1. EDU 312: Science in the Elementary School
Week 1: The Science Education Imperative

2. What does a scientist look like?
Using the materials provided, draw a picture of a scientist doing “science.”
Be prepared to share your ideas with your classmates.

3. What is your attitude about science?
Complete the inventory “My Attitudes about Science” (Figure 1.11 in the textbook).
Using a scale where A=5 and E=1, total your score.
What is your score on the inventory and what does your score say about your attitude about science?

4. What is your attitude about teaching science?
Complete the inventory “My Attitudes about Me Teaching Science (Figure in the textbook).
Using a scale where A=5 and E=1, total your score.
What is your score on the inventory and what does your score say about your attitude about teaching science?

5. What is good science teaching?

6. What Makes Good Science Teaching? (according to teachers)
It must focus on hands-on and minds-on strategies.
 It is interesting and fun.
The content is applicable to students’ lives and communities.
It is process-oriented.
It uses active learning approaches.
Students are active learners.

7. What Makes Good Science Teaching? (according to 8th Grade students)
Relies less on lectures and notes and more on “hands-on” experiments
Allows for outdoor settings in which to learn and experiment
Has review games and review guides
Assigns one fun long-term project during the year
Does not work out of the book all of the time
Allows students to work in groups
Provides time to discuss and debate topics.

8. What is Science? A Body of Knowledge (content)
A Way of Knowing (process)

9. Nature of Science Science rejects authority and authoritarianism.
In your own words, what does this mean?
What does this mean in the elementary science classroom?
See page 40 in your text.

10. Nature of Science Science is honest.
In your own words, what does this mean?
What does this mean in the elementary science classroom?

11. Nature of Science
Science rejects supernatural explanations as primary explanations for observed phenomena.
In your own words, what does this mean?
What does this mean in the elementary science classroom?

12. Nature of Science
Science is skeptical and rejects the notion that it is possible to attain absolute truth.
In your own words, what does this mean?
What does this mean in the elementary science classroom?

13. Nature of Science Science is parsimonious.
In your own words, what does this mean?
What does this mean in the elementary science classroom?

14. Nature of Science Science seeks consistency.
In your own words, what does this mean?
What does this mean in the elementary science classroom?

15. What is the Mystery Box?
Draw or describe what you think is in a classmate’s Mystery Box. Explain how you arrived at your conclusions.

16. Scientific Habits of Mind
Skepticism: the questioning of assumptions
Openness: open to change based on new information
Curiosity: desire to know and understand
Honesty: respect for data
From the Council of State Science Supervisors

17. E-Portfolio Review
What have you done?
What do you need to do?

18. Peer-teaching Lessons in Elementary Science
What?
When?
How?

19. Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum – Science (VSC)
Goal 1.0: Skills and Processes
Goal 2.0: Earth/Space Science
Goal 3.0: Life Science
Goal 4.0: Chemistry
Goal 5.0: Physics
Goal 6.0: Environmental Science
Goal
Indicator
Objective
Assessment Limit

20. Modeling Peer-teaching
Lesson Objective(s) and VSC link
Lesson Components
Engagement (beginning)
Student Interaction (middle)
Assessment (end)
Mini-lesson Plan

21. Constructing Your Ideas
In your text, read Activity 1.10 “Metaphors.”
On the back of your scientist drawing, record your metaphor for being an elementary science teacher, as well as some metaphors from your classmates.