Transcript Private Whys? An Integrated Discovery Unit

Private Whys?
An Integrated Discovery Unit
Private Whys? Cast of Characters
 Writers:
– Deanna Blackmon, retired teacher, writing specialist
– Sandy Hughes, retired teacher, Gifted and Talented
– Ruthanne “Rudi” Thompson, EdD, teacher
 Graphic Designer: Karen Dorph
 Funded by: The Copper Development Association
 Produced by the University of North Texas, Elm
Fork Education Center
The Why behind Private Whys?
 Kids love to explore and make discoveries.
 Teachers enjoy teaching kids who are
interested and excited about learning.
 National and state standard require kids to
master certain content and process skills.
 K-4 teachers are required to teach all
content to all students in a very short period
of time . . . Thus, the development of
Private Whys?
The Why behind Private Whys?
 Private Whys? uses guided inquiry – which
is recommended by the national standards.
 Private Whys? USES the content areas
when necessary to answer leading questions
– thus achieving a level of true content
integration.
 Private Whys? uses the context of minerals
as a unifying thread, weaving through each
of the content areas.
The Why behind Private Whys?
 Private Whys? uses the theme of private
investigation to gain students interest,
provide challenge, and create a sense of
intrigue, which sets the stage for using
problem solving skills.
 Private Whys? is both based on and aligned
with national standards, so that it can be
utilized throughout the United States.
The Why behind Private Whys?
Development of National Standards –
"All states and schools will have
challenging and clear standards of
achievement and accountability for
all children, and effective strategies
for reaching those standards."
-- U.S. Dept. of Education
The Standards
 National Science Standards K-4
– Science as Inquiry
– Physical Science
– Life Science
– Earth & Space Science
– Science and Technology
– Science in Personal & Social Perspectives
– History and Nature of Science
The Standards
 National Language Arts Standards K-12
– Reading for Perspective
– Understanding the Human Experience
– Evaluation Strategies
– Communication Skills
– Communication Strategies
– Applying Knowledge
– Evaluating Data
The Standards
 National Language Arts Standards K-12,
cont.
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Developing Research Skills
Multicultural Understanding
Applying Non-English Perspectives
Participating in Society
Applying Language Skills
The Standards
 National Math Standards (Numbers) - PK-5
– Understand numbers
– Understand meanings of operations
– Compute fluently and make reasonable
estimates
The Standards
 National Math Standards (Algebra) - PK-5
– Understand patterns, relations, and functions
– Represent and analyze mathematical situations
– Use mathematical models to represent and
understand quantitative relationships
– Analyze change in various contexts
The Standards
 National Math Standards (measurement)
PK-5
– Understand measurable attributes of objects and
the units, systems, and processes of
measurement
– Apply appropriate techniques, tools, and
formulas to determine measurements
The Standards
 National Math Standards (Data Analysis &
Probability) - PK-5
– Formulate questions that can be addressed with
data and collect, organize, and display relevant
data to answer
– Select and use appropriate statistical methods to
analyze data
– Develop and evaluate inferences and
predictions that are based on data
The Standards
 National Math Standards (Problem Solving) - PK-
12
– Build new mathematical knowledge through problem
solving
– Solve problems that arise in mathematics and other
contexts
– Apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies to
solve problems
– Monitor and reflect on the process of mathematical
problem solving
The Standards
 National Health Standards - K-4
– Health promotion and disease prevention
– Health information, products and services
– Reducing health risks
– Health influences
– Using communication skills to promote health
– Setting goals for good health
– Health advocacy
The Standards
 National Social Sciences (Geography)-K-12
– The world in spatial terms
– Places and regions
– Physical systems
– Human systems
– Environment and society
– Uses of geography
The Standards
 National Social Sciences (US History) - K-4
– Living and working together in families and
communities, now and long ago
– The history of students’ own state or region
– The history of the US: Democratic principles
and values and the people from many cultures
who contributed to its heritage
– The history of peoples of many cultures around
the world
The Standards
 National Social Sciences (World History) -
5-12
– Era 1: The beginnings of human society
– Era 2: Early civilizations and the emergence of
pastoral peoples, 4000-1000 BCE
– Era 3: Classical traditions, major religions, and
giant empires 1000 BCE-300 CE
– Era 4: Expanding zones of exchange and
encounter 300-1000 CE
The Standards
 National Social Sciences (World History) - 5-12
– Era 5: Intensified hemispheric interactions, 1000-1500
CE
– Era 6: The emergence of the first global age, 1450-1770
– Era 7: An age of revolutions, 1750-1914
– Era 8: A half-century of crisis and achievement, 19001945
– Era 9: The 20th century since 1945
We Need You!
 We believe Private Whys? is unique and we
believe Private Whys? will be a useful tool for
teaching the process skills kids are required to
learn but . . . We need to know what YOU
think?!?
 Practice with us here today and then take the
Investigator’s Kit with you and try it with your
students. All we ask is that you evaluate Private
Whys? and share with us your thoughts and
insights about the discovery unit Private Whys?
How to Contact Us!
 Contact Deanna, Sandy, and Rudi care of
Rudi Thompson – [email protected]
UNT/IAS/Elm Fork Education Center
P.O. Box 310559, Denton, Texas 76203
 940-565-2994