We are not trying to change the world with our teaching right now. What we can change right now is how our children view learning. We are presented with a unique opportunity to help all our young learners view science in a new light and make sense of relevant and meaningful phenomena. By using science notebooks we can give students the freedom to explore their learning and thinking using a tool they help develop.
Read MoreVirtual Sci Ed - How Can Structure And Function Help Us Make Sense?
The beekeeper forgot to put the frame in his hive, so the bees just freestyled, building a structure that would best handle temperature and ventilation. As students think about bees, they start to wonder about the connection between the structure and function of a hive and identify what we need to learn more about to start making sense of the complex work of bees.
Read MoreVirtual Sci Ed - Using An Everyday Phenomenon To Develop New Investigations
Children love talking and reading science with people in their community. - they are excited by the world around them. This activity is scaffolded to support students as they describe their thinking about an everyday phenomenon (ice melting) and prepare to share their ideas about investigating different materials with others.
Read MoreVirtual Sci Ed - Supporting Students As They Share Their Thinking
What happens when you place M&M’s in any dish and add a little warm water? This resource supports students as they organize their thinking about this phenomenon and prepare to share their initial explanations for why this happened.
Read MorePhenomena In Focus - What is an Anchoring Phenomenon?
Phenomena In Focus - What’s the Difference Between An Anchoring and Lesson Level Phenomenon? We have probably heard these terms - anchor phenomenon and lesson level phenomenon - and wondered, how we can tell them apart? To tease this apart, let’s look at an example where students use their science notebooks to start thinking about the night time sky.
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