Paper No. 30-11
Presentation Time: 9:00 AM-5:30 PM
TEACHING NGSS-ALIGNED AUTHENTIC SCIENCE TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
ALLEN, Ariyanna1, BORJA, Cindy2, BRAU, Timothy3, DEANDA, Cole2, DOORLAG, Megan3, OLDER, Bradley4, PASSMORE, Emily5, WOLSCHLAGER, Kaitlyn6, ELLIS, Todd D.7, KOCH, Kevin8, LONG, Valerie9, PETCOVIC, Heather L.10, VELLOM, Paul2 and TINIGIN, Laura11, (1)Sciences, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, 6767 West O Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, (2)Teaching, Learning, and Educational Studies, Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, (3)Geological and Environmental Sciences and Teaching, Learning, and Educational Studies, Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, (4)Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, (5)Chemistry and Teaching, Learning, and Educational Studies, Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, (6)Chemical and Paper Engineering, Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, (7)Mallinson Institute for Science Education and Department of Geography, Western Michigan University, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5444, (8)Linden Grove Middle School, Kalamazoo Public Schools, 4241 Arboretum Pkwy., Kalamazoo, MI 49006, (9)Loy Norrix High School, Kalamazoo Public Schools, 606 East Kilgore Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49001, (10)Geological and Environmental Sciences and the Mallinson Institute for Science Education, Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, (11)Mallinson Institute for Science Education, Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Pathways to Science Teaching is a National Science Foundation-funded program at Western Michigan University (WMU) designed to give future K-12 teachers authentic research and science teaching experience. The goal of the program is to help participants identify as professional science educators. Participants engaged in mentored scientific research to investigate water quality in local streams. Based on their results and experiences, participants then worked with two area master teachers to develop water-themed units for K-8 students attending two summer camps. Unit lessons followed a 5E instructional model and were designed to align with
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Performance Expectations (PE), emphasizing Scientific and Engineering Practices (SEP) such as engaging in argument from evidence, using and developing models, and designing solutions.
The first camp involved 6th-8th graders enrolled in the WMU Academically Talented Youth Program (ATYP). Session 1 – “What’s In Your Water?” – aligned with NGSS PE MS-PS1-2: Matter and its Interactions. Students collected water samples around the WMU campus and tested for nine chemical constituents. They used their quantitative evidence to engineer systems for filtering out contaminants. Session 2 – “Water In, Water Out” – aligned with NGSS PE MS-ESS3-3: Earth and Human Activity. Students explored different water sources and methods to treat contaminated water, and used their observations to construct and test working wastewater treatment facility models as a culminating project. The second camp – “Cloud Camp” – was geared towards 1st-5th grade children at the WMU Children’s Place Learning Center. It aligned with NGSS PE 5-ESS2-1: Earth’s Systems with hands-on activities presenting the stages of the water cycle. Students constructed and applied models with a focus on interactions between the hydrosphere and atmosphere.
Participant reflections demonstrate that they understood that teaching K-8 students with active learning aligned with NGSS SEPs generated learner enthusiasm for learning science. Furthermore, specifically focusing on different NGSS PEs allowed participants to tailor each camp to a unique age groups, further promoting engagement from the students.
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