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Teaching Elementary Physical Science is designed to increase educators'
understanding and teaching of physical science. Participants explore
physical science concepts of motion, force, and matter that are part of
daily life and learn how to incorporate observation, discourse, and
experimentation to increase understanding of physical science of students
at the elementary level.
Course Objectives
- Develop content knowledge about motion and force,
with connections to statics and object structure, object and
material properties, and the structure of matter
- Introduce teachers to the constructivist learning model
- Provide teachers with a range of effective teaching
methodologies and strategies for use in teaching science concepts
- Introduce teachers to a media-rich learning environment
they can use with their students
- Provide models to illustrate ways to teach
beyond the textbook
- Guide teachers in understanding and utilizing
the scientific process
Course Syllabus
Session 1:
A Window onto Your World
Participants discover that physical science concepts, content,
and activities are part of their daily experience.
Teaching and learning strategies focus on ways to use prior knowledge
as a foundation for learning.
Session 2:
Motion and Force
Participants sharpen their observations and understandings about
motion and explore the relationship between motion and force.
Teaching and learning strategies focus on observation of scientific phenomena.
Session 3:
Investigating Rolling and Falling
Participants examine two specific types of motion — rolling and falling.
Using prediction and observation, they arrive at a more detailed
understanding of acceleration with respect to these types of motion,
as well as its relationship to force. Teaching and learning strategies
focus on use of prediction as a learning tool.
Session 4:
A Unified Look at Force Phenomena
Participants seek commonalities of motion and force in different areas
of physical science study.
Teaching and learning strategies focus on rich discourse.
Session 5:
Moving Forward
Participants examine forward motion and related forces to deepen and extend
their previous learning about fundamental force principles. Teaching and
learning strategies focus on experimentation as a learning tool.
Session 6:
Forces, Motion, and Properties
Participants examine how materials and objects respond to and apply forces.
Teaching and learning strategies focus on use of design challenge as a learning tool.
Session 7:
Forces and Materials in Static Structures
Participants explore factors that allow static structures to remain stable.
Teaching and learning strategies focus on ongoing assessment of understanding.
Session 8:
Structure of Matter
Participants consider force, motion, and structure on the smallest
scale of matter, learning about the structure of materials, atoms,
and their components. Institutional strategies focus on using models
to learn and teach about abstract concepts.
Additional Course Information
- A series of course modules on these topics and
teaching strategies is also available:
See also: example
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