(EDI 631) Teaching Science: K-8
Syllabus of Record
Catalog Description: Designed to prepare teachers to teach elementary and middle level
science to all students. Emphasizes planning and teaching science, including laboratory
inquiry and hands-on activities. Integration of process and content objectives, activities, and
assessment will be addressed. Three Credits.
Unit Mission, Philosophy, Values:
Our Mission:
“Teaching, Leading and Learning in a Democratic Society”
The College of Education prepares candidates who enhance the individual growth of their
students while working to establish policies and practices that promote the principles of
democratic education. The College articulates this mission as Teaching, Leading, and
Learning in a Democratic Society.
Philosophy:
Student Potential, Ethical Implications
Believing that schools function as social and political entities as well as for the growth of
individuals, the College of Education prepares teachers and leaders
a) to enhance the academic and personal potential of their students
b) to evaluate the social and ethical implications of educational policies and practices.
Values:
“Expertise, Equity, Liberal Education, Social Responsibility”
The College of Education values expertise to guide our practice, equity to guide our
interactions, liberal education to guide our perspectives, and social responsibility to guide
our commitment to democratic education. We value these ideals in our preparation of
candidates, our development of faculty, and our relationships with the larger community we
serve.
Unit and Program Standards:
Unit Standards: Michigan Department of Education (MDE), National Council for the
Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Standards for Advanced Programs Preparing Teachers: National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards (NBPTS); Council for the Social Foundations of Education (CSFE);
College of Education Research Standards
Course Standards and Assessments:
NBPTS Proposition 2: Teachers Know Their Subjects and How to Teach Them
 Demonstrate Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy
 Demonstrate Knowledge of Students
 Select Instructional Goals
 Demonstrate Knowledge of Resources
 Design Coherent Instruction
 Assess Student Learning
Common Course Assessment: Science Unit Plan or Family Science Night Plan or Science
Fair Plan
Major Topics:
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Michigan Curriculum Framework Science Benchmarks for K-8 Science
Inquiry Science Teaching Strategies for Life, Physical, and Earth Science
The Learning Cycle and 5-E Lesson Plan Format
Performance-Based Assessment in Science Instruction
Developing Questioning Skills and Effective Discussion Techniques
Finding Science Resources and Creating Inquiry-based Science Lessons
Identifying and Addressing Students’ Science Content Misconceptions
Course Knowledge Base:
American Association for the Advancement of Science (1993). Benchmarks for science
literacy. NY: Oxford University Press: Author.
Annenberg/CPB Foundation (Producer). (1997). Minds of our own [videotape]. Cambridge,
MA: The President and Fellows of Harvard College.
Bloser, P.E. (1991). How to ask the right questions. Arlington, VA: National Science
Teachers Association
Brooks, J.G., Brooks, M. & Brooks, M.G. (2002). In search of understanding: The case for
constructivist classrooms. Boston: Pearson.
Brown, J.H. & Shavelson, R.J. (1996). Assessing hands-on science: A teacher’s guide to
performance assessment. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Bybee, R. & Landes, N.M. (1990). Science for life and living: An elementary school science
program from biological sciences curriculum study. The American Biology Teacher
52(2): 92-98.
Freedman, R.L.H. (1994). Open-ended questioning. Parsippany, NJ: Dale Seymour
Publications.
Fritzer, P. & Bristor, V.J. (2004). Science content for elementary and middle school
teachers. Boston: Pearson.
Hart, D. (1994). Authentic assessment. Parsippany, NJ: Dale Seymour Publications.
Llewellyn, D. (2007). Inquire within: Implementing inquiry-based science standards. 2nd Ed.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Madrazo, Jr., G.M. & Motz, L.L. (Eds.) (1993). Sourcebook for science supervisors.
Arlington, VA: National Association of Science Teachers.
Michigan Department of Education (1996). Michigan curriculum framework. Lansing, MI:
Michigan Department of Education: Author.
Michigan Department of Education (2007). Michigan grade level content expectations for
science. Lansing, MI: Michigan Department of Education: Author.
National Research Council. (1996). National science education standards. Washington, D.C.:
National Academy Press: Author.
National Research Council (2000). Inquiry and the national science education standards: A
guide for teaching and learning. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
Rhoton, J. & Bowers, P. (Eds.) (1996). Issues in science education. Arlington, VA: National
Science Teachers Association.