A new twist on
scientificallyoriented reading
instruction
Afternoon Agenda
 We’ll start with a little bit of scientific team building
 Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
 Then we’ll link our new science knowledge with our new
reading knowledge
 Distribute the trade books on your table among your group
members
 Use the planning template to plan instruction
 Share within your group
 Share with individuals from other schools
How is your science knowledge?
 We found many standardized test questions in the area of
science.
 We found released items from 5th grade CRCT
 We found released items from the TIMSS (Third International
Mathematics and Science Study) for 4th and 8th grade
 We found released items from the Praxis for middle school
science teachers
 We found test items in the area of science and technology
from MSNBC/USA Today
Let’s get oriented!
Are You Smarter
Than a Fifth Grader?
Part One
Procedures
 We’ll show you each item
 We’ll give you some time to confer with your team
 We’ll practice Every Pupil Response
 All answers will be multiple choice: A, B, C, or D
 When we ring the bell, put up your answer
5th-Grade CRCT
Released Items
What happens to the movement of molecules when
a substance is heated?
A. They move more quickly.
B. They move at the same time.
C. They move more slowly.
D. They stop moving.
Which characteristic is true ONLY of mammals?
A. They look like their parents.
B. They live on land.
C. They nurse their young.
D. They have backbones.
Diabetes is caused when the human body
cannot properly use?
A. fat.
B. protein.
C. sugar.
D. water.
What do ALL birds have in common?
A. They fly.
B. They have feathers.
C. They migrate.
D. They build nests in trees.
One force causing the ocean to be in
CONSTANT motion is
A. volcanoes.
B. earthquakes.
C. plate tectonics.
D. tides.
A paper airplane thrown into the air does not fall as
fast as a ball thrown into the air because the paper
airplane has
A. more air resistance.
B. more inertia.
C. more velocity.
D. more acceleration.
Most fish that live in the deepest part of the ocean
have soft skeletons that allow them to survive the
A. high water pressure.
B. fast-moving currents.
C. cold temperatures.
D. salty water.
When researching ideas about science, the best
source of information would be
A. popular radio.
B. encyclopedias.
C. science fiction books.
D. comedy shows on TV.
4th-Grade TIMSS
Released Items
U.S. Fourth Graders: 54%
U.S. Fourth Graders: 62%
U.S. Fourth Graders: 46%
8th-Grade TIMSS
Released Items
U.S. Eighth Graders: 63%
U.S. Eighth Graders: 47%
U.S. Eighth Graders: 52%
U.S. Eighth Graders: 57%
Praxis Middle Grade
Science
Released Items
According to some scientists, the Earth’s average
surface temperature is rising as a result of the
greenhouse effect. And increase in the
atmospheric concentration of which of the following
gases is considered to be primarily responsible?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Sulfur dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Praxis Middle School Science
Finding that a solution conducts an
electric current shows conclusively that
the solution
A.
B.
C.
D.
has a high boiling point
contains molecules
is a good oxidizing agent
contains ions
Praxis Middle School Science
Some substances have no noticeable
odor because these substances
A. are soluble in water
B. cannot lose the heat that must be lost before
C.
D.
an odor can be detected
have relatively few molecules escaping into
the air
do not have molecules with one of the two
molecular arrangements required to give an
odor
Praxis Middle School Science
Several vehicles, initially at a complete stop, begin
a long race at the same starting point. The vehicle
that has a constant value for which of the following
is most likely to win?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Linear speed
Linear velocity
Linear acceleration
Momentum
Praxis Middle School Science
Now let’s read and plan
The Architects introduced some important ideas today. Let’s
apply them to sets of trade books that address Georgia
Performance Standards in Science
Take a look at the books, and distribute them among your
team
2. Read your book. Use the planning template to guide your
thinking:
1.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Size up the book
Decide how to preteach the main concept
Decide how to build background knowledge
Decide whether to highlight one or more text structures
Resources to help
 The graphic organizers for today are displayed around the
room; we have extras under each. Grab the one that is
useful and stick it in your book; write out the actual words
that you would use in your classroom
 Use sticky notes to mark your book for areas of difficulty
that must be addressed
 Ask your colleagues! Everyone has ideas to offer about
how to make complex ideas accessible to our children.
What did the rest of your team
accomplish?
 Use the sharing template to note the choices that people
on your team made. Fill in the first column with notes
about each text. You’ll see spots for all of our texts
 We’ll give you a signal to keep on track; you’ll have 5
minutes to share about each book.
Now we need to share
across schools
Meeting new people can be
awkward!
How can we add some
structure?
Let’s use a process like
speed dating to share
In case you are interested . . .
Speed dating is a formalized matchmaking process or dating
system whose purpose is to encourage people to meet a
large number of new people.
 Everyone is there to meet others
 No one is pressured to accept or reject anyone
 Individuals rotate after short intervals
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_dating)
How are we going to do it?
 We’ll give you 8 minutes at a time to meet someone new
and share information
 Concentrate on the different choices that your partner
made
 When you hear the bell, you’ll have one minute to find a
new match
 Your goal is to fill the second column of your sharing
template
Tomorrow
We’ll be back
for more!
Afternoon Agenda
 We’ll start once again with a little bit of scientific team
building
 Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
 Then we’ll link our new science knowledge with our new
reading knowledge:
 Return to the trade books to extend your planning
 Share within your group
 Share with individuals from other schools
You’re smarter today!
But
Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
Part Two
Procedures
 We’ll show you each item
 We’ll give you some time to confer with your team
 We’ll again practice Every Pupil Response
 When we ring the bell, put up your answer
 Remember, your choices are A, B, C, or D
5th-Grade CRCT
Released Items
4th-Grade TIMSS
Released Items
U.S. Fourth Graders: 62%
U.S. Fourth Graders: 31%
U.S. Fourth Graders: 81%
8th-Grade TIMSS
Released Items
U.S. Eighth Graders: 40%
U.S. Eighth Graders: 40%
U.S. Eighth Graders: 78%
U.S. Eighth Graders: 20%
Praxis Middle Grade
Science
Released Items
Which of the following statements is true
of hurricanes but not of tornadoes?
A.
B.
C.
D.
They form only over warm oceans.
They have very high winds.
The may cause great property damage.
They may cause human fatalities.
Praxis Middle School Science
The agent most widely and most consistently at
work changing the appearance of the Earth’s
surface is
A.
B.
C.
D.
fire
volcanism
water
wind
Praxis Middle School Science
Which of the following is most directly
involved with controlling levels of sugar
in the blood ?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Calcitonin
C. Thyroid-stimulating hormone
D. Insulin
Praxis Middle School Science
In which of the following is the battery
short-circuited?
Praxis Middle School Science
MSNBC/USA Today
Science Items
A.
B.
C.
D.
.12 miles
1.2 miles
12 miles
120 miles
A.
B.
C.
D.
Cockroaches
Snails
Termites
Worms
A.
B.
C.
D.
David Crosby
Graham Nash
Stephen Stills
Neil Young
A.
B.
C.
D.
alligator
dog
elephant
horse
A.
B.
C.
D.
4
12
19
23
Now let’s read and plan
The Architects introduced some important ideas today. Let’s apply
them to sets of trade books that address Georgia Performance
Standards in Science
1.
2.
Go back to the books
Read your book again. Use the planning template to guide your
thinking.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Decide whether to highlight one or more comprehension
strategies
Decide where you will stop and what you will say during reading
Decide what you will say and do after reading to deepen
understanding
Consider a follow-up activity
Structured Collaborations
Time to Share!
Back in School
How can you collaborate to make planning of
truly interactive read-alouds easier?