Using Smarter Science as Bookends

1. Using Smarter Science as Bookends

2. Where to start? • Question for the presenter • Background of the presenter • Agenda – Introduce Smarter Science, provide suggestions for starting and ending with smarter science, provide direct feedback for questions

3. Warm up • K’nex – 5 - 10 min • Pair up • One can view the object and give instructions • One can listen and build

4. Bring it back to the group • What did you observe? • What questions do you have? • Now use what we have learned for the next task • Spaghetti/Marshmallow – 10min

5. Question Sorting What Kind of Inquiry?

6. What is Smarter Science? • Definition: An open-source, engaging framework for teaching and learning science in grades 1-12 and for developing the skills of inquiry, creativity and innovation in a meaningful and engaging manner. • A way to utilize the process of inquiry • A framework for teaching science • A different way of teaching science

8. Focus on the skills rather than the content • Pick three to four skills • Focus on them for the investigation • Use cross-curricular time such as Language Arts or Social Studies to develop those skills such as Questioning or Analyzing

9. The Smart Science Way • Change your planning and start with teaching the smarter science approach, focus on the skills • September – Introduce smarter science framework, create structure and classroom management. Use challenges or events that can be used with the smart science posters. Do this as a whole class activity. Once routines are set you can now move to the curriculum and in this case two or maybe three different curricula.

10. Smarter Science- Breakdown • October – November – Introduce the first strand the students will be examining. • November - December – January – Strand two • February – March – April – Strand three • April – May – June – Strand four

11. Ideas for challenges and building the framework • Ideas to start framework building – clear liquids and white powders, playdoh experimenting (make it and use it), • Design Challenge websites http://www.physics.uwo.ca/science_olympics/events/grades_7_to_8/index.html http://www.physics.uwo.ca/science_olympics/events/grades_9_to_10/index.html http://soinc.org/2012_div_b_events

12. Assessment and Evaluation • Checklist during challenges • Presentations of finished products • Conference to discuss experiments • Quizzes, activities and tests can also be done

13. Grade Specific Examples of Investigations • Grade 4 • Light and Sound - UV Beads (sunscreen), string and cups walkie talkies, build an amplifier • Pulleys and gears – Present a problem of moving something using a set amount of resources, Cranes

14. Grade 5 • Forces – build a structure that can withstand certain forces wind, earthquake • Changes in matter – fake snow, jello (change water levels)

15. Grade 6 • Flight – build a plane and set parameters and test height, time in the air distance, paper helicopters • Space – bottle rockets, straw rockets, rocket kits

16. Grade 7 • Heat – Viscosity experiment • Structure and Stability – Marshmallow and dry spaghetti challenge

17. Grade 8 • Water systems – cleaning oil off various materials • Cells – investigation of clean water versus pond water

18. Bottle rockets - • Wind mill - http://www.ted.com/talks/william_kamkwamba_how_i_harnessed_the_wind.html • Planes – website http://www.rubber-power.com/ • Rockets - http://www.estesrockets.com/

19. Questions Please Visit www.honsinger.com for resources from this presentation Thank you

20. Smarter Science endorsed by STAO

21. S P A R K S Ideas As a result of this session, what classroom activity comes to mind? Briefly describe a favourite activity, demo, lab, problem, challenge, case, etc. How could this favourite be “SHIFTED” to make it more student centered?

22. Workshops can be given in your school/board. For more information about Smarter Science, visit www.smarterscience.ca Book today!