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Summary of Active Learning Strategies Inquiry Activities Reading Strategies Conceptualization Writing Strategies Connections to the Real

World Modeling Active Assessment Technology Connections

Inquiry StrategiesLabs, Labs, Labs

Launch Labs Mini Labs Full Labs Data Analysis Virtual Labs Stations Lab Practicals

Labs: An Integral Part Of The Lesson Labs are not separate from the lesson. Incorporate labs at the point of

learning. Use labs constantly. Analyze the data. Incorporate the data and conclusions of

the labs into the subsequent learning Have students design their own

experiments

Follow-up on Labs Check for

understanding on the lab.

Give a lab quiz. Let students use their lab papers.

Ask top-down questions.

Active Reading / Note Taking Strategies KWL Word Splash Anticipation Guides Combination Notes Cornell Notes

Active Reading Strategies create anticipation for reading selections and reflection on what students have read. All of these can be used with cooperative learning exercises

KWL –Know –Want to Know-LearnedHave students read a section of the text

or a related article and have them answer the following questions:

What is something I Already Knew?

What is something I Want to Know?

What is something I Learned?

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Word SplashA word splash is a collection of key words or concepts chosen from a passage or chapter that students are about to read. This strategy gives students a chance to relate the new words or concepts to the main topic of the reading.

Anticipation GuideIn a an anticipation guide activity, you predict the answers to a series of statements before you read a selection. After reading you go back and see how accurate your prior knowledge was.

1. This is a great pre-read strategy.2. It deals strongly with misconceptions.

Combination NotesCombination notes are particularly useful for students who learn well through visuals. By adding a sketch to an informal outline, students draw a picture to help them understand and recall information.

Combination NotesAdditional Formats:

DetailGeneral

ExamplesOutline

Minor PointsMajor PointsColumn TwoColumn One

Cornell Notes In the right hand

column of the chart, write an outline of the section.

After writing the outline, list key words from the section in the left hand column.

At the bottom of the page, write a summary of the outline.

Key Words: Outline:

Summary:

Conceptualization Strategies Main Idea Webs Y Diagrams Sequence Diagrams Concept Maps Foldables (A Glencoe Exclusive)

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Main Idea Web

Types of Organic Macromolecules

Carbohydrates / Polysaccharides Proteins

Lipids Nucleic Acids

FoldablesFoldables are a physically created graphic

organizers that are used to involve students in an active search and organization of main ideas of a concept or concepts.

They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and have been shown in research to engage students in science concepts and to increase achievement.

Y Diagrams Sequence Diagrams

Concept MapsFour ways that information can clarify a concept

are by • explaining a process • identifying effects • providing examples • dividing a concept into parts

Writing Strategies Quick Write / Pair Share RAFT Summary Content Frames Analogies Position Papers

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Quick Write / Pair Share Think and write down what you know or have

learned about a particular topic. After you have written down your thoughts and the

facilitator have given the signal, “pair” with another person with another person and share your thoughts on the topic.

When the facilitator gives the signal, “pair” with another “pair” and do the same.

As a foursome, come up with a summary list of your thoughts.

RAFT SummaryThe goal of this strategy is to have students think about their perspective on the topic and their audience. See the following examples.

Content Frames: Chemical Bonds

Hydrogen Bonds

Covalent Bonds

Ionic Bonds

Relative strength

compared to other types of

bonds

ExampleNature of BondBond Type

AnalogiesAn analogy is an extended comparison between two subjects. It is often used to help explain unfamiliar concepts, theories, and words by comparing them to more familiar ones.For example, one can compare Earth’s layers to the layers of a hard-boiled egg. After students gain experience in using analogies, ask them to list another process, concept, or theory and think of their own analogies.

Position PapersPosition papers allow the students to do research on a controversial or debatable topic and then write their position on the topic based on their research and on their personal opinions.Guidelines should be given along with rubrics so students have a clear idea of the teachers expectations.

Position Papers: Examples Stem Cell Research

Global Warming

Deforestation

Genetic Engineering of Food Sources

Intelligent Design as Science

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Connecting Science to the Real World News Links Case Studies Community and Education Projects Issue Responses Webquests

News LinksThere are a variety of sources for current updates on science in the news. Many of these feature short articles on the topics we are teaching on in our classrooms. These keep our teaching relevant and often engage students. RSS feeds are available to update you. Cooperative learning strategies and active reading strategies should be used with current news.

News Links

Science News Links

Science News for Kids http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org

ScienceDaily http://www.sciencedaily.com/ index.htm

CNN Science & Space News http://www.cnn.com/ TECH/ space/

ScienCentral News http://www.sciencentral.com

National Geographic News http://news.nationalgeographic.com/

Case StudiesThese are problem based learning exercises. They

have been used for years in some disciplines like medicine and law, but have been shown in research to have a definite impact on learning science. For further information go to The National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science

http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/case.html

Community and Education ProjectsThese are hands on projects that students choose to get involved in or that you set up as a full class activity. Contact your local Department of Natural Resources, Community Government Office, University Science Department, and Local Corporations.

Community and Education Projects

Examples:

Rouge Rescue

Ford Motor Company Science

Research Program for High

School Students

Eastern Michigan University

– Hands on Chemistry

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Issue ResponsesThese are similar to position papers, but relate to a current issue in the community, state, or nation where students get involved in an issue of importance through letter writing or project involvement. This includes research into the area of interest.Examples: Development of a Wetland

Community Environmental Decisions

Modeling Small Scale Large Scale

Small Scale Modeling Large Scale ModelingHave students actually role play concepts.

Examples:DNA Replication, RNA TranscriptionPredator/Prey Relationships

Active AssessmentQuick Check – Card ResponsesQuick Check – Other FormsInteractive Review and Assessment

Technology Strategies Virtual Labs Creating Websites Classroom Blogs Online Partnerships Interactive Websites

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Virtual LabsVirtual Labs do not replace hands-on

experiences but a valuable tools for the following:

1. To engage students2. To allow students to experience lab situations

that are too dangerous for the classroom or impractical because of equipment.

3. To allow students enrichment experiences.4. To make up a missed classroom lab.

Classroom BlogsA Blog is a web log that allows topics to be

posted and commented upon.

A good site to try for your first classroom blog is www.blogger.com

Online Partnerships Garbage on the Grass Competition

This program enlists junior high and senior high schools around the country to audit one days worth of trash and develop plans to reduce the waste stream at their school.www.garbageweek.com

Interactive Websites There are a multitude of websites from publishers, educational institutions and organizations, and businesses that include very valuable interactive formats that support a variety of learning styles and topics. Students often find these engaging as well as adding to their understanding through visualization and interaction.

www.glencoe.com

Interactive Websites www.glencoe.com: The Best Publisher Websitewww.cellsalive.com: Great Cell Sitewww.scilinks.org: NSTA SciLinkswww.himi.org: Howard Hughes Medical

Institutewww.dnai.org: DNA Initiative Website

Other Interactive Websites www.NSTA.org/ - National Science Teachers Assoc

www.NABT.org/ - National Association of Biology Teachers www.Chemistry.org/ - American Chemical Society www.niehs.nih.gov/science-education/ National Institute for

Environment Health Science www.pbs.org/teachers/sciencetech/ - PBS http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/ www.nsdl.org – National Science Digital Library www.nsf.gov – National Science Foundation http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/case.html -

National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science