Case to Consider

Conversation Among a Teacher and Two Students

A powerful discussion between two students after they read an article about their teachers research in their own classroom. The students, using Chistroher Emdin's language, compare and contrast two forms of teaching, corporate and communal.

Invitations to Inquiry

Focus questions for Chapter 9

The focus questions outline the key ideas that teachers need to incorporate into the development of teaching strategies and lessons plans.

Inquiry Activities

Inquiry Activity 9.1: On the Nature of Science PCK

Inquiry Activity 9.2: A Window into a High School Teachers Approach to Planning

Inquiry Activity 9.3: Designing a Course of Study: The Course Syllabus

Apply PCK to various domains of science teaching and content from the Standards, Benchmarks, and State Frameworks.

Students observe videos of inquiry oriented science teaching and analyze the instructional planning process these teachers used.

Learn how to use key course elements to design a syllabus in an area of science

Teaching Units Design Steps

Part of Inquiry 9.2 outlining the steps for developing teaching plans

A detailed process that enables students to develop teaching plans constructively

Sample Lesson (Gazette)

Sample Lesson: Biological Attraction

This is an example of lesson based on the constructivist lesson model.

Science Teachers Talk (On the Companion Website

Teachers discuss: Describe your typical process for designing lessons.

What tips would you give beginning teachers in planning and preparing lessons?

Hear what a variety of teachers have to say about planningc, and tips for the beginning teacher.

Planning Activities (On the Companion Website)

Planning Activity 9.1: Earth Science--Shake, Rattle and Quake: Earthquake Waves

Planning Activity 9.2: Earth Science--Don't Take It for Granite: Rock Classification

Planning Activity 9.3: Life Science--Light On: Responses of Earthworms

Planning Activity 9.4: Physical Science--Chemistry in the Bag

Planning Activity 9.5: Physical Science--An Eggzact Experiment

These five activities are not only science activities that can be used in the K-12 environment, but provide the university professor with applications to science teaching useful in a pedagogical course.

Problems and Extensions

Sample P & E: Prepare concepts maps for one of the following: a. a chapter from a high school biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics text. b. a potential miniunit on electric circuits, physical and chemical changes, reproduction, erosion, ground water pollution.

You will find other P and E's that will involve your students in thinking about their miniunit, and how to evaluate it.

Readings

You will find a collection of science activity books, and resources on teaching strategies.

On the Web

A collection of websites that will bring your students in contact with biology, chemistry, earth science, and physical science resources.