Transcript Science for Us

Science for Us
Teaching science can be hard
Academics should be helpful. We have
knowledge, resources, time. Some of us
want to help
If we learn to use teachers’ knowledge of
the needs, abilities, and interests of the
students - we can be useful
At Forest View we think we have this
happening.
Projects
Earth/Sun/Moon unit with third grade
Light, Color, and Images unit with third
grade
Forms of Energy with fifth grade
Forms of Matter with second grade
Stars with second grade
Sky viewing/telescope observations
Today’s goal: Generate more opportunities
Marketing Presentation
How does this collaboration work?
Matching subject and scientist
Utilizing academic resources
Designing lesson plans that work
Transferring ownership to teachers
What are the products?
Curricular material and training to help teachers
enhance science teaching
How can I use it?
The Model
Teachers identify a science unit from NC
Standard Course of Study for collaboration
Concepts difficult to explain (or understand!)
Hands-on experiments are hard or unsatisfactory
Extend to newer science, add more depth
A scientist with some expertise in relevant
field agrees to help out
Starting Out
Together with scientist, some
demos/hands-on activities are selected
that can enhance the unit
We have fancy demos and well equipped labs
Letting us start with showing off our toys keeps us
in our comfort zone as we learn to work with kids
Gives teachers a chance to get to know us without
unduly disrupting their teaching
Cool demos are fun
In some cases, stop here. Still worth it!
Prepare preliminary set of lesson plans
implementing lessons learned from initial
experiences
Can build these initially around the
demos/experiments
Add more hands-on activities, assessment and
concepts
Develop explanations, analogies, teaching
methods
Students – the secret weapon
Students can present the lesson plans
across entire grade level
Gives teachers an opportunity to familiarize
themselves with material and methods
Test bed for pedagogical ideas, experiments,
materials
See the lessons in action in a range of
classroom situations
For students – opportunity to gain deeper
understanding of science while doing
something worthwhile
Implementing teacher comments and
collective experience, crystallize lesson
plans and curriculum materials (willing
teacher together with scientist)
Develop teacher workshop so teachers
take over ownership of curriculum, with
continued support
Earth/Sun/Moon - an Example
Developed at Forest View over past three
years
Support third grade goal from NCSCS
Teacher workshops for third grade
teachers coming in fall ‘03
Students to teach unit at Hillandale,
expanding program
The Lessons
Star, Sun and Sky Stories: Using Mythology to
explain our universe.
Hello Sun: Examination of the Sun’s movement
through the sky.
You Light Up My Life: Discover what are
shadows.
Me and My Shadow: Experiment with the length
of shadows and the height of the light source.
Night and Day: Exploration of the how and why
of darkness and light.
Guess My Shape: Learn the geometry behind the sizes
and distances between the Sun and Moon.
Phases of the Moon: Each student will create the
phases of the moon.
Where did the Moon Go? The story behind Eclipses
and who’s in the way of whom.
Sundials/This is a Stickup.
Theater of the Seasons: Dramatize the changes of the
seasons.
Seasonal Cultural Celebrations: Research the cultural
significance of the Winter Solstice for various cultures
around the Globe.
More
Do you know of a science unit for your
grade level that could be enhanced?
What resources are you using currently?
Can you think of a demo or experiment
that would make a difference?
Where can you go to look for a
collaborator?