Science Success Teacher Guide

Science Success: Teacher Guide

Nicola Simmons ©BASEF 20041

Purpose of This Presentation To demonstrate the connection between science fair projects and curriculum expectations To introduce the content of the Science Success: Teacher Guide and the Science Success: Student Workbook and corresponding slide presentation BASEF 20042

Meeting Curriculum Expectations – Through Science & Technology ProjectsWell executed science and technology projects: Move students through a process of scientific inquiry, and in doing so, Demonstrate mastery of curriculum expectations in “Developing skills of inquiry, design, and communication”

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Meeting Curriculum Expectations – Through Science & Technology ProjectsOverall goals in the science curriculum relate directly to the process of completing a project: 1) To understand the basic concepts of science 2) To develop the skills, strategies, and habits of mind required for scientific inquiry 3) To relate science to technology, society, and the environment BASEF 20044

Meeting Curriculum Expectations – Through Science & Technology ProjectsScience fair projects address specific expectations through all strands: 1) Formulate scientific questions, 2) Demonstrate skills to plan and conduct an inquiry, 3) Select and integrate information from various sources, and… BASEF 20045

Meeting Curriculum Expectations – Through Science & Technology Projects4) Analyze qualitative and quantitative data, andwhere appropriate, apply statistical analyses, and 5) Communicate scientific ideas, procedures, results,and conclusions and make appropriate applications based on their findings.

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Meeting Curriculum Expectations – Through Science & Technology ProjectsProjects may also address, depending on student topic choice: Specific expectations in content strands Expectations under “Relating science and technology to the world outside the school”

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3 Types of Science Fair Projects Experiment – Start with a question, make a hypothesis, test controlled variables, record & analyze results Innovation – Design a product or process to solve a particular problem, run trials, record & analyze results Study – Start with a question, state a hypothesis, observe naturally occurring variables or existing data, record & analyze results BASEF 20048

Meeting Curriculum Expectations –A Sample ExperimentThe student is interested in types of birds that visit a backyard birdfeeder, and decides to investigate whether using different types of birdseed will attract different types of birds.

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Meeting Curriculum Expectations –A Sample InnovationThe student is interested in types of birds that visit a backyard birdfeeder, and notices that larger birds crowd out smaller ones. The student decides to build a feeder that will favour smaller birds.

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Meeting Curriculum Expectations –A Sa

mple StudyThe student is interested in types of birds that visit a backyard birdfeeder, and decides to study what how many birds of each type visit the birdfeeder in relationship to the weather conditions on any given day.

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How You Can Support Science Success!Follow the learning activities in the student workbook and the teaching suggestions in the teacher guide to: 1) Encourage students to look at award winning projects from previous fairs, 2) Hold class brainstorming sessions around topic choice and asking great questions, and… BASEF 2004

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How You Can Support Science Success!3) Start a class bulletin board of science news, andencourage student postings, 4) Remind students that the best projects always begin with something that is of interest to them, and 5) Encourage students to seek additional resources, such as links from the BASEF website. BASEF 200413

How You Can Support Science Success!In addition, Use the parent letter template to involve parents in supporting science project work. Help students know what resources (equipment, lab space) may be available at the school.

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How You Can Support Science Success! Allow 8-12 weeks (more for secondary) for project completion. Ask students to get your approval on topic choice Be prepared with knowledge so you can walk students through approval processes. Tell students that real science is not a linear path, and that great discoveries have been made by mistake – like the famous glue gone wrong – Post It Notes ! BASEF 2004 15

The Science Success: Teacher Guide Gives specific examples of how each of the preceding projects directly matches specific curriculum expectations Provides teaching suggestions to accompany the 22 activities from the student workbook Outlines tips for running a school or class fair BASEF 200416