A piece of the Science and Engineering Practices Picture of the Day A piece of the Science and Engineering Practices

Picture of the Day Daily Exercise Encourages student to apply Scientific Method to common occurrences Reinforces generalization of learned materials to real world experiences Encourages critical thinking Develops writing skills Skaffolded worksheets allow all students to participate at levels appropriate to their skill sets and IEP goals.

Each day the students come to class and the smartboard is open to the Picture of the Day Activity. For students who make journal entries, they may copy the key idea or goal for the day from the first screen.

Once all students have their notebook and handout the opening slide is presented. Based on the skills of the students this could be completed independently or as a group activity. Often students are given the opportunity to come to the board, circle their observation and write or trace the word(s) used to make the observation.

Next, students are asked to make an inference Next, students are asked to make an inference. Typically three students are asked to provide an inference and then students may write a sentence stating the inference they prefer or draft an original inference. For students with emergent writing skills they may copy the inference from a near or distant model.

Finally, students are asked to make a prediction Finally, students are asked to make a prediction. Typically three students are asked to provide a prediction and then students may write a sentence stating the prediction they prefer or draft an original prediction. For students with emergent writing skills they may copy the inference from a near or distant model.

Worksheets are skaffolded to meet the skills of each student Worksheets are skaffolded to meet the skills of each student. The following worksheet can be used as students view the picture and write independently. It can also be used as students work as a group to develop ideas. Key vocabulary words can be developed during the observation portion and then used in the following sentences.

This worksheet format is helpful for students who are writing from a near or distant model to complete the written portion.

This worksheet format is used with those students for whom writing is difficult and visual clutter overwhelms their processing.

Picture of the Day topics can be linked to the current unit, current events or as a way to get students to review previously presented material. This can also be a launching mechanism for students to initiate internet searches and learn to discern between web information that is fact based and trustworthy. This can be especially fun if the picture is presented and then the students are given time in groups to try to solve what the picture is about. Picture of the Day Google Search Results

So which SEPs are supported from DLM’s Adapted SEPs?