Science the Write Way Laurie Boulden Vero Beach Elementary School Project Child Science and Writing 3-5 Laurie Boulden Vero Beach Elementary School Project Child Science and Writing 3-5

Funding for this program originally sponsored by: Toyota Tapestry Grants, 2005

Vero Beach Elementary School Title 1 urban school Population 500 students, Pre-K to 5 th Grade Free and Reduced Lunch 80% Title 1 urban school Population 500 students, Pre-K to 5 th Grade Free and Reduced Lunch 80%

Why Science and Writing? Time is of the essence- curriculum must be integrated to fulfill state and district mandates Science and Social Studies make wonderful curriculum areas for integrating reading and writing process skills Brain Research shows that applying real situations helps improve learning and retention Time is of the essence- curriculum must be integrated to fulfill state and district mandates Science and Social Studies make wonderful curriculum areas for integrating reading and writing process skills Brain Research shows that applying real situations helps improve learning and retention

Writing Program School adopted program- Direct teaching of strategies based on Melissa Forney and other resources, team teach with writing coach, 1 hour four days a week, focus is fourth grade before March and third grade after March Teaching and learning is disengaged from academics, how can we bring writing into the academics? School adopted program- Direct teaching of strategies based on Melissa Forney and other resources, team teach with writing coach, 1 hour four days a week, focus is fourth grade before March and third grade after March Teaching and learning is disengaged from academics, how can we bring writing into the academics?

Applying Writing Use science experiments and conceptual learning as a basis for teaching writing process skills for expository and narrative writing in the fourth and fifth grades Can be used as an assessment/culminating activity at the end of a unit Use science experiments and conceptual learning as a basis for teaching writing process skills for expository and narrative writing in the fourth and fifth grades Can be used as an assessment/culminating activity at the end of a unit

The Writing Process A look at Narrative Prompt: Write an adventure story with a rock character

Review Narrative Elements Beginning When, Who, Where Work from the Prompt Mystery Middle Transitional phrases Seeing sentences Saying sentences Doing sentences Mystery sentences Ending Back to reality/home Fantasy, lesson learned, challenge reader

Science Review Types of Rocks Characteristics of Rocks How Rocks move and change Types of Rocks Characteristics of Rocks How Rocks move and change

Writing Brainstorming Clever Character Names Clever Phrases Clever Places Character Traits Synonyms/Figurative Language Clever Character Names Clever Phrases Clever Places Character Traits Synonyms/Figurative Language

Writing Process Mapping story Rough draft Edit and Revise Illustrate and Publish Mapping story Rough draft Edit and Revise Illustrate and Publish

Assessing Writing Focus Organization Conventions Supporting details y/languagearts/fcat_writerubric.htm y/languagearts/fcat_writerubric.htm Focus Organization Conventions Supporting details y/languagearts/fcat_writerubric.htm y/languagearts/fcat_writerubric.htm

The Writing Process A Look at Expository

Review Expository Elements Hook- grab the reader’s attention Introduction- what’s it all about? 3 or more main ideas- with supporting details Conclusion- review, reflect, and pose further questions

Making it Flow Transitional words Interjections and author speak Transitional words Interjections and author speak

What we used to get: In Roman mythology, Saturn is the god of agriculture. The associated Greek god, Cronus, was the son of Uranus and Gaia and the father of Zeus (Jupiter). Saturn is the root of the English word "Saturday" (see Appendix 5). Saturn has been known since prehistoric times. Galileo was the first to observe it with a telescope in 1610; he noted its odd appearance but was confused by it. Early observations of Saturn were complicated by the fact that the Earth passes through the plane of Saturn's rings every few years as Saturn moves in its orbit. A low resolution image of Saturn therefore changes drastically. It was not until 1659 that Christiaan Huygens correctly inferred the geometry of the rings. Saturn's rings remained unique in the known solar system until 1977 when very faint rings were discovered around Uranus (and shortly thereafter around Jupiter and Neptune). In Roman mythology, Saturn is the god of agriculture. The associated Greek god, Cronus, was the son of Uranus and Gaia and the father of Zeus (Jupiter). Saturn is the root of the English word "Saturday" (see Appendix 5). Saturn has been known since prehistoric times. Galileo was the first to observe it with a telescope in 1610; he noted its odd appearance but was confused by it. Early observations of Saturn were complicated by the fact that the Earth passes through the plane of Saturn's rings every few years as Saturn moves in its orbit. A low resolution image of Saturn therefore changes drastically. It was not until 1659 that Christiaan Huygens correctly inferred the geometry of the rings. Saturn's rings remained unique in the known solar system until 1977 when very faint rings were discovered around Uranus (and shortly thereafter around Jupiter and Neptune). In Roman mythology, Saturn is the god of agriculture. The associated Greek god, Cronus, was the son of Uranus and Gaia and the father of Zeus (Jupiter). Saturn is the root of the English word "Saturday" (see Appendix 5).

