Lesson 1: Inquiry based teaching strategies & ABCs
Objectives:
Learners will...
- Explore various instructional methods, assessment techniques, and classroom activities aligned with the standards.
- Develop strategies to integrate curriculum standards into their pedagogical practices.
Purpose
Teaching through inquiry is a dynamic approach that fosters active engagement and critical thinking among students. By prioritizing curiosity and exploration, educators empower learners to drive their own learning process, encouraging them to ask questions, investigate phenomena, and construct knowledge collaboratively.
Transitioning lessons to adhere to "Activities before Content" (ABCs) underscores the importance of hands-on experiences and experiential learning. Rather than merely delivering information, educators design activities that allow students to grapple with concepts firsthand, fostering a deeper understanding of the content. Through this approach, students not only absorb knowledge but also develop essential skills such as problem-solving, communication, and teamwork, preparing them to navigate the complexities of the modern world. These essential skills relate to our Cross Cutting Concepts (CCCs) that we analyzes in the last unit.
Follow through the assignment below to see how we can transition our lessons to become more inquiry based as we transition to aligning our teaching with NYSSLS.
Assignment
1: Ask an AI source "What are some strategies for teaching Earth Science through inquiry". Record answers on a Google Doc.
2: For each strategy, write under it how this would beneficial to students and how it would be challenging to students.
3: Watch this video on how to place "Activities before Content" (ABCs) in a science lesson plan.
4: Pick a lesson you do in your science class. Describe how you normally teach it on your Google Doc. Then, in a different colored text, apply ABC to this lesson idea, describe how you would now teach this lesson.
5: Make a list of what would have to change in your pedagogy, student materials and teaching materials to allow for this change to be effective.
6: Be sure your Google Doc is named "YOURLASTNAME_InquiryABC" and submit it to the Google Folder linked on the Unit 2 homepage.
Reflection Question:
Please add this to your reflective journal.
How does placing Activities before Content make a lesson more inquiry based? How does this benefit our students?
Lesson Summary
Placing activities before content in science teaching serves several purposes, primarily to engage students, activate their prior knowledge, and stimulate curiosity before presenting new content. This approach aligns with the 5E instructional model, which is based on five phases: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. In short, placing activities before content in science teaching aligns with the 5E instructional model by engaging students, activating prior knowledge, promoting hands-on exploration, building conceptual understanding, and facilitating deeper learning and application of knowledge. This approach creates a dynamic and interactive learning environment that fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and scientific inquiry.