Florida Atlantic University College of Education Department of Teaching and Learning

SCE 4350 – 010   Principles and Methods: K-9 School Science  Spring 2011 INSTRUCTOR:  Dr. Ronald C. Persin, Ed. D. Phone: (561-251-1479)   Email: rpersin@fau.edu   Website: www.Lnk2Lrn.com

Course Description

3 semester hours. A review of concepts in science and a study of methods

and materials related to elementary and middle school science teaching.

CLASS TIMES and LOCATION

Wednesday 7:10 PM to 10:00 PM,  

January 12 to May 4, 2011

Room ED 313 – Boca Raton Campus.

COURSE CONNECTION TO CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

As a reflective decision-maker the student will make informed decisions,

exhibit ethical behavior, and provide evidence of being a capable professional

by demonstrating abilities to conduct science inquiry and teach science through

an inquiry-based approach and developing lessons plans and integrated units

that show respect for the developmental characteristics of children and needs

of diverse student populations.

Required TextS

Settlage, J. & Southerland, S. (2007). Teaching science to every child:

Using culture as a starting point. New York: Routledge. ISBN: 0415956374

Sciencesaurus: A student handbook. (2005). Great Sources Education

Group, Inc. Wilmington, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. (Green Text)

ISBN-13: 9780669529166

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LIVETEXT Requirement

All students must connect to LiveText. Helpful information and tutorials are

available on the FAU COE website:  http://www.coe.fau.edu/livetext/default.htm

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1. Students will be able to analyze and discuss the advantages and limitations

of modern approaches to teaching science in the elementary and middle school

settings. (EAP 5.1, 7.1, 7.2, 9.1) (ACEI 1.0, 2.2)

2. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of various

hands-on discovery approaches to science teaching/learning, especially guided

discovery teaching/learning. (ESOL 5.4), (EAP 1.1, 4.1, 4.2, 9.1 10.1, 10.2)

(ACEI 3.1, 3.3, & 3.4)

3. Students will be able to identify skills and strategies important for the

development and assessment of thinking skills, problem solving skills, and

effective questioning techniques. (ESOL 16.2), (EAP 1.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7.1, 7.2,

9.1) (ACEI 4.0)

4. Students will be able to develop skills necessary for effective lesson-planning

including incorporation of hands-on science instruction, and locating/preparing

necessary resources and materials. (ESOL 8.4, 8.5,11.5, 16.2, 20), (EAP 1.1, 4.1,

4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1,7.2, 8.1, 8.2, 9.1, 10.1, 10.2, 12.1, 12.2) (ACEI 3.1, 3.3,

3.4, 5.1, & 5.2)

5.  Students will be able to demonstrate their proficiency in the knowledge and

understanding of basic science concepts, scientific principles, the nature of

science, and goals/objectives of science education in accordance with national

and state science education standards. (FSMCS: ELE 18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 19.1, 19.3,

19.4, 19.5, 19.6, 19.8, 19.9, 19.10, 20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 20.4, 20.5, 20.6, 21.1, 21.2,

21.3, 21.4, 22.1, 22.3, 22.4, 22.5,22.6, 23.1, 23.2, 23.3, 23.4, 24.1, 24.2, 24.3,

24.4, 24.5, 25.1, 25.2) (EAP 4.1, 4.2, 8.1, 8.2, 9.1, 10.1) (ACEI 2.2)

6. Students will be able to describe ways of incorporating the various forms of

technology into science instruction and lesson planning) (ESOL 17.5) (FSAC 26.1,

26.2, 26.4) (EAP 12.1, 12.2) (ACEI 2.2)

7. Students will be able to describe ways of assessing what students know and

are able to do. (ESOL 17.5) (EAP 1.1, 8.1, 9.1) (ACEI 4.0)

8. Students will be able to plan ways of integrating science with mathematics,

arts, social studies, music, and language arts. (ESOL 8.4, 8.5, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5),

(EAP 4.1, 4.2, 7.1, 8.1, 10.1, 10.2) (ACEI 2.8)

9. Students will be able to develop an understanding of the importance of

teaching science to students with disabilities, including students of all social

and cultural backgrounds. (ESOL 6.5, 6.6, 6.10) (EAP 5.1) (ACEI 3.3 & 3.4)

