1. + Using Simulations to Engage Students in Inquiry on Tough Concepts Candy Ellard and Elyse Zimmer UTeach Natural Sciences Program University of Texas at Austin

2. + 5E Lesson Format A way to implement the inquiry method of learning and teaching.

3. + Question of the Day How can we use density to identify objects?

4. + Explain Students… explain their understanding of concepts learned. use evidence from sim to answer the Question of the Day. Teachers… ask questions to clarify understanding. introduce information related to concepts learned.

5. + Elaborate Challenges students to apply what they have learned and extend their knowledge and skills.

6. + Inquiry Learning Model in Science Good science inquiry involves learning through direct interaction with materials and phenomena.

7. + Inquiry Learning Model in Science Students… solve problems. reflect on problem-solving processes. are provided the opportunity to construct their own knowledge. use information processing skills to learn new content.

8. + Reflection Questions Within the lesson, what opportunities existed for students to solve problems? What opportunities existed for students to use information processing skills (e.g., observation, communication, classification, measuring, inference, prediction, etc.) and how were these skills involved in the problem solving process? How did these opportunities support students’ understanding of the science content in this lesson?

9. + Density Lesson Connections to NSES NSES (1996) Grades 5-8 – Content Standard A Use mathematics in all aspects of scientific inquiry. Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data. Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models using evidence. NSES (1996) Grades 5-8 – Content Standard B Properties and changes of properties in matter: a substance has characteristic properties, such as density, a boiling point, and solubility, all of which are independent of the amount of the sample.

10. + PhET Simulations Suite of interactive simulations (>100). New middle school “basics” versions currently in development. Ex: States of Matter Basics and Energy Skate Park Basics Topics include Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and Earth Sciences. Researched-based through think aloud interviews. FREE! Online or downloadable.

11. + Examples of PhET sims for Middle School Classrooms Density Energy Skate Park Basics Build an Atom Balloons and Static Electricity Projectile Motion Forces and Motion Gravity and Orbits Balloons and Buoyancy Masses and Springs States of Matter Basics

12. + Stay in touch! Visit our website at outreach.uteach.org/progra ms/phet Visit the PhET website at phet.colorado.edu PhET blog, Twitter and Facebook