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Using Simulations
to Engage
Students in
Inquiry on Tough
Concepts
Candy Ellard and Elyse Zimmer
UTeach Natural Sciences Program
University of Texas at Austin
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5E Lesson Format
A way to implement the
inquiry method of
learning and teaching.
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Question of the Day
How can we use
density to
identify objects?
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Explain
 Students…
 explain
their understanding of concepts
learned.
 use evidence from sim to answer the Question
of the Day.
 Teachers…
 ask
questions to clarify understanding.
 introduce information related to concepts
learned.
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Elaborate
Challenges
students to
apply what they have
learned and extend their
knowledge and skills.
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Inquiry Learning Model in Science
Good
science inquiry
involves learning through
direct interaction with
materials and phenomena.
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Inquiry Learning Model in Science
Students…
 solve
problems.
 reflect on problem-solving processes.
 are provided the opportunity to construct
their own knowledge.
 use information processing skills to learn
new content.
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Reflection Questions
 Within
the lesson, what opportunities existed for
students to solve problems?
 What
opportunities existed for students to use
information processing skills (e.g., observation,
communication, classification, measuring,
inference, prediction, etc.) and how were these
skills involved in the problem solving process?
 How
did these opportunities support students’
understanding of the science content in this
lesson?
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Density Lesson Connections to
NSES
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NSES (1996) Grades 5-8 – Content Standard A
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Use mathematics in all aspects of scientific inquiry.
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Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and
interpret data.
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Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models
using evidence.
NSES (1996) Grades 5-8 – Content Standard B
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Properties and changes of properties in matter: a substance
has characteristic properties, such as density, a boiling point, and
solubility, all of which are independent of the amount of the
sample.
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PhET Simulations
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Suite of interactive simulations (>100).
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New middle school “basics” versions currently in development.
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Ex: States of Matter Basics and Energy Skate Park Basics
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Topics include Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and
Earth Sciences.
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Researched-based through think aloud interviews.
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FREE! Online or downloadable.
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Examples of PhET sims
for Middle School
Classrooms
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Density
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Energy Skate Park Basics
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Build an Atom
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Balloons and Static Electricity
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Projectile Motion
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Forces and Motion
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Gravity and Orbits
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Balloons and Buoyancy
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Masses and Springs
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States of Matter Basics
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 Visit
our website at
 outreach.uteach.org/progra
ms/phet
Stay in
touch!
 Visit
the PhET website at
 phet.colorado.edu
 PhET blog, Twitter and
Facebook