Teaching a Split Grade – Focus on

Junior Level

Where to start?

•  Background of the presenter

•  What is included in your package

•  Agenda – Introduce Smarter Science and our warm up

Warm up

•  Cut on the solid lines and fold on the dotted lines

•  Please only cut out the larger helicopter

•  Feel free to test your helicopter but do not modify it at this time

Bring it back to the group •  What did you observe?

•  What questions do you have?

•  Why are we doing this?

What is Smarter Science? •  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

Teaching a split grade for science

•  How do we do this?

•  Just some of the ways –  Teach one curriculum and switch each year –  Try and run to lessons at the same time –  Try to use EA’s or student teachers to help facilitate –  Run independent projects –  Try and find similar topics within the curriculum

•  There is another way

Use Inquiry through Smarter Science •  Use the Smarter Science framework and focus on skills rather

than content •  Take time to establish the use of the framework and figure out

what variables are etc. •  Focus on developing the skills within science and other

curriculum and the content will fall into place when doing the larger investigations

•  Establish this framework and rotate between the two curriculums in 4 week blocks culminating on a Smarter Science investigations

•  You may need to do some scaffolding of knowledge which could look like split lessons if needed – Use LRT to assist or perhaps co teach with a coach in the school or school system

Example from Earlier in Action

Observations

Questions

What Kind of Inquiry?

Question Sorting

Now what? •  Where does this lead us?

Like challenges

•  Common goals in the curriculum

•  Grade 6 - Planes •  Grade 5 - Airport •  Grade 4 - Cargo Loader (Cranes)

The Plane Experiment

•  The Plane •  The Process •  The Posters •  http://www.rubber-power.com/

Grade Specific Examples

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

Grade 5 •  Forces – build a structure that can withstand

certain forces

•  Changes in matter – fake snow, jello (change water levels)

Grade 6 •  Flight – build a plane and set parameters and test

height, time in the air distance, paper helicopters

•  Space – bottle rockets, straw rockets

Questions Please

Feedback forms and Spark forms (Draw)

Thank you

Teaching a Split Grade – Focus on

Junior Level