Helping Students Succeed Guide their research using questions Model and practice Allow adequate time Edit and Revise Guide their research using questions Model and practice Allow adequate time Edit and Revise

Space Project Pairs of students were assigned a planet Research using books, not the Internet Books have questions that guide students through collecting information Cut out questions and answers Group by main ideas Tape together and write Model and practice together first Pairs of students were assigned a planet Research using books, not the Internet Books have questions that guide students through collecting information Cut out questions and answers Group by main ideas Tape together and write Model and practice together first

Types of Writing Prompts Energy Super heroes Webbes- Space Planet Report Animal Adventures Science Report Science Fair Abstract Group Story telling projects Energy Super heroes Webbes- Space Planet Report Animal Adventures Science Report Science Fair Abstract Group Story telling projects

The end is only the Beginning Consider this to be a jumping off point. Many children will use this basic formula to get used to writing, but never limit a child to using it. Writing is a necessity, a skill to be learned, and a talent.

Prompts used this year 5th Grade Energy Superhero Study of energy including force and motion, electricity, solar energy, magnetism, and heat They had to develop a character that would have a super power related to energy: electricity, light, heat, etc. Their story had to have a problem that needed to be solved, either environmental or caused by a villain 5th Grade Energy Superhero Study of energy including force and motion, electricity, solar energy, magnetism, and heat They had to develop a character that would have a super power related to energy: electricity, light, heat, etc. Their story had to have a problem that needed to be solved, either environmental or caused by a villain

4th Grade Rock Stories Rock Cycle and Changes to Earth study They developed a character based on a type of rock- igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary There had to be a problem to be solved They had to embed details about their rock in their story 4th Grade Rock Stories Rock Cycle and Changes to Earth study They developed a character based on a type of rock- igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary There had to be a problem to be solved They had to embed details about their rock in their story

3rd Grade Simple Machines aren’t just a Fairy Tale After studying simple machines and reading different fairy tales, the students had to develop characters and places for their story They had to have a problem involving a simple machine, either causing or solving 3rd Grade Simple Machines aren’t just a Fairy Tale After studying simple machines and reading different fairy tales, the students had to develop characters and places for their story They had to have a problem involving a simple machine, either causing or solving

3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Space Stories students studied different aspects of space and used nonfiction trade books to research 2 planets Prompt: You and a friend travel to a planet and meet something. How did you get there? Where did the ship come from? What happened when you met the alien? Students were given different levels of support for this prompt. Some were able to develop their stories with very little structure, a few others needed more details and direction in order to be successful. 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Space Stories students studied different aspects of space and used nonfiction trade books to research 2 planets Prompt: You and a friend travel to a planet and meet something. How did you get there? Where did the ship come from? What happened when you met the alien? Students were given different levels of support for this prompt. Some were able to develop their stories with very little structure, a few others needed more details and direction in order to be successful.

Standard Writing Stations Writing Station- prompt rough draft Teacher Station- editing Computer Station- typing the final draft for publication When students finish their final draft, they move to one of the other stations. Every other week there will be a new writing prompt. Some students will get every one complete, others will not. Not all prompts have embedded science concepts being applied. Writing Station- prompt rough draft Teacher Station- editing Computer Station- typing the final draft for publication When students finish their final draft, they move to one of the other stations. Every other week there will be a new writing prompt. Some students will get every one complete, others will not. Not all prompts have embedded science concepts being applied.

For the Future… In order to make writing significant, apply science content in a variety of situations and build connections. Don’t limit yourself, continue to build between multiple facets of academia… What else can be done …the Write Way In order to make writing significant, apply science content in a variety of situations and build connections. Don’t limit yourself, continue to build between multiple facets of academia… What else can be done …the Write Way

Where to Find it All… Look on the left side of the page for a link to Science Presentations. Look on the left side of the page for a link to Science Presentations.