Exploring Water

[frame_left][/frame_left]The Water module provides opportunities for teachers to learn content and pedagogy in physical science, with an emphasis on the properties of water and the forces that interact to influence how it moves and behaves in different situations. In their classrooms, teachers will introduce children to exploration items including funnels, clear tubing, and basters that invite them to direct its flow, while drawing their attention to water’s characteristics and behavior. Teachers will facilitate children’s open and focused inquiry-based investigations of water flow, drops, and sinking/floating. These will spur explorations of gases (as children observe air as bubbles in water) and solids (as children observe them sink and float in water).

Building Structures

[frame_left][/frame_left]The Structures module provides opportunities for teachers to learn content and pedagogy in physical science, with an emphasis on the properties of building materials and the forces that interact to influence the strength and stability of structures. Structures also highlights the relationship between engineering and science. Teachers will use the engineering design process to identify building problems, brainstorm possible solutions, try them out, and evaluate the results. With their students, teachers will facilitate open and focused investigations of towers, enclosures, and ramps. They will introduce design challenges that emphasize the connections between science and engineering. Integration of mathematics will be highlighted.

Discovering Nature

[frame_left][/frame_left]The Nature module provides opportunities for teachers to learn content and pedagogy in life science with an emphasis on the characteristics, needs, life cycles, habitats, and diversity of plants and animals. Nature also highlights earth science and the connection between outdoor explorations and environmental education. With their students, teachers will facilitate open and focused investigations of living things including creating an indoor habitat for an animal, comparing and contrasting the physical characteristics and behavior of two different organisms, and observing a tree over time. Earth science explorations will emerge in the context of children’s outdoor experiences as children collect rocks and other natural materials. Close observation will be a focal inquiry skill.

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