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Course Description

Writing in the present tense, succinctly describe the content of the course in two or three paragraphs; this is a summarization of the academic content of the course. This description is on a permanent record for release to an inquiring institution as needed. (If a student, school district, college, or university requests information about this course, this description is the only information provided. Therefore, the description must address the academic content presented in the course (not what the students will do, who the course is for, where it is held, or when it is offered).
Certified elementary teachers will participate in activities to help them learn life science (molecules, organisms, and ecosystems) as well as gain a deeper appreciation of the scientific practices and cross-cutting ideas as laid out by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). In addition, teachers will work through activities that they can take back and use with their students in their classrooms. All activities will be aligned with NGSS disciplinary core ideas LS1 (From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes) or LS2 (Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics).

Course Outline

  1. Teachers will know how to use conceptual flow planning to design/organize a unit.
  2. Teachers will gain a better understanding about when life science (molecules, organisms, and ecosystems) is taught in K-6 classrooms.
  3. Teachers will increase their understanding of life science.
All of the activities will be facilitated by Darby Feldwinn or a teacher leader. Teachers will carry out activities in small groups. Once the activity is completed teachers will reflect on the activity as well as work with content experts to clarify content misconceptions.

Teachers will become more comfortable running inquiry activities in the classroom.

Learner Outcomes

Teachers will be prepared to teach NGSS disciplinary core ideas LS1 and LS2.  In addition, the teacher will know what students should have been taught about these subjects in previous grades as well as what they need to prepare students for in upcoming grades. Teachers will also develop a better understanding of the scientific practices and cross-cutting ideas as well as how to incorporate them into science activities.

Summer Science Institute, August 3 – August 7, 2020

Day 1:      Overview of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Discuss Energy and Matter of Living Systems (LS1 and LS2) including grade-level specific activities for Kindergarten and 5th grades. Topic covered includes what organisms need to survive.
Day 2-3Ecosystems (LS1 and LS2) including grade-level specific activities for 3rd and 2nd grade. The topics covered include life cycles, ecosystem interactions (food webs), and pollination.
Day 4–5:   Structure and Function of Living Things (LS1) including grade-level specific activities for 1st,  4th, and 6th. The topics covered include biomimicry, cells, organs, and how organisms respond to stimuli.

 

Prerequisites

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Elementary teachers grade levels K-6

Multiple subject teaching credential

Notes

No text is required. All activities and handouts will be found on the South Coast Science Project Website (http://www.chem.ucsb.edu/scsp/home), SciTrek Website (http://www.chem.ucsb.edu/scitrek/), or on a google document that will be set up for the class.

The institute is a collaborative professional development opportunity funded by the South Coast Science Project (SCSP) one of the California Subject Matter Projects.

Contact Person: Darby Feldwinn, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCSBPhone: 805 893-2127; Email: feldwinn@chem.ucsb.edu

 

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