Science Lesson and Unit Plans
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There have been a variety of ways that I have been taught to create lesson plans. For Integrated Science classes, I have learned to use the 5-E format. The 5 E's are: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. Engaging students is the first step, because students are not going to want to learn unless they are interested right away. Their interest needs to be captured and they have to want to learn in order for any understanding of content to take place. Students can be engaged through a short video clip, a book, a game, an activity, etc. The next step is to let them explore. Give them the tools and little guidance of what needs to be done, then let them figure it out through inquiry (usually working in groups). Students will learn science by doing science. The explain portion should not be teacher driven talk. It should be the whole class coming together, with students explaining their findings. Then they should get an opportunity to elaborate more on this topic. Evaluating students comes last, but by no means should only be last. Students should be evaulated throughout the whole lesson with formative assessments to make sure they understand before moving on.
Having the experience of creating lesson plans using the 5 E's has been very beneficial for me. I have many examples (linked below) that I will be able to take with me and use in my classroom. I know what needs to be done in planning lessons in order for student understanding of content to take place. We have had so much practice creating and presenting lesson plans, and yet, I have realized that lessons will not always be absolutely perfect. This is because it will not always go the way that you planned. For example, students may not understand something that you thought they would (which you will be able to see through formative assessments), so you must change what you are doing so that they do. Being prepared for things to go wrong is one thing that I have learned and will take with me in my classroom. It has also been beneficial by having so much experience with finding credible sources. It is important to know that there is information online, in books and videos, etc. that is not accurate. This will only provide more misconceptions to students if you use them. I have learned to be careful when finding sources that are credible and contain correct content information. I have also had a lot of experience with including background information in all lessons. This is important becasue students are always going to have questions and want to know more. Having a large portion of accurate background information will help me answer those questions. Finding background information before the start of each lesson is another thing that I will do when teaching. This is a good way to give myself a deeper understanding of the content. Teachers must understand and love the content they teach in order for studnets to understand and love it as well.
Having the experience of creating lesson plans using the 5 E's has been very beneficial for me. I have many examples (linked below) that I will be able to take with me and use in my classroom. I know what needs to be done in planning lessons in order for student understanding of content to take place. We have had so much practice creating and presenting lesson plans, and yet, I have realized that lessons will not always be absolutely perfect. This is because it will not always go the way that you planned. For example, students may not understand something that you thought they would (which you will be able to see through formative assessments), so you must change what you are doing so that they do. Being prepared for things to go wrong is one thing that I have learned and will take with me in my classroom. It has also been beneficial by having so much experience with finding credible sources. It is important to know that there is information online, in books and videos, etc. that is not accurate. This will only provide more misconceptions to students if you use them. I have learned to be careful when finding sources that are credible and contain correct content information. I have also had a lot of experience with including background information in all lessons. This is important becasue students are always going to have questions and want to know more. Having a large portion of accurate background information will help me answer those questions. Finding background information before the start of each lesson is another thing that I will do when teaching. This is a good way to give myself a deeper understanding of the content. Teachers must understand and love the content they teach in order for studnets to understand and love it as well.
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