Title :

GRADE LEVEL :
SUBJECT :
SBBC COURSE
CONNECTION :
Creator :
DESCRIPTION /
ABSTRACT OF
LESSON :

08 PHYSICAL 01.01-1 What Is Science

08
SCIENCE - Middle
M/J PHYSICAL SCIENCE (2003010),M/J PHYSICAL SCIENCE ADV (2003020)
Development Team Middle School Science

Select from the materials and activities presented here to build a lesson on the nature
of science that will assist students in determining whether concepts are scientific, and
in understanding the roles of scientists. The time will depend on the activities,
strategies, and reinforcement activities selected.

OBJECTIVE(S) :

TEACHER
MATERIALS /
TECHNOLOGY
CONNECTIONS :

Describe what science is.

Distinguish inquiry activities that could be considered scientific from those that
are not scientific.

Evaluate a scientific explanation.

Teacher Materials
Teacher Edition, Unit 1, Lesson 1
Teacher Background, Unit 1, Lesson 1
Overview of 5E Lesson Design
Common Misconceptions Descriptions of misconceptions and links to activities that
address them.
Digital Path
Lab Manual
Assessment Guide

STUDENT
MATERIALS /
TECHNOLOGY
CONNECTIONS :

Duration :

Student Materials:
Student Edition, Unit 1, Lesson 1
Labs and Demos

165 Minutes

ESSENTIAL QUESTION
/ KEY VOCABULARY :
Essential Question: How is science different from other fields of study?

Key Vocabulary: science

LESSON LEAD IN /
OPENING :

ELICIT
OPTIONS:
Opening Your Lesson (10 minutes)
Begin the lesson by assessing students' prerequisite and prior knowledge.
Prerequisite Knowledge

Ideas about science

Ideas about scientists

Teacher Background
Accessing Prior Knowledge
Ask: What are some things that scientists do? Sample answers: They ask questions,
perform experiments, and collect data.
Ask: Where do scientists work? Sample answers: They work in hospitals, laboratories,
and schools.
Engage Your Brain (10 minutes)
Student Edition
Teacher Edition
ENGAGE
OPTIONS:
Activities and Discussion

Activity What is a Scientist? (10 minutes)

Take It Home Do You Know a Scientist?

Student Worksheet
EXPLORE
OPTIONS:
Labs and Demos

Quick Lab What is the Process? (25 minutes)

Quick Lab
Science Charades (time varies)

STEPS TO DELIVER
LESSON :

EXPLAIN
OPTIONS:
Science Concepts

Science Is Everywhere, SE, pp. 6-7

Active Reading, #5

Think Outside the Book, #6

Visualize It!, #7-9

Learning Alert Misconception

Probing Questions Comparing
Digital Lesson

DIFFERENTIATED
INSTRUCTION :

ELABORATE
OPTIONS:
Differentiated Instruction
Basic Extreme Sink or Float
Creativity in Science(time varies)
Simulation Ask students if they have ever played Sink or Float. Explain the rules, or
ask a volunteer to share the rules of the game. Students must guess whether an object
will sink or float. Provide each student group with a small tub of water. Groups should
gather six items and predict whether they will sink or float. Then, have students test
their hypotheses by dropping the items in the tub and observing what happens. Have
students record their results. Next, have students choose one of the objects and figure
out how to transform it If the object sinks, students should devise a plan to make it
float, and vice versa. Encourage volunteers to explain how they changed their objects
to the rest of the class.
Advanced Bringing Science Together
Synthesizing Key Topics (time varies)
Research Have students choose a scientist from history to research. If they cannot
think of a scientist to research, have students brainstorm events in history that must
have required a scientist's help, such as landing on the moon or curing a disease.
Students can work to identify a scientist who played a large role in the event. Have
students create a profile of the scientist's life and work, including the scientist's
greatest achievements.
ELL Bringing Science Together
Distinguishing Science from Other Forms of Inquiry (time varies)
Discussion Encourage EL learners to share ideas they've learned in previous science
classes. From each student's story, identify a key English word that might be useful for
science class. Write the word and its definition on the board. Encourage students to
write the words and their definitions in their notebooks. When all volunteers have
spoken, have students discuss what they would like to learn in this science class. Each
student should speak. Encourage them to use the words on the board when speaking.
ESE Resources
Teaching Resources for Florida ESE
ESE Accommodations Poster
ESOLL Strategy B2 Explain Key Words
ESOL Strategy E10 Think/Pair/Share
ESOL Strategy F1 Activating and/or Building Prior Knowledge

LESSON CLOSURE :

EXTEND
OPTIONS:
Choose one more of the following activities to reinforce the concepts students learned
in this lesson.
ExtendScience Concepts
Discussion Apply What You Know (20 minutes)
Synthesizing Key Topics
Have students think of a question they have about something related to the classroom,
such as the following:

Do students sitting closer to the teacher remember more?

How long does it take students to get to their seats after recess?

Do student have better memory before or after lunch?

Have students design an experiment that would test their question. Remind them to
list the evidence they will look for and how they will test for it. Have students share
and explain their design to the class.
Graphic Organizer Synthesizing Key Topics (20 minutes)
Concept Map Have students create a Concept Map with the word science in the center.
On the ovals that radiate from the center, tell students to list examples, details, and
definitions that help them answer the question What is science?

ASSESSMENT :

EVALUATE
OPTIONS:
Evaluate Student Mastery
Formative Assessment
Lesson Review
Summative Assessment
Alternative Assessment Science
Florida Benchmark Review

FLORIDA SUNSHINE
STATE STANDARDS
and ISTE/NETS
STANDARDS:
Florida Sunshine State FL Science Standard (2008)

Grade 8

Florida Sunshine State Standards

Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science

Benchmark SC.8.N.1.3 Use phrases such as "results support"

or "fail to support" in science, understanding that science does
not offer conclusive 'proof' of a knowledge claim.

Big Idea 2: The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge

Benchmark SC.8.N.2.1 Distinguish between scientific and

pseudoscientific ideas.

Benchmark SC.8.N.2.2 Discuss what characterizes science and

its methods.
Broward ESOL
Strategies (2007):

Broward DISTRICT Broward K-12 ESOL Instructional Strategies (2007)

B. Vocabulary

B2 Explain Key Concepts

E. Interactive Strategies & Cooperative Learning Settings

E10 Think/Pair/Share*

F. Other Strategies

F1 Activating and/or Building Prior

Knowledge
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August 11, 2011
September 19, 2011