science companion: overview and intro to the life cycles unit ___date___ ___your name___
TRANSCRIPT
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SCIENCE COMPANION:
OVERVIEW AND INTRO TO THE LIFE CYCLES UNIT___DATE___
___YOUR NAME___
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Session Goals
To learn about the philosophy and basic principles of Science Companion
To feel comfortable and excited about using a Science Companion module
To become familiar with some of the features of the program that support a high-quality implementation
To begin planning for implementation
To know where to go with questions, concerns, etc.
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I Wonder Circle / What is a Scientist? book
Discuss: How might you introduce this tool in
your classroom? How might you use it over time? What does it convey to students
about science?
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Children learn science by engaging in the work of scientists (“inquiry”) Why? What does this
look and sound like?
How does this approach address students’ learning of science content
and science process skills?
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Content and Process
Both are important for elementary students. Both should be developed with age-appropriate
activities and expectations. (SC Big Ideas encompass both disciplinary content and process skills.)
They should be connected and reinforce one another. For example: Children learn about the properties of rocks by
doing careful observation; AND Children learn how to do careful observations by
being given a meaningful context and purpose for developing/practicing this skill (e.g., observing rocks and recording properties)
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Children learn science by engaging in the work of scientists (“inquiry”) What are the
challenges and barriers to using this approach in elementary school classrooms?
TAKE A MOMENT: Talk about barriers and challenges in your group, as well as strategies you have used to address them. Be prepared to share out.
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The challenge of TIME
Designed to be done in two to three 45-60 minute sessions per week.
Lessons of consistent length and structure help with pacing and scheduling
Meaningful opportunities to integrate science with literacy and mathematics Science Notebook work and Student Reference Book
and other readings can often be done during literacy Work with data and measurement can often be done
as part of mathematics Introductory and Reflective Discussions provide rich
opportunities to develop verbal communication skills and critical thinking
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The challenge of LOGISTICSWe know…teaching hands-on science can be a pain!
We try to make it easier to address the materials, mess, noise, etc. in a variety of ways:
Field-tested units – We caught lots of issues early, and added many more teacher-suggested tips at point-of-use for managing potential hassles
ExploraGear kits – These include the most tough-to-find materials that you’ll need
Comprehensive Planning and Preparation information – Being prepared is half the battle for managing science
Detailed lesson write-ups – You don’t need to guess or try to figure out what it should look like, what to do next, etc.
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The challenge of TEACHER CONTENT KNOWLEDGE Science Companion units are explicitly designed
to develop BIG IDEAS that help teachers and kids focus on key, age-appropriate concepts and skills
The Teacher Background Information (TBI) provides additional content information for teachers – enough to build confidence and context, but no so much as to overwhelm
The TBI and Notes in the lessons provide information about common student (and adult) misconceptions
Teachers are invited and encouraged to learn science alongside their students!
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The challenge of STUDENT CONTENT KNOWLEDGEHow do I get students from explorations to new skills and understandings?
SC units are carefully structured to develop BIG IDEAS over multiple lessons and experiences
Lessons are carefully structured to promote student learning of BIG IDEAS “Engage” - activating interest and prior knowledge “Explore” – collecting evidence (data,
observations, etc.); targeted questions to help students “in the moment”
“Reflect and Discuss” - learn from evidence, consolidate ideas, and make connections
Lessons include specific questions and notes about common misconceptions
Learning experiences are engaging and memorable
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The challenge of BALANCING CONTENT AND PROCESS SKILLS SC believes that both are important for elementary
students. BIG IDEAS encompass both disciplinary content and process skills, and both are assessed in the program.
Content and Process should be connected and reinforce one another. For example: Children learn about the properties of rocks by doing
careful observation; AND Children learn how to do careful observations by being
given a meaningful context and purpose for developing/practicing this skill (e.g., observing rocks and recording properties).
Skill Building Activities attend to process skills Units within and across grades provide for careful
articulation and reinforcement of process skills
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Science Companion and Everyday MathematicsKey synergies help teachers (and students) who use one
program learn to use the other:Philosophy/pedagogy Engage children as scientists/mathematicians (i.e., “doing” science or math) Explore and apply science/math in real-life contexts Revisit and develop content and skills over time; high expectations for students Emphasize cooperative, small-group work Emphasize critical thinking and classroom discourse/discussion Emphasize active learning; constructing knowledge
Content and materials Organization of teacher guides Meaningful student materials (journals, science notebooks, SRBs) Explicit and underlying content linkages (e.g., Grade 1 Weather Unit with EM
weather routines; Grade 3 Solar Unit with EM Sunrise/Sunset routine; application of grade-appropriate measurement and data skills in the context of science, etc.)
