Apple Crisp made super quick

Tonight's after supper culinary triumph:

Apple Crisp using Gala apples

This list may seem crazy coming from a FACS certified teacher but since north central IL weather is uncommonly cool for late July, I decided to make a very aromatic baked apple crisp using items from the lazy susan and the refrigerator that needed to be used.

a. one pancake syrup pack from a fast food restaurant

b. two butter chips (wrapped) from a local restaurant

c. 1/2 c. pancake-type baking mix

d. 1 instant oatmeal packet (raisin and spice)

and the not so uncommon items

a. 2 Stevia packets 

b. 3 Gala apples cored and sliced thinly

c. cinnamon

Details:

*350 degrees; pre-heated

*40 minutes baking time

*in a bowl, combined instant oatmeal, baking mix, cinnamon, and then cut in the butter

*in the 8" square metal pan, used the foil butter wrappers to coat the pan with butter, added sliced apples, Stevia, and syrup and lightly folded until well-coated

*topped with the dry ingredients mix; placed in oven; remove from oven and serve while warm

Delicious! Using the pantry and quirky left-over saved items, the apple crisp was ready for the oven in about 10 minutes. The longest time was spent coring and slicing the apples. Enjoy experimenting with recipes using those "odds and ends" of items that have been saved yet need to be consumed before being pitched.

STEM in FACS lesson resources

FACS and STEM is one of my absolute favorite pairings!...Family and Consumer Sciences and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

Resource #1:

Some alarming career facts published this year=

http://stemcareer.com/stem-fast-facts/

USA was ranked 24th and 28th in the world for science literacy and math literacy 10 years ago! Ugh! Have those rankings improved or worsened in the last 10+ school years?

Resource #2:

Vince Bertram has a fantastic article responding to the question about STEM--should it be STEAM, or STREM or STREAM, or STEMM?

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/vince-bertram/stem-of-steam-were-missin_b_5031895.html

His point is giving students the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through an integrative approach. (And even though he doesn't mention FACS teachers or other CTE departments, we know there has been plenty of STEM happening in FACS classrooms for the past 100 years!)...Did I hear an amen?!?!

Resource #3:

 http://www.wherestemcantakeyou.co.uk/

Rolls Royce 2012 is the sponsor for this webpage that is full of color and resources perfect for teachers and students about why STEM matters.

Resource #4:

Carson-Dellosa publishing has new STEM resource boxes available. (I'm not receiving anything for promoting them.) On their website, they have a free sample project: Solar S'mores, that can be downloaded, printed, and ready to use.

Link: https://www.carsondellosa.com/products/140350--STEM-Challenges-Learning-Cards-140350

and there are other STEM resources to purchase or put on your wish list, too.

I'm hoping these STEM resources help you and your FACS students for 2018-2019! From the USA heartland, Becca S

Accessories topic post 2 expanding on environmental theme lesson planning

STEM in FACS classes...Reduce, Re-Use, and Recycle...Earth Day...

Teacher challenge:

How can you use this game board as an interactive small group activity in FACS/STEM classes?

Credit: Leah Popinski, teacher/author/blogger at Sum Math Fun

How can you use this staggered tabbed index card series idea? 

Credit: Simply Skilled in Second blog for these photos of her tab-its (tabbed index card type concept reviews) idea for students to add to their interactive notebooks. This could be an exit slip/formative assessment tool, too.

From the USA heartland, Becca S

Accessories topic: integrating environmental science with household management lessons

To trash or not to trash? 

Have you used Lino yet?

http://en.linoit.com/

During a recent online professional development course (IL Writing Standards for grades K-8), I focused on 8th grade ELA standards that I could either use with 8th grade Intro to FACS students or a high school Intro to FACS class with 9th-10th graders typically. Besides the 8th grade ELA standards I also integrated NGSS middle school grade environmental science standards.

Lino was a technology resource I was introduced to and created 2 photo questions that could be included with the 2+ day lessons getting students to understand the waste issues inside and outside our home environments. Hopefully the initial issue of living more 'green', many teaching opportunities will be available throughout the school year to get young teens into the mode of Reduce, Re-Use, and Recycle.

My Lino question #1 can be found here:
http://linoit.com/users/beccasheartland/canvases/Intro%20FACS%20home%20manage%20question

This question is semi- text dependent on an article that is listed #1 in my final writing task project for the PD course. The term 'technosphere' is introduced in this informational text as the newest layer to planet Earth full of all our techno discards. To me this makes it a very interesting read.

There are 2 other informational texts that I wanted to follow the reading of technosphere. One is a list of top 10 household items that are made of microplastics that we need to stop using or try to slowly eliminate from our lives (items like laundry/dishwasher pods, synthetic fiber clothing, etc.)

In my writing task I had several text-dependent questions to focus students back to the article(s) for their written responses.

The 2nd question on Lino shows the inside of a hoarder's house inside and another one's outside as a way to expand the discussions from the landfill photo in the 1st linked Lino question given earlier in the post as well as the required readings
http://linoit.com/users/beccasheartland/canvases/Intro%20FACS%20house%20manage%20hoarding

Online article links can be found using these:

a. I love this website because text complexity/word level is suggested plus power words vocabulary are also listed to assist teachers and students=
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/meet-our-trashy-technosphere

b. The version I used was featured at another site. This link is for the original=
http://theconversation.com/ten-stealth-microplastics-to-avoid-if-you-want-to-save-the-oceans-90063

c. This 3rd informational text can be used as a timed reading, PARCC readiness, or as an extension of this lesson. I like this article on garbage because it separates trash into 4 categories and briefly explains each one. And because it is from a website that offers reading comprehension building texts there are questions attached. With the focus on my intended lesson to be for a household management unit, I would create my own text-dependent questions.
https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/reading-comprehension-worksheets/garbage/

Hopefully these technology connections can help you during the school year.

From the USA heartland, Becca S