KEY: Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (EAP), Association for Childhood

Education International (ACEI), Florida Subject Area Competencies (FSAC),

Subject Matter Content Standards for Florida Teachers (FSMCS), English for

Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

View FAU Academic Calendar

CLASS Content Outline (Professor reserves right to modify & inform students)

Day	Topic(s)
1   1/12	Course Introduction/Overview, Student Information Sheets, Syllabus Discussion of Assignments, Instructional Resources Assignment – Science Philosophy Paper (Due 1/19) Introductory Slides I:  What is Science, Inquiry, Scientific Method, Concept Mapping, Mnemonic Devices, and Metric System. Teaching science Text – Preface, Ch. 1 & 2 (Answer Reading Questions, Due 1/26)
2       1/19	Science Philosophy Paper – Due PowerPoint Assignment Sign-up (Slides due 3/16, 3/23) Competency Assessment – Designing Lesson Plans (Requirements) Sign-up for Competency Assessment Lesson Plan Presentation (Due 3/30, 4/06) Introductory Slides II:  What is Science, Inquiry, Scientific Method, Concept Mapping, Mnemonic Devices, and Metric System. Competency Assessment – Designing Science Fair Projects (Requirements) Science Fair Project Ideas (partners have one for next week) Sciencesaurus Handbook – Sections 1, 2, 3, & 4  (Questions to Answer, Due 2/02) Teaching science Text – Ch. 3, 4, & 5  (Answer Reading Questions, Due 2/02)

3   1/26	Teaching science Text – Preface, Ch. 1 & 2 (Reading Questions, Due) Sign-up for Competency Assessment Science Project Presentation (Due 4/13, 4/20) Inquiry Activity #1: Causes of Friction Inquiry Activity #2: Gravity vs Speed of Satellite Teaching science Text – Ch. 6, 7 & 8 (Answer Reading Questions, Due 2/09)
4   2/02	Sciencesaurus Handbook – Sections 1, 2, 3, & 4  (Questions due) Teaching science Text – Ch. 3, 4, & 5  ( Reading Questions due) Inquiry Activity #3: Radioactive Decay Simulation Review Handout on Processes of Science Inquiry Activity #4: Kepler's 3rd Law Teaching science Text – Ch. 9, 10, & 11 (Answer Reading Questions, Due 2/16)
5 2/09	Teaching science Text – Ch. 6, 7 & 8 (Reading Questions, due) Inquiry Activity #5: What to do for π Day Review Handout on Scientific Inquiry Terms Inquiry Activity #6: Solar System Scale Model Sciencesaurus Handbook – Sections 5, 6, 7, & 8  (Questions to Answer, Due 2/23) Teaching science Text – Ch. 12, 13, & 14 (Answer Reading Questions, Due 2/23)
6 2/16	Teaching science Text – Ch. 9, 10, & 11 (Reading Questions due) Inquiry Activity #7: The Speed of Sound in Air Review Handout on Methods of Science Inquiry Activity #8: The Simple Pendulum
7 2/23	Sciencesaurus – Sections 5, 6, 7, & 8  (Questions due) Teaching science Text – Ch. 12, 13, & 14 (Reading Questions due) Inquiry Activity #9: The Simple Machines (Inclined Plane) Mid-term Exam Review
8 3/02	Mid-term Exam ( and 3-ring binder check )
9       3/16	PowerPoint Presentations Due (10-12 minutes, 12 slides)
10 3/23	PowerPoint Presentations Due (10-12 minutes, 12 slides)
11 3/30	Lesson Plan Presentations Due (10-12 minutes with 5-E Model)
12  4/06	Lesson Plan Presentations Due (10-12 minutes with 5-E Model)
13  4/13	Science Fair Project Presentations Due (15 minutes with board)
14  4/20	Science Fair Project Presentations Due (15 minutes with board)
15  4/27	(Reading Week for Final Exam Prep) Click here for Final Exam Review
16  5/04	Final Exam and 3-ring binder check

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Full participation in classroom activities/reading assignments/discussions,

one (1) science philosophy paper, four (4) journal article reflection papers,

one (1) journal article presentation, (All) chapter reading questions answered

for the Settlage text and Sciencesaurus, one (1) PowerPoint presentation,

one (1) Competency Assessment (CA) science project and presentation,

one (1) Competency Assessment (CA) lesson plan and presentation,

several weekly in-class assignments, and Mid-term/Final Exams.