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Science Companion:What’s in a Module?
THE REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF Teacher Lesson Manual Student Science Notebooks Student Reference Books (most upper-level units; more
coming soon!) ExploraGear Kit
THE OTHER VERY USEFUL STUFF Assessment Book Science Notebook Teacher Guide Teacher Masters and Visuals Teacher Reference Materials (online only)
TAKE A MOMENT: Do you have all of these items for your unit?
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Lesson Clusters
Lesson Clusters and groups of lessons (not necessarily consecutive) that, together, develop/support one or more Big Ideas
Science Companion units generally consist of 2-5 lesson clusters
TAKE A MOMENT: Look at the Introduction to the Life Cycles Unit and the Unit Summary table.
How many lesson clusters are there? What does each focus on? How do they connect with one another?
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Getting to Know Life Cycles:Big Ideas
Science Companion units are designed to develop age-appropriate “Big Ideas” related to the topic being studied.
These Big Ideas help teachers (and students) focus on the most important content of the lesson and unit.
Big Ideas tend to be developed through groups of lessons (called “Lesson Clusters”).
TAKE A MOMENT: Read through the Big Ideas. What questions or confusions do you have? Discuss with a colleague or the session facilitator.
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Getting to Know Life Cycles:Teacher Background Information
This section of the manual is intended to bolster teachers’ content knowledge and confidence.
The information goes beyond the content that students are expected to learn.
TAKE A MOMENT: Read through the Teacher Background Information What is one new thing you learned? What are some misconceptions students may
have? How does the module address these misconceptions?
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Getting to Know Life Cycles:Process Skills
Science Companion places a strong emphasis on developing student’s knowledge about and comfort with science processes.
Skill Building Activities focus on a particular process skill.
TAKE A MOMENT: Find examples of students engaging in science processes during the lessons.
What science processes are students engaged in? What science content are they exploring at the same
time?
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Science Companion:What’s in a Lesson? Before the Lesson
Quick Look and Preparation During the Lesson
Engage Explore Reflect and Discuss
After the Lesson Science Center Extensions Looking Ahead
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Caterpillars walking
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vriPOd4fvc
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Caterpillars eating
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua0xdB8knN8
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Chrysallises
http://www.naturemuseum.org/online/thebutterflylab/fieldguide/native.html#paintedlady
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Butterflies emerging
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoqOsbVt-yM&playnext=1&list=PLAD720846DA85F100
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Butterfly eating
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35IXQRsKvGg
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Butterflies mating
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-92ayCKHDQ
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Getting Ready to Teach:
Logistics for getting started: Use the Before You Begin Teaching
(BYBT) section as a checklist for preparing to teach the unit.
You might also look at the Lessons at a Glance to get the big picture for scheduling, etc.
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AssessmentIn Science Companion, assessment is tied to Big Ideas and Lesson Clusters.Assessment Resources: The embedded assessment suggestions in the
lessons, along with the associated recording sheets (in the Teacher Masters)
The additional assessment tools in the Assessment Book, including: Rubrics for each Big Idea/Cluster Performance Tasks and Quick Check Items Skills and Attitudes Checklists and Self-
Assessments Overviews of Assessment Opportunities Evaluation Guidelines, Blackline Masters, and
Recording Tools
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AssessmentIn Science Companion, assessment is tied to Big Ideas and Lesson Clusters.TAKE A MOMENT: Look at the Assessment section on the Quick
Look page of any lesson in your Teacher Lesson Manual. Do the embedded assessment suggestions make sense to you?
Look at any Opportunities Overview page in your Assessment Book. Is it clear will you will find more information about the various opportunities? Also look at the rubric on the facing page for more information about the criteria. What questions do you have at this point?
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Questions?? Don’t be Shy!
Contact:___Your Name_____email address__; __phone #__
Also check out www.sciencecompanion.com for lots of helpful information!