Science for Us Teaching science can be hard Academics should be helpful. We have knowledge, resources, time. Some of us want to help If we learn to use teachers’ knowledge of the needs, abilities, and interests of the students - we can be useful At Forest View we think we have this happening.

Projects Earth/Sun/Moon unit with third grade Light, Color, and Images unit with third grade Forms of Energy with fifth grade Forms of Matter with second grade Stars with second grade Sky viewing/telescope observations Today’s goal: Generate more opportunities

Marketing Presentation How does this collaboration work? Matching subject and scientist Utilizing academic resources Designing lesson plans that work Transferring ownership to teachers What are the products? Curricular material and training to help teachers enhance science teaching How can I use it?

The Model Teachers identify a science unit from NC Standard Course of Study for collaboration Concepts difficult to explain (or understand!) Hands-on experiments are hard or unsatisfactory Extend to newer science, add more depth A scientist with some expertise in relevant field agrees to help out

Starting Out Together with scientist, some demos/hands-on activities are selected that can enhance the unit We have fancy demos and well equipped labs Letting us start with showing off our toys keeps us in our comfort zone as we learn to work with kids Gives teachers a chance to get to know us without unduly disrupting their teaching Cool demos are fun In some cases, stop here. Still worth it!

Prepare preliminary set of lesson plans implementing lessons learned from initial experiences Can build these initially around the demos/experiments Add more hands-on activities, assessment and concepts Develop explanations, analogies, teaching methods

Students – the secret weapon Students can present the lesson plans across entire grade level Gives teachers an opportunity to familiarize themselves with material and methods Gives teachers an opportunity to familiarize themselves with material and methods Test bed for pedagogical ideas, experiments, materials See the lessons in action in a range of classroom situations For students – opportunity to gain deeper understanding of science while doing something worthwhile

Implementing teacher comments and collective experience, crystallize lesson plans and curriculum materials (willing teacher together with scientist) Develop teacher workshop so teachers take over ownership of curriculum, with continued support

Earth/Sun/Moon - an Example Developed at Forest View over past three years Support third grade goal from NCSCS Teacher workshops for third grade teachers coming in fall ‘03 Students to teach unit at Hillandale, expanding program

The Lessons Star, Sun and Sky Stories: Using Mythology to explain our universe. Hello Sun: Examination of the Sun’s movement through the sky. You Light Up My Life: Discover what are shadows. Me and My Shadow: Experiment with the length of shadows and the height of the light source. Night and Day: Exploration of the how and why of darkness and light.

Guess My Shape: Learn the geometry behind the sizes and distances between the Sun and Moon. Phases of the Moon: Each student will create the phases of the moon. Where did the Moon Go? The story behind Eclipses and who’s in the way of whom. Sundials/This is a Stickup. Theater of the Seasons: Dramatize the changes of the seasons. Seasonal Cultural Celebrations: Research the cultural significance of the Winter Solstice for various cultures around the Globe.

More Do you know of a science unit for your grade level that could be enhanced? What resources are you using currently? Can you think of a demo or experiment that would make a difference? Where can you go to look for a collaborator?