Learning and Assessing Science Process Skills

Abstract

Introduction PART 1: BASIC PROCESS SKILLS Chapter 1: Building a Foundation for Teaching Process Skills National and State Standards Connections Materials Needed Purpose Objectives Opportunity, High Standards, and Accountability The Basic and Integrated Science Process Skills The Basic Process Skills The Integrated Process Skills The Nature of Science Science Relies on Empirical Evidence Activity 1.1 Observing and Experimenting with Water Drops Differentiating Between Observations and Inferences Activity 1.2 Making Multiple Inferences to Explain Observations Activity 1.3 Observing and Explaining a Unique Drawing Activity 1.4 Differentiating Between Observations and Inferences Doing Science Is a Creative Enterprise Activity 1.5 Doing Science Is a Creative Enterprise Scientific Knowledge Is Never Proven. It Is Tentative, but Durable Activity 1.6 Observing a Falling Object Laws and Theories Are Different Types of Scientific Knowledge Activity 1.7 Laws and Theories Are Different Types of Scientific Knowledge Science Is Influenced and Affected by What Is Going on in the World. Scientists Cannot Be Completely Objective Activity 1.8 Outside Influences Science Cannot Answer All Questions Activity 1.9 Questions That Can Be Answered Through Science Habits of Mind Activity 1.10 Scientific Habits of Mind Using Cooperative Groups to Enhance Process Skills Teaching Becoming a Reflective Teacher Reflections on Science Teaching Your Vision for Science Teaching Searching the Web References Self-Check Chapter 2: Observing National and State Standards Connections Materials Needed Classroom Scenario Purpose Objectives Activity 2.1 Using All Your Senses Qualitative and Quantitative Observations Activity 2.2 Making Qualitative and Quantitative Observations Observing Changes Activity 2.3 Observing the Production of a Gas Self-Assessment Ideas for Your Classroom Start Kids Thinking High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms Technology Spotlight A Model for Assessing Student Learning Becoming a Reflective Teacher Self-Check Chapter 3: Communicating National and State Standards Connections Materials Needed Classroom Scenario Purpose Objectives Activity 3.1 Using Good Descriptors Communicating Descriptions Activity 3.2 Describing Objects to Others Practicing Using Communication Tools Activity 3.3 Using a Rubric to Evaluate a Communication Activity 3.4 Giving and Following Directions Communicating with Maps Activity 3.5 Working with Maps Activity 3.6 Practice Making and Following Maps Self-Assessment Ideas for Your Classroom Start Kids Thinking High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms Technology Spotlight A Model for Assessing Student Learning Becoming a Reflective Teacher Self-Check Chapter 4: Classifying National and State Standards Connections Materials Needed Purpose Objectives Binary Classification Activity 4.1 Constructing a Binary Classification System Based on Observable Properties Mapping an Organization Scheme Activity 4.2 Using Several Properties at Once Activity 4.3 Constructing a Multi-Stage Classification System Activity 4.4 Multi-Stage Classification: Additional Practice Serial Ordering Activity 4.5 Serial Ordering: Properties of Cereals Self-Assessment Ideas for Your Classroom Start Kids Thinking High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms Technology Spotlight A Model for Assessing Student Learning Becoming a Reflective Teacher Self-Check Chapter 5: Measuring Metrically National and State Standards Connections Materials Needed Purpose Objectives Activity 5.1 A Metric Treasure Hunt Measuring Metrically Activity 5.2 Matching Measurements Metric Prefixes Activity 5.3 Understanding Metric Prefixes Activity 5.4 Measuring Lengths Metrically Measuring Mass Metrically Activity 5.5 Finding the Mass Activity 5.6 Measuring Volumes Metrically Optional Activity 5.7 Making an Overflow Container Measuring Temperature Metrically Activity 5.8 Changing Temperatures Measuring Forces Metrically Activity 5.9 Measuring Forces Self-Assessment Ideas for Your Classroom Start Kids Thinking High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms Technology Spotlight A Model for Assessing Student Learning Becoming a Reflective Teacher Self-Check Chapter 6: Inferring National and State Standards Connections Materials Needed Purpose Objectives Constructing Inferences from Observations Activity 6.1 Constructing Inferences from Observations Activity 6.2 More Practice Making Inferences from Observations Activity 6.3 Formulating Inferences from Observations about Events Activity 6.4 Making Inferences from a Slice of Life Learning Is an Inference Thinking Is All about Asking Questions Confidence in Inferences Accepting, Rejecting, and Modifying Inferences Activity 6.5 Compass Direction and Magnetism Drawing Conclusions Self-Assessment Ideas for Your Classroom Start Kids Thinking High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms Technology Spotlight A Model for Assessing Student Learning Becoming a Reflective