 

DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS FOR SCE 4350

1. Science Teaching Philosophy Assignment: This two-page maximum,

double-spaced, font-size 12 paper requires you to describe what kind of

science teacher you aspire to be. Are a Traditionalist or a Progressive?

(Or maybe something in-between?) Think of it this way, if someone asks

you about your philosophy during a job interview, how would you respond? 

Links to: John Dewey's Philosophy and Traditional vs. Progressive

2. Journal Article Reflection Papers: Your paper should include a one-page

summary of the content from the journal article.  You should follow with a

one-page reflection consisting of your own ideas and examples that relate to

the relevance of the content you summarized on your first page. You will

present one of your articles to the class. Please use a different journal for

each article. Click here for Sample Reflection Paper.

3. Settlage Text Reading Questions: Your must provide the answers to

the assigned reading questions from the Foreward and each chapter of the

Settlage text, Teaching science to every child: Using culture as a starting

point. There will also be questions from the Sciencesaurus.

View Settlage Preface and Chaps. 1-2 Reading Questions.

View Settlage Chaps. 3-4-5 Reading Questions.

View Settlage Chaps. 6-7-8 Reading Questions.

View Settlage Chaps. 9-10-11 Reading Questions.

View Settlage Chaps. 12-13-14 Reading Questions.

4. PowerPoint Presentation: This 10 to 12-slide PowerPoint covers

benchmarks that improve student proficiency on the Florida Subject Area

Test in Elementary Education. You will select your benchmark from a list

that will be viewed in class, or you can see the list by clicking below.

Elementary K-6. Middle Grades 5-9. View Sample PowerPoint.

View the Scoring Rubric.    View Student Topics and Dates.

5. NCATE Competency Assessment (CA): Science Fair Project.

Students, working in teams of 2, must design and conduct a science

experiment. Present your project to the class with results displayed on

a science fair board. Write a 1-page Abstract and post on LiveText.

More guidelines will be provided in class.

View handbook. View Lab Safety Guidelines. 

View the Scoring Rubric. View Student Topics and Dates.

View the Abstract Form.   View a Sample Abstract.

6. Competency Assessment (CA): Science Concept Lesson Plan.

Students will demonstrate understanding of science content based on the

planning of activities and assessment of learning outcomes via a lesson

plan format. You need to make sure that your lesson plan is inquiry-based

and developmentally appropriate to the various needs of the students,

including ESOL strategies and accommodation for students with disabilities.

A detailed format of a lesson plan will be given to you as a guide. Then,

the lesson will be presented to the class along with a student activity. 

This presentation must last a minimum of 15 minutes and emphasize the

5-E Model. A scoring guide for the presentation will be discussed in class. 

Objectives must relate to the standards. You must post your Lesson Plan

on LiveText.

View Sunshine State Standards. View FCAT Science Specifications.

View Summary of Goal 3 Standards. View Detailed Goal 3 Standards.

View a Sample Lesson Plan.   View Lesson Plan Scoring Rubric.

View Student Topics and Dates.

7. Weekly In-class Assignments: Several inquiry activities will be done in

class. Also, handouts will be given to you to complete in class dealing with

the content in the Sciencesaurus Handbook and the Settlage text. Reading

Questions will be assigned from the Handbook and Text.

View Settlage text slides: Chapter_1    Chapter_2&3    Chapter 4

Chapter 5      Chapter_6    Chapter_7    Chapter 8   Chapter 9

Chapter 10    Chapter 11    Chapter 12   Chapter13

8. Mid-term and Final Exams: The exams consist of some open-ended

questions and critical-thinking essay questions. Please avoid “cramming”,

but rather, maintain your work on a daily basis.

View Intro. Slides from Day #1.  View Slides on Scientific Inquiry.

View FCAT Science Exam.  Check Answers for FCAT Science Exam.

Click here for Final Exam Review

 

TEACHING METHODOLOGIES:          

Modeling, Guided practice, Research, Simulations, Lecture, Discussion,