Making “hands-on” science “minds-on” science: creating connections Arthur Beauchamp The California Science Project Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Teachers who make use of well crafted writing prompts get students to reveal their thinking about science. Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

GOALS Increase our understanding about the construction of writing prompts that more effectively reveal student thinking Think about the role of student writing in teaching and assessment Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Product Goal Produce writing prompts connecting field experiences with science content Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

A SURVEY Consider your student’s ability to express their understanding of science concepts in writing Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Information from the Classroom A survey of 57 secondary science classrooms revealed that fewer than 4% provided opportunities for students to engage in meaningful writing*. *Meaningful Writing was defined as writing that reveals student thinking. Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

What Meaningful Writing ISN’T • Most secondary science writing can be described as “novice to expert” in form. • The “novice to expert” response is typically a depressed response. Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Writing Tasks Describe the relationship between scientific research and the use of environmental resources. Summarize how energy is made available by chemical reactions and describe what happens to usable energy. Explain how a plant cell’s central vacuole and cell wall make the cell rigid. Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Writing Tasks part deux When salt is added to water, the freezing point of the water decreases. Explain why this occurs. Is the green-gases model adequate to explain all warming of Earth over its existence? Why or why not? Critical Thinking - Inferring Relationships Critical Thinking - Evaluating Models Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

So… what can we do? Enhance Content Knowledge Content learning is enhanced when engagement is increased. Content learning is enhanced when students must apply knowledge to real world problems and situations. Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

What Meaningful Writing IS • Applying the “Communication Triangle” can help us break the pattern of novice to expert writing and make writing more meaningful and more likely to reveal student thinking. Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

The Communication Triangle Form Writer Reader (audience) Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Applying the Fitness Concept Review the original data on the lions, consider what you learned from your reading, and think about the ideas of your group members. Writing Prompt: You are a wildlife biologist working in Africa. Another biologist makes the statement that George is the largest lion, so he has the best chance of fighting off enemies. George must have the most evolutionary fitness. Write a letter to your colleague either agreeing or disagreeing with him. In your letter make sure you support your position with evidence from the data, from text sources, and from your own thinking. Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Categories of Writing Prompts Argumentative/Persuasive Explanatory/Descriptive Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

20,000 Leagues under the Sea You are a marine scientist testing a special prototype deep-sea single-seat submarine. For its first major test you are taking it on a dive along the ocean floor from San Francisco, California to Hawaii. Use your knowledge of earth science to predict and describe what you would encounter as you travel along the ocean bottom. Write your report as if you are recording messages for "HQ" as you travel. Include all the major ocean features (continental slope, trenches, etc.) along your route and a description of the water conditions you encounter. You may use your notes, your book, and any information you have from other sources to help you. Use the organizer below to help you include all of the features and water conditions you would encounter. Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Consider the following • Where is the provocative question, argument, or position to be used? • How does the prompt tie to content? • What might be the range of responses from your students? • What scaffolds might you provide? Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Prompt Generating Process Brainstorm concepts that might yield writing prompts Examine curriculum/consider learning goals Generate prompts Refine select writing prompts Dialogue - share ideas, move to consensus Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Rubric places on the Web http://www.rubrics4teachers.com/ http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php • http://www.middleweb.com/rubricsHG.html Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State

The Donut Test Sacramento Area Science Project http://sasp.ucdavis.edu An Education Partnership • UC Davis & Sacramento State