The Elementary Science Series
Because of
its complex concepts and vocabulary, students often have difficulty
understanding science. Experimenting and scientific inquiry get students closer
to answers, and to accomplish this, teachers benefit from instructional
strategies that actively engage students.
Promoting Student Engagement and Exploration
The Elementary Science Series helps teachers promote student engagement and exploration through specific instructional strategies shown to improve student achievement in science, such as the use of questioning to guide scientific inquiry and collaborative learning groups. The Elementary Science Series is comprised of content from science educators as well as scientists, who explain why different scientific concepts happen in the real world.
Content for the Elementary Science Series was developed with researchers from the U.S. Geologic Survey and the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS). The curriculum includes video with accompanying text commentary, providing what science educators need to help K–5 students achieve the national standards. The curriculum also supports the use and development of both math and science skills.
Summary of online topics:
- Earth Science
- Physical Science
Promotes deep understanding of two key areas in elementary earth science—the impact of erosion and the properties of minerals. The two online modules included promote student engagement and exploration through specific instructional strategies proven to improve student achievement in science and other content areas:
- Investigating Properties of Minerals: The 5 E’s
Examines two essential properties of minerals—hardness and light transmission—through hands-on studies informed by the 5 E’s Instructional Model (engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate). This module stresses the importance of questioning to guide student understanding of the content.
- Science as Inquiry: Investigating Erosion
Promotes exploration and understanding of the impact of the forces of nature on the earth. The featured teacher uses collaborative learning groups to engage her students in hands-on explorations of the ways in which forces of nature change and reshape the earth. This module emphasizes ways teachers can develop and support collaborative learning groups to deepen student learning.
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Preview Content
1
Science as Inquiry: Investigating Erosion
4–5
Highlights two important concepts in elementary physical science—density and magnetism. The two online modules shape student investigations through effective pedagogy proven to improve student achievement in science and other content areas:
- Investigating Density: Why Objects Sink or Float
Explores the properties of density by investigating why some objects float while other objects sink, covering content that focuses on mass, weight, surface area, and density. This module promotes an approach that integrates math and science to design, conduct, and report on the investigations.
- Magnetism: Using Questions to Guide Learning
Features investigations of magnetism that are guided by a consultation with a working scientist, the state learning expectations for students, and the questions generated by the students about magnets and magnetism. This module emphasizes the importance of student questioning in guiding scientific inquiries.
3–5