Using Google Docs in Math and Science

Re-printed article from October 2010.  Written by David Wetzel, Ph.D., Science and Education Specialist at Word Solutions

Google Docs is an easy-to-use online word processor that enables you to create, store, share, and collaborate on documents with your science and math students. You can even import any existing document from Word and Simple Text. You can work from anywhere and with any computer platform to access your documents.

Considering the versatility of Google Docs, there are many ingenious ways teachers use this free online program with students. Here are just a few:

1. Promote group collaboration and creativity by having your students record their group projects together in a single doc.
2. Create quizzes and tests using spreadsheets forms, your students’ time stamped answers will arrive neatly ordered in a spreadsheet.
3. Encourage collaborative presentation skills by asking your students to work together on a shared presentation and then present it to the class.
4. Students track and organize project data in a single spreadsheet, accessible to any group collaborator at any time.
5. Students create a math word problem solving exercise.
6. Embed their documents in a class wiki, blog, or LiveBinder for student use in projects or assignments

Science Applications

There following are ready made documents you can use or modify for your classroom.

1. Natural Resources Project – graphic organizer designed for earth science students.
2. Natural Disasters Project – graphic organizer designed for earth science students.
3. Science Fair Project (MS) – designed for middle school students’ use as a simple step by step guide for designing a science fair project.
4. Science Fair Project (Elem) – a basic outline describing the Scientific Method to help elementary school students complete a science project for a school sponsored science fair.
5. Periodic Table Vocabulary – modified Frayer model template for learning the Periodic Table of Elements.
6. Science Lab Report – sample lab report template.
7. Weather Pictograph – graph with the class or let students graph the weather using these pictographs.

Math Applications

There following are ready made documents you can use or modify for your classroom.

1. Monkey Math and the Factor Tree – students solve factorization problems.
2. Math Content Vocabulary Cards – students complete these cards by providing symbols, definitions, math representations, and synonyms for math terms.
3. Multiplication Table – study guide for students.

1. Variables and Expressions – a study guide for helping students learn these algebraic terms.
General Science and Math Applications
There following are ready made documents you can use or modify for your classroom.
1. Classroom Jeopardy – a template for playing Jeopardy as a review for tests or exams.
2. WebQuests – use this template as a guide for creating science or math WebQuests.
3. Metric System – a study guide for helping students learn the metric system.
4. Project Based Learning – a template for creating a project based learning activity.
5. Storyboard Template – ideal for student use to create their podcast or video of science or math concepts.
6. Self-Assessment – allows students to assess their own confidence after practice of something, such as a lesson on one of the written multiplication methods.
7. Compare and Contrast – students use this Venn diagram template to compare and contrast science or math topics, ideas, or concepts.
Tips and Ideas for Using Google Docs
When collaborating with students, it’s always best to create the doc, then share it with them. This will avoid any issues such as:
1. a document is erased from the student’s account
2. the collaboration settings are changed
3. other avoidable problems having to do with ownership rights
Here are some additional ideas for keeping your Docs list manageable and accessible:
1. Create a folder for each class, group of students, project, etc. Since you can add one doc to multiple folders, you can cross-categorize as much and as often as you’d like.
2. If you’re working with a lot of documents on one project, make sure you give each document a clear and easily recognizable name, connected with the project at hand (e.g. “Short story project – group A”).
1. Math Quiz – generates problems automatically and you can even set the ranges of the numbers to generate in hidden fields (addition, subtraction, multiplication, operators, and facts.
2. Spreadsheets – a simple document to kick start your use of Google Docs in class.