 12th) |
| Transportation Timeline | (5th – 12th) |
| Alternative Fuels and Vehicles | (5th – 12th) |
| Scocial Studies | |
| Mapping Skills | (3rd – 4th) |
| The Geography of Community | (3rd – 8th) |
| Land Use & Change Over Time | (5th – 12th) |
| The E’s of Transportation (Environment & Economics) | (5th – 12th) |
| Visual and Performing Arts | |
| Influencing Choice | (3rd – 8th) |
Career Preparation
Topic:
A Day in the Life
Grade Level:
K-2
Standard Label:
Integrated and Applied Learning
Content Standard:
Students will demonstrate how academic knowledge and skills are applied in the workplace and other settings.
Performance Indicator:
1. Demonstrate the effects of technology on where people choose to live, how they communicate, how they travel, and how they acquire goods and services.
Overview:
This presentation helps students realize the extent to which technology is involved in their daily lives. Where they live, how they get to school, where their meals come from are all effected by technology.
Topic:
Day Tripper
Grade Level:
5-8
Standard Label:
Balancing Responsibilities
Content Standard:
Students will acquire and apply skills/concepts required to balance personal, family, community and work responsibilities.
Performance Indicator:
1. Identify how critical factors such as history, the environment, the economy or personal characteristics may affect individual and family choices.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of budgeting and the use of financial tools and services.
Overview:
Choice is easy when options are limited. However, when competing needs and desires exist at the same time that multiple options exist, choice is far from easy. We discuss the power of choice and introduce scenarios that require the students to weigh their options against their needs. The students end the activity by reporting to the class the reasons behind their decisions.
Newton's Laws of Motion
Grade Level:
5-8
Standard Label:
Motion
Content Standard:
Students will understand the motion of objects and how forces can change that motion.
Performance Indicator:
1. Describe the motion of objects using knowledge of Newton's Laws of Motion
Overview:
This presentation addresses all three of Newton's Laws and uses a variety of props to drive home each aspect of each Law. This presentation can be adjusted to serve either as an introduction to a unit on motion or as a wrap-up presentation. There is quit a bit of interaction with the students which allows this to be both an informative and fun presentation.
Topic:
The Global E's of Transportation (Environment & Economics)
Grade Level:
5-12
Standard Label:
Implications of Science and Technology
Content Standard:
Students will understand the historical, social, economic, environmental and ethical implications of science and technology.
Performance Indicator:
(Grades 5-8)
1. Research and evaluate the social and environmental impacts of scientific and technological developments.
6. Give examples of actions which may have expected or unexpected consequences that may be positive, negative or both.
7. Explain the connections between industry, natural resources, population and economic development.
(Grades 9-12)
3. Evaluate the ethical use or introduction of new scientific or technological developments.
Overview:
People have always been on the move. However, since the development of the combustion engine, costs and benefits have become greater. We'll explore the changes in transportation technology and the environmental, social and economic impacts of these changes on the world around us.
Topic:
Climate Change
Grade Level:
5-12
Standard Label:
The Earth
Content Standard:
Students will gain knowledge about the earth and the processes that change it.
Performance Indicator:
(Grades 5-8)
4. Describe factors that can cause short-term and long-term changes to the earth.
(Grades 9-12)
2. Analyze potential effects of changes in the earth's oceans and atmosphere.
Standard Label:
Implications of Science and Technology
Content Standard:
Students will understand the historical, social, economic, environmental and ethical implications of science and technology.
Performance Indicator:
(Grade 5-8)
7. Explain the connections between industry, natural resources, population and economic development(Grade 9-12)
(Grade 9-12)
2. Demonstrate the importance of resource management, controlling environmental impacts and maintaining natural ecosystems.
Overview:
We begin by differentiating between the Greenhouse Effect, Global Warming and Climate Change. We end by discussing the potential impacts of climate change. Experiments are an important aspect of this presentation and help to explain factors such as thermal expansion, and the greenhouse effect. We address topics such as Weather v. Climate, the Great Ocean Current, Regional v. Global Impacts, Proxy Data and other components of this very important subject.
Topic:
Environmental Implications - Wetlands
Grade Level:
5-8
Standard Label:
Implications of Science and Technology
Content Standard:
Students will understand the historical, social, economic, environmental and ethical implications of science and technology.
Performance Indicator:
1. Research and evaluate the social and environmental impacts of scientific and technological developments.
6. Give examples of actions which may have expected or unexpected consequences that may be positive, negative or both.
Overview:
What role do wetlands play in our lives? Should we value them more then we do? We'll discuss wetland values and then explore how transportation and settlement have impacted these critical natural areas.
Field trip option: This presentation can be structured to include a field trip to a recently created wetland where students can explore
the elements of a wetland and conduct fieldwork.