Teacher Self-Check Chapter 7: Predicting National and State Standards Connections Materials Needed Purpose Objectives Predicting Is a Powerful Teaching and Learning Tool Activity 7.1 Distinguishing among Observation, Inference, and Prediction Testing Our Mental Models Constructing Predictions Based on Observed Patterns Activity 7.2 Finding a Pattern in Sunrises Practice in Making Predictions Activity 7.3 Pendulum Motion Activity 7.4 Making Dependable Predictions Activity 7.5 Prediction and Chance Optional Activity 7.6 Estimating Large Quantities Self-Assessment Ideas for Your Classroom Start Kids Thinking High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms Technology Spotlight A Model for Assessing Student Learning Becoming a Reflective Teacher Self-Check Decision Making 1: Applying Your Skills Textbook Example A Typical Activity Modified Activity Textbook Example B Typical Activity Modified Activity Additional Practice PART 2: INTEGRATED SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS Chapter 8: Identifying Variables National and State Standards Connections Materials Needed Purpose Objectives Changing Variables to Affect Results Activity 8.1 Getting Involved in Experimenting Identifying Variables in a Variety of Contexts Activity 8.2 Learning to Identify Variables Activity 8.3 Distinguishing Between Independent and Dependent Variables Self-Assessment High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms A Model for Assessing Student Learning Self-Check Chapter 9:Constructing a Table of Data National and State Standards Connections Purpose Objectives Working with Data Activity 9.1 Labeling Columns and Entering Data Activity 9.2 Modifying a Table of Data to Record Repeated Trials Activity 9.3 Transferring Data from a Table to a Graph Self-Assessment High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms A Model for Assessing Student Learning Self-Check Chapter 10:Constructing a Graph National and State Standards Connections Purpose Objective Three Skills to Construct a Graph from Data Activity 10.1 Skill 1: Labeling the X and Y Axes Activity 10.2 Skill 2: Determining Interval Scales for Each Axis Activity 10.3 Skill 3: Plotting Data Pairs as Points on a Graph Graph Titles Critiquing Graphs Activity 10.4 Is the Graph Correct? Self-Assessment High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms A Model for Assessing Student Learning Self-Check Chapter 11: Describing Relationships between Variables National and State Standards Connections Purpose Objectives Interpreting a Graph Activity 11.1 Drawing a Best-Fit Line Writing a Statement of Relationship Activity 11.2 Writing a Statement of Relationship for Straight Lines Activity 11.3 Writing a Statement of Relationship for Lines That Curve Analyzing Graphs and Statements That Summarize Trends in Data Activity 11.4 Analyzing Graphs and Statements Activity 11.5 Applying All Your Graphing Skills Self-Assessment High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms A Model for Assessing Student Learning Self-Check Chapter 12: Acquiring and Processing Your Own Data National and State Standards Connections Materials Needed Purpose Objectives Initiating Investigations Measurement Skills Activity 12.1 Initiating an Investigation with a Why Question Activity 12.2 Initiating an Investigation with an Activity and a Question Activity 12.3 Another Question and an Activity to Answer It Self-Assessment High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms A Model for Assessing Student Learning Self-Check Chapter 13: Analyzing Investigations National and State Standards Connections Purpose Objectives Controlled Experiments Activity 13.1 Holding Factors Constant Hypotheses Activity 13.2 Constructing Well-Stated Hypotheses Self-Assessment High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms A Model for Assessing Student Learning Self-Check Chapter 14:Constructing Hypotheses National and State Standards Connections Purpose Objectives Variables Activity 14.1 Identifying Variables to Test Constructing Testable Hypotheses Activity 14.2 Stating a Hypothesis Activity 14.3 Putting It All Together Self-Assessment High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms A Model for Assessing Student Learning Self-Check Chapter 15: Defining Variables Operationally National and State Standards Connections Purpose Objectives Operational Definitions Activity 15.1 Deciding How Variables Can Be Measured Activity 15.2 More Practice Writing Operational Definitions Self-Assessment High Stakes Testing Websites and Search Terms A Model for Assessing Student Learning Self-Check Chapter 16: Designing Experiments National and State Standards Connections Purpose Objectives Experiments Activity 16.1 Identifying Essential Experimental Design Components Activity 16.2 Writing Procedures Activity 16.3 Analyzing Investigations: Grass Clippings Activity 16.4 Analyzing Investigations: Soap Bubbles Designing Experiments Activity 16.5 Designing Your Own Experiment about Image Sizes

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