Bill Robertson, Ph.D. - Classes
Teacher Education Department

ECED/BED 4311 - Teaching Science in Primary Grades - Assignments

September 7

1 Page (300 words) Written Response to “What is Your Metaphor For Teaching?” (Worth 10 points)

September 21

Design a Rube Goldberg Machine that incorporates at least 6 unique physical science concepts. The machine should be drawn out and described in text (approximately 300 words). The description should also include an introduction, the step by step process of the machine, a section on how the concepts are manifested in the machine and a section on how this assignment can best be taught in a classroom setting. The physical science concepts can include (but are not limited to) the concepts listed on this Web link. (Worth 20 points)

September 28

Bring a copy of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) from science for the grade level you hope to teach. From the TEKS Web site, locate your content area concepts. Select only your content TEKS and copy/paste into a Word document and print them out.

In your group in WebCT, individually provide a response to the questions posed for the discussion areas of which you are a member. Group members should also provide constructive feedback to individual responses that others post. For each discussion topic, each member should have a minimum of 1 individual response to the overarching question and 2 individual postings for feedback to other group members comments. (Worth 15 points)

October 5

2-3 Page (600 - 900 words) Written Response on focusing a. What is important for primary grade students (EC-4) to Learn in Science? and b. What methods will be best for teaching science concepts to primary grade students (EC-4)? Utilize the Science For All Americans text as your research framework and provide examples from your experiences within the classroom as applicable. Please submit this as a hard copy to class to hand into the instructor. (Worth 30 points)

October 12

Mid-Term Projects and Presentations (in Class)

Final date for submission for credit of first four written assignments (9/7, 9/21, 9/28, 10/5)

October 19

In the discussion area for our class in WebCT, please attach a formatted copy of your midterm activity from which a classroom set of materials will be created. Please be sure you have followed the science activity template in the development of your activity. You can also look at a sample activity in the appropriate format. Use spell check and have the activity correctly formatted as a Word document. It is the Discussion topic entitled "Activities and the TEKS". (10 points).

October 26

**Online Class Meeting Only on October 26**

We will not have a face to face class meeting at UTEP,
but we will all participate in a on-line assignment through WebCT

Please post your reflections to the site visit to Alicia Chacon from October 17 in the discussion area entitled "Alicia Chacon International School". Your demonstration for the students and families at the specific Alicia Chacon Family Science Night at which you attend will count as fulfilling your community service requirement. Following Epstein’s Model of Parent Involvement, students will participate in and provide a reflection paper on a community outreach activity. This paper is due prior to the end of the final class (November 30).

November 2

Perform an Internet Search for Activities that meet specific TEKS in your grade level in the area of science. Post the Web Sites into WebCT discussion area entitled “Web Resources for Science (EC-4)”. Identify your subject area and the TEKS you are addressing for each entry. Each person is responsible to make 1 individual post with 3 different Educational Web Sites. For each Educational Web Site, identify the name of the site, the URL (Web Address), and a descriptive sentence about the content of the site. Be prepared to share resources you have found with the entire class. (15 points)

November 9

In your group in WebCT, individually provide a response to the questions posed for the discussion areas of which you are a member. The content for the discussions will center around a specific chapter of the Impact Teaching: Ideas and Strategies for Teachers to Maximize Student Learning textbook. Group members should also provide constructive feedback to individual responses that others post. For each discussion topic, each member should have a minimum of 1 individual response to the overarching question and 2 individual postings for feedback to other group members comments. (Worth 20 points)

Go over criteria and rubric for Final Exam.

November 16

Provide a two to three page reflection addressing the following statements in reference to methods of science instruction you have learned and encountered this semester. Possible sources of information include class meetings, WebCT discussions, experiences from your internship classroom, and the texts for the class (Impact Teaching: Ideas and Strategies for Teachers to Maximize Student Learning and Science For All Americans).

  • What is your role as a constructivist teacher? Cite examples from both your internship and the class texts.
  • Describe what you learned about instructional methods and the assessment students as it relates to concepts and skills in science.
  • Personally, what do you think are your instructional strengths? What areas of instruction do you need to improve?

You should plan to hand in a hard copy of this paper to the instructor. (30 points)

November 30

Hand in Final Product and Deliver your Presentation (150 Points)

Two-three page summary and reflection: Community Outreach Activity: Following Epstein’s Model of Parent Involvement, students will participate in and provide a reflection paper on a community outreach activity. This activity should focus on the area of learning at home and be a response to your experience at the specific interactions from your participation in an Alicia Chacon Family Science Night. (60 Points)

You should plan to hand in a hard copy of this paper to the instructor.

**Final date for submission for credit of the following written assignments (10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16) **

 

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