Section IConcept Development in Mathematics

and Science

Unit 7Planning for Science

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Integrating Science into the Curriculum

• Learning centers– painting – water center– blocks– books– music and rhythmic activities– manipulative center– creative play– playground

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Planning for Developing Science Concepts

• Assess what the children know

• Organize thoughts by webbing

• Start planning– What do you want the children to know?– Add appropriate activities to achieve your goal

• How will you evaluate the children’s learning?

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Goals and Objectives

• Goals– broad statements that

tell where you are heading with the topic or outcomes you would like to achieve

• Objectives– state how you plan to

achieve your goals

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Webbing

Webbing

Lesson Plans

• Help you plan the experiences that will aid concept development

• Basic science plan components– concept– objectives– materials– advanced preparation– procedure– extension

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Asking Questions

• Narrow questions (or closed questions) are questions that can usually be answered with either yes or no or some other one word reply.

• Open-ended questions are those that require thinking and discussion. – They are questions that frequently do not

have just one answer.

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Assessment

• Engage in ongoing assessments of your teaching strategies and student progress

• Assessment strategies– teacher recorded observations– interviews or asking questions and interacting with

children– portfolios– science journal writing– performance-based assessment

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Unit Plan

• A unit is a series of lessons that develop a particular concept or topic.

• The three types of units – resource, – teaching, – textbook.

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Evaluating the Unit Plan

• Did you– relate the unit to the children’s prior knowledge and

experiences?– use a variety of science process skills in the lessons?– use developmentally appropriate science content?– integrate other subject areas?– use reading and writing activities that align with the

science content?– allow for naturalistic, informal, and adult guided

activities?

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Evaluating the Unit Plan (continued)

• Did you– include a variety of strategies to engage children in

active search for knowledge?– include opportunities for investigation and problem

solving?– include both open-ended and narrow questions?– include assessment strategies that provide a way to

determine if children can apply what they have learned?

– include local resources?

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