Teaching Students to Love Science and Technology

What is a fossil? Did you know there are 7 types of fossils? It is something I have never given much thought about. I do not recall learning about fossils in school. I remember touching on the topic when learning about dinosaurs, but was never introduced again during my education. It was nice to learn more about where they come from, the different types of fossils, and where they can be found. I enjoyed presenting what I have learned about fossils to my class. At first my group and I sat there pondering what we could teach about a fossil, and what activity we could do with the class. The more we researched, the more we realized we aren't the first people to ever teach a lesson on fossils! There were many beneficial, educational, and visual sites to help us teach about fossils. This experience helped Nicole, Jamie, and I grow as teachers. We will be faced with challenging topics we aren't educated enough on when we become teachers, but with the internet we have such ...

"It is not just teaching science,  it is using science to teach thinking" (Derosa & Abruscato, 2015, p. 3) Chapter One of the text was all about why we teach science using inquiry, shaping young minds with curiosity, understanding science, and why technology is essential for teaching science in the classroom. When shaping young minds, it is important to embrace and direct curiosity. This will lead to making claims, gathering evidence, and generating explanations on their findings which follows the scientific method.  What is science? Science is a way of knowing.   A systematic quest for explanations based on evidence The dynamic body of knowledge generated through a systematic quest for explanations (p. 6) The book mentions how technology is changing everyday and we must keep up with it. Technology, science, and engineering are all combined, and that is why there is a push for incorporating technology and engineering into teaching science. ...

Over the last six or so weeks, I had the opportunity to spend time with and teach a lovely group of students at Bishop Dunn Memorial School. There were a variety of grade levels (2nd grade up to 7th grade) and a variety of different needs which made teaching difficult at times, but helped me grow as an educator. You never know what will be thrown at you in the world of teaching, and by teaching a variety of students of different grades and different needs, helps prepare me for the future. Before completing my fieldwork with Dr. Smirnova in Science Methods, I had never experienced lesson planning like this before. I feel I now have a better understanding about what she expects of us, as well as a better understanding of all the components of teaching science. I knew in the past the difference between direct instruction and an inquiry lesson, but after practicing these lessons and observing my peers I now believe I understand 100% what is expected when creating and giving these types ...

What's Bugging You? By: Sherri Brown 5E Learning Cycle approach: Insect Classification  This week I read the article "What's Bugging You?" by Sherri Brown. Yes, bugs were mentioned in the article, but the article went deeper into issues that students sometimes struggle with, and often teachers have a difficult time explaining to their students. The concept the article focused on was helping students develop classification and observation skills. In the article, the teacher began the lesson by providing her students with a pre-assessment on what is considered a bug and what is considered an insect. In the pre-assessment students were asked to circle insects and explain their reasoning why it was an insect. After the pre-assessment, the students were prepared and taught what an insect was using the 5E learning cycle instructional model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate (discussed in another blog).  To Engage:  Teacher asked students wha...

What are the 5ES? Biological Science Curriculum Study (BSCS) The 5ES are an instructional approach used in classrooms during science lessons. It's a sequence that can be used to teach programs, unit plans, or individual lessons. Why do we use it? Because it helps students build their own understanding from new experiences and new ideas.  The 5 parts include..... Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate Engage: This phase is to draw students in and get them interested on the topic, while pre-assessing their prior knowledge on the topic. During this phase, students make connections with past and present knowledge.  Explore: During this phase students "explore" the topic. This gets the students involved in the lesson, which also provides them with the chance to build their own understanding. Typically during this time, the teacher provides the students with the necessary materials and a model before sending them on their way. Studen...