Topic:
Transportation Timeline
Grade Level:
5-8
Standard Label:
Implications of Science and Technology
Content Standard:
Students will understand the historical, social, economic, environmental and ethical implications of science and technology.
Performance Indicator:
1. Research and evaluate the social and environmental impacts of scientific and technological developments.
6. Give examples of actions which may have expected or unexpected consequences that may be positive, negative, or both
Overview:
Changes in transportation technology have provided benefits and drawbacks depending upon the frame of reference. We will present a timeline of transportation since the late 1800's and discuss how changes in transportation technology have had both positive and negative ramifications.
Topic:
Grade Level:
5-8
Standard Label:
Energy
Content Standard:
Students will understand concepts of energy.
Performance Indicator:
5. Categorize energy sources as renewable or non-renewable and compare how these sources are used by humans.
Overview:
This presentation explores the benefits and drawbacks (environmental, financial, convenience, etc.) of using alternative fuels and transportation. Examples of fuels, a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle and a model fuel cell car are all available for use in this presentation. The presentation also includes the option of conducting an alternative fuels debate developed by the National Energy Education Development Project.
Social Studies
Topic:
Mapping Skills
Grade Level:
3-4
Standard Label:
Geography - Skills and Tools
Content Standard:
Students will know how to construct and interpret maps and use globes and other geographical tools to locate and derive
information about people, places, regions and environments.
Performance Indicator:
1. Construct and compare maps of Maine, the United States and regions of the world to interpret geographical features and draw conclusions about physical patterns.
Overview:
If a picture paints a thousand words then a map definitely makes for good reading. How does a map portray the real world? What are the components? Why do all maps lie? We will use local maps and aerial photographs to lead this discussion and classroom activities.
Topic:
The Geography of Community
Grade Level:
K-8
Standard Label:
Geography - Human Interaction with Environments
Content Standard:
Students will understand and analyze the relationships among people and their physical environments
Performance Indicator:
(Grade K-2)
1. Describe the human and physical characteristics of the immediate environment.
(Grade 3-4)
1. Demonstrate an understanding of why certain areas of the world are more densely populated than others.
2. Explain ways in which communities reflect the backgrounds of their inhabitants.
3. Use a variety of materials and geographic tools to explain how the physical environment supports and constrains activities.(Grade 5-8)
1. Analyze how technology shapes the physical and human characteristics of places and regions, including Maine.
4. Demonstrate how society changes as a result of concentrated settlement.
Overview:
What is community? What is the relationship between the physical environment and the community? We will discuss how the community is more than just a collection of people but rather an interplay of various factors. We will review geography principles and use maps, aerial photographs and other tools as part of the presentation.
Topic:
Land Use & Change Over Time
Grade Level:
5-12
Standard Label:
Geography - Human Interaction with Environments
Content Standard:
Students will understand and analyze the relationships among people and their physical environments
Performance Indicator:
(Grade 5-8)
1. Analyze how technology shapes the physical and human characteristics of places and regions, including Maine.
4. Demonstrate how society changes as a result of concentrated settlement.(Grade 9-12)
1. Explain factors which shape places and regions over time.
Overview:
What is land use planning and how does it shape or landscape? The presentation discusses the purpose and process of planning. We explore concepts such as "the tragedy of the commons", change over time and public vs. private rights. We draw upon example from the community to allow the students a chance to identify with the issues discussed in class.
Topic:
The Global E's of Transportation (Environment & Economics)
Grade Level:
5-8
Standard Label:
Economics - International Trade and Global Interdependence
Content Standard:
Students will understand the patterns and results of international trade.
Performance Indicator:
1. Describe how changes in transportation and communication technologies have affected trade over time.
Standard Label:
Implications of Science and Technology
Content Standard:
Students will understand the historical, social, economic, environmental and ethical implications of science and technology.
Performance Indicator:
(Grade 5-8)
7. Explain the connections between industry, natural resources, population and economic development
Overview:
This presentation explores the interconnectedness of the global economy and how the landscape of trade has changed over time.
Visual and Performing Arts
Topic:
Influencing Choice
Grade Level:
3-8
Standard Label:
Criticism and Aesthetics
Content Standard:
Students will reflect upon and assess the characteristics and merits of art works.
Performance Indicator:
(Grade 3-4)
7. Investigate how the elements, principles and structures of the arts can be manipulated by communication media to
persuade and to influence.(Grade 5-8)
4. Compare and contrast the effectiveness of selected media, techniques and processes in communicating ideas.
Overview:
Why do we buy what we buy? How are design principles used in the market place? In this presentation, we explore how advertising and design plays an important role in shaping our purchasing decisions. We use examples and have the class design a marketing plan for a product or service.