Integrating and Adapting the Science Curriculum

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Integrating and Adapting the Science Curriculum

• Middle Grades Science Methods

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The Challenge

• Before being interviewed for a teaching
  position, you review the science curriculum and
  notice that it includes sample science
  activities. At the end of each activity is the
  side heading Connections, which suggests how to
  relate the activity to other subjects. During
  the interview, the interviewer tells you, We are
  so excited about our new curriculum. It is
  really interdisciplinary. I think youve had a
  chance to look it over. What do you think of
  it? How would you respond?

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Science As Superglue

• Science experiences draw together a variety of
  subjects
• Science connects learning in a range of areas
• Science shows how human knowledge and experience
  fit together to form a larger, more meaningful
  whole

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Science and Language Arts

• Select trade books that stimulate interest
• Trade books are volumes distributed by commercial
  publishers that tell about scientific adventures,
  the lives of scientists, science careers, and
  factual information about stars, planets,
  dolphins, the rain forest, and more.
• (Chapter 7 Text Page 123)

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Integrating Techniques

• Literature-based integration
• The use of modern, non-fiction science books to
  help children acquire science-related information
• Theme-based integration
• The use of a major theme or concept for a
  learning unit that cuts across subject lines
• Project-based integration
• A long-term activity where students investigate a
  real-world problem

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Weaving Language Arts Into Curriculum

• Whole-Language Instruction
• Using experiences to become good readers and
  language arts users
• Vocabulary
• Look through science trade books for words
  pronounce science words with students student
  personal word file
• Comprehension
• Pre-reading experiences around central questions
  of What? Why? How?
• Writing
• Forms of writing Description, Expression,
  Persuasion, Exposition, Narration, Poetry

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Science and Mathematics

• Computational Skills
• Counting Addition Subtraction, Multiplication
  Division Fractions Decimals and Percentages
• Data Collection and Expression
• Conducting experiments and gathering data
  representing and analyzing the data
• Logical Reasoning
• Students make statements about outcomes of
  eventsstudents may group and regroup a
  collection of items

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Science and Social Studies

• Study of societal issues
• Attitude and value development
• Economic experiences
• History and development of countries
• Survey of resources of a country
• Use and consumption of goods and services

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Science and Other Subjects

• Science and Art
• Tree Stump Rubbings
• Native Crafts
• Sand Painting
• Moving Sculpture
• Science and Music
• Science and Health
• Science and Physical Education

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Classroom Experiences

• Point to Consider
• Based on your personal experiences in
  classrooms, do you see the integration
  possibilities as being as rich and promising as
  presented in this chapter? Are these ideas
  exceptions to the rule, or is there a since of
  movement toward a more integrated approach to
  teaching science?

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Adapting the Science Curriculum

• Using technology to enhance learning
• Reading materials for non-English speakers
• Peer tutoring
• Fostering parent/classroom science connections
• Discovery-based lessons with multicultural
  connections
• Special needs students

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The Challenge

• Four engineers have formed a company to design
  and manufacture instructional equipment for
  children with impairments. They have asked you
  to suggest ideas for new devices or for
  improvements in existing devices that would
  assist children with hearing, visual, or
  orthopedic impairments in a hands-on,
  discovery-based classroom. What will you suggest?

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What Would You Do?

• What steps would you take to change the
  physical setting in a traditional classroom to
  help students who are deaf or who have hearing
  impairments be successful with hands-on,
  discovery-oriented projects?

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Integrated Lesson Assignment

• In small groups, review activities found in
  classroom resources
• Identify a classroom lesson idea that integrates
  your selected subject with science (you may
  identify more than one lesson if time allows)
• Identify key concepts discussed in the chapter
  readings in the lesson you design
• Prepare a presentation of the lesson for the rest
  of the classmaterials are provided to record
  ideas for the presentation