1. Planning and Managing Inquiry Instruction
Chapter 5
Planning and Managing Inquiry Instruction

2. Inquiry Lessons to Bookmark
Pg 116 Electromagnets
Pg 118 The Floating Coin
Pg 119 The Raisin Elevator
Pg 122 Floating and Sinking

3. Planning Science Lessons
Select the science context to be taught and learned
AZ State Standards

4. Planning Science Lessons
Select the science context to be taught and learned
Most Science Teachers feel their knowledge base is inadequate. Often, you really only understand science topics after you teach them. Remember this when planning activities for your students.
In other words, don’t be afraid to allow them to teach each other.

5. Planning Science Lessons
Write appropriate objectives
The ABC’s of objectives
A = audience (students). Through the experiences of the lesson, the students will be able to…
B = behavior. What type of performance will be expected of students and what actions will they be expected to take.
Some action verbs are compute, compare, identify, demonstrate, and predict.
C = conditions. Specifies the “givens” or what the learner will have access to.

6. Planning Science Instruction
Select and Design Lesson Activities
Introduction to the lessons. (Engage students)
Create a hook to draw the students in
Relate abstract academic knowledge to familiar experiences
Motivate students
Assess prior knowledge
Engage students in a question that can be investigated.
Discrepant Events
Some scientific phenomenon that is surprising or an unusual outcome

7. Planning Science Instruction
Select and Design Lesson Activities
Use a variety of lesson activities
Activities are the core of the science lesson
They can be used during the explore, explain, or elaborate phase of the 5-E lesson plan
Use the sources available to you
District Curriculum
Other teachers at your grade level
Cooperating teachers
ECI 306 textbook
The internet
Lessons should include a variety of teaching and learning approaches. Not everything has to be hands-on.
Explore = data gathering
Explain = interpretation
Elaborate = extension and transfer

8. Planning Science Instruction
Select and Design Lesson Activities
Open Inquiry Activities
Pass out materials and give the students play time
Collect materials then discuss what was learned
Science Learning Centers
Independent activities for students
Field Trips
Zoos, discovery centers, museums, aquariums, planetariums, natural areas, even you playground.
Anything novel will get the students excited.

9. Planning Science Instruction
Select and Design Lesson Activities
Designing Assessment Experiences
Assessments should be both formative and summative
Formative – get information out of your students while teaching so you can monitor and adjust
Summative – end of lesson/unit assessment. Did they learn it?
Rubrics are an excellent tool here.
4 level rubrics are very common
3 = advanced, excellent, exceeds expectations
2 = proficient, satisfactory, meets expectations
1 = basic, below expectations
0 = unacceptable

10. Managing Inquiry Instruction and Learning
Group Students for Learning
Whole class
Cooperative. Could be ability grouped.
Pair structure.
Individual structure
Safety in the classroom. Always keep in mind you are responsible for the safety of all of the students in your classroom. Make your inquiry appropriate for the grade level you teach.

11. Managing Inquiry Instruction and Learning
Managing Classroom Behavior
Some groups might simply be too immature for certain lessons.
Before planning your labs, consider your class.
If it is one student or a small group of students, common sense teaching rules apply. Separate them, individual consequences, etc…
Alternative activity if necessary

12. Implementing Learning Activities
Teacher preparation
Make sure you have everything you need.
If possible, have materials sorted beforehand.
PRACTICE try to identify and take steps to eliminate problems before they occur
Pre-Activity Teacher/Student Activities
Set up rules for all labs.
Set up some sort of signal call when you want quiet. Bell, raise you hand, clap, etc…
When breaking up into groups, if you can, four generally works the best.

13. Implementing Learning Activities
Distribution and Collection of Science Materials
Assign jobs before the lab ever begins. If you try to hand out or collect everything, good luck.
Beginning the Activity
Review what the procedures are as a class

14. Implementing Learning Activities
During the Activity
Grow some eyes in the back of your head
Move around the room. Do not park yourself in one place. Proximity is huge.
Assess behavior. Solve problems as early as you can. Set the precedent.
Move individuals if necessary or stop entire groups. Make an example out of somebody.
If it is the class, stop the lesson. Losing a lab makes an impact.
Publically praise students that are doing a good job.
If you need to speak, do not yell above the noise. Use your predetermined signal.

15. Implementing Learning Activities
After the activity
Have students collect everything and put away.
Debrief findings and observations as a class.
Utilize direct instruction to teach new terms and concepts
Don’t be afraid to use your textbook.