Science:
What Works…It’s Elementary!
Selena Cochran
Tiffney Triplett
Erin Bowling
It’s Not the ONE Thing…
1. STEM Lab (LEGOS in Education)
2. Probes (Formative Assessments)
3. FAL (Formative Assessment Lessons)
4. Interactive Notebooks
5. Project Based Learning (Science Fair, Energy Fair, Coal Fair)
6. Science Magazines (Science World/Scholastic Magazines)
7. Equipped Science Lab
8. PD Quality Questioning
9. Variety of Assessments (Self-Reflections Using Red-YellowGreen Light/Interactive Science Notebook/Leadership Data
Student Notebooks)
10. Education Galaxy (Science for 4th and 5th Grades)
A Typical Science Lesson
Interactive and FUN…
A Probe Lesson, FAL Lesson, Experiment or Question becomes the
“HOOK” to get students exploring, arguing, debating, reasoning, and
thinking.
Students use their background knowledge, experiences, and resources to
develop understanding of the concepts being taught.
 Concepts are then learned through student engagement, hands-on
discovery and experiences through a variety of resources provided by the
teacher.
Extensive class focus is devoted to argumentation and reaching
consensus about ideas, rather than having textbooks and teachers present
ideas to students.
The lesson design is delivered “backward” to the “traditional” Science
lesson.
The teacher serves as the guide through the learning process. The
teacher answers a lot of questions with questions! Teaching students to
“think” and “solve” problems.
Science Lab Equipped
with iMAC Mini Lab
Fully equipped Science Lab
Available for teachers three days a week for scheduling
their classes time in the Lab
Materials and Resources housed in the Lab for all to share
and use
Curriculum Coaches and 4th-6th Grade Science Teachers
inventory materials to ensure that perishables are replaced at
least once a year
Ten iMACs ava ilable for use in the Science Lab
Document Camera, 40” Monitor, Student Responders
available
Students Own Their Learning
Leadership (Data) Notebooks
Student Reflections
Writing About Learning
Lots and Lots of Writing!
Traffic Light Self-Assessment
(Red/Yellow/Green Light)
Traditional Lessons Transform
Into STEM Lessons
 Hot Air Balloon
 Bridge Building
Marshmallow Towers
 Egg Drop
Real Life Learning

Skills Necessary for
21st Century Learners

Project Based Learning
Out Of Class STEM
Science Fair (4-6)
(Experiments/Demonstrations)
Energy Fair (K-6)
Coal Fair (K-6)
4-H Projects
Curriculum Showcase
Soil Conservation
Cub Scout
(Box Car Races)
Turn STEM into STEAM
with Coal Fair Projects
And Energy Fair Projects

Preparing for Careers of the Future

Like Aerospace
Or Scientist, Engineers, Physicists,
Environmentalists…

Writing helps Frame their Learning

Professional Learning
Thinking Through Quality Questioning
(Walsh & Sattes)
NGSS Leadership Network
PLCs (District and School-Level)
STEM Lab
Use of LEGOs in Education
Weekly Lab Experience for all K-6 Students
Learning is Divided up into Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Themes
First Quarter Technology/Second Quarter
Engineering, Third Quarter Science, Fourth
Quarter Mathematics
STEM Activities
Help students work on:
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Collaboration
Observation
Trial and Error
Brainstorming
Creativity
Communication
Problem Solving
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Measurement
Planning
Reflection
Learning from Others
Time Constraints
Goal Oriented
Competition
Hot Air Balloon Activity
Lego/Duplo Brick Challenge
Legos in First Grade
Legos We-Do Kits!
Resources, Resources, Resources
•Education Galaxy (Science 4-5)
•Science World Magazine (4-6)
•Scholastic Magazines (K-3)
•gregtangmath.com
•iCURRIO
•Google
•LEGOs in Education
•Textbook (as a resource not a guide)
•edpuzzle.com
• vokieclassroom
•There’s an Ap for That!
Amazingalex
pettson’sinventions
plickers
nearpod
haiku desk
STEM Resources
 Engineering.Com
http://www.enginerring.com
 Edpuzzle.com
http://www.edpuzzle.com
 Icurio
http://www.icurio.com
 Try Engineering
http://www.tryengineering.org/lesson-plans
 Teach Engineering
http://www.teachengineering.org/
 Engineering, Go For It
http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/category/lessons/
Questions/Comments?
Selena Cochran-Curriculum
Coach/STEM Lab Teacher
selena.cochran@johnson.kyschool
s.us
Tiffney Triplett-Science Teacher
tiffney.triplett@johnson.kyschools
.us
Erin Bowling-Primary
erin.bowling@johnson.kyschools.
us