Tag Archives: data

Weather

Everyone talks about the weather, but the articles in this issue show students doing more than talking. Just look at the action words in the titles: blog, cruise, teach, make, watch, look, learn. The differences between weather and climate can be challenging for younger students. The author of Making the Climate Connection suggests a “progression” [...]
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Spend a little, gain a lot

I revisited a popular session held last year in New Orleans to see who showed up this year.
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Losing your marbles over data

Tony Bartley (from Thunder Bay, Ontario) and Mike Bowen (from Halifax, Nova Scotia) discussed how to improve students’ data literacy. They reviewed types of data (nominal, ordinal, and integer/ratio) and the type of graph that would be appropriate for each. Using simple materials such as marbles, paper cups, and a ruler, they engaged the participants [...]
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The scoop on science notebooks

I've been hearing a lot about science notebooks lately, so I went to the Education Development Center's Pathway Session on Establishing Science Notebook Habits and Skills. It was interesting to hear each presenter's unique take on the science notebook and see all of the student examples they displayed.
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Peering into students’ “private universe”

Get some insight on students’ “Private Universe” in Philadelphia. You’ll find sessions addressing misconceptions at all grade levels, in a range of science fields.
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Observations and data from nature

The word “data” for some people conjures up pages of numbers or a dreadful experience in statistics class. But get rid of the deer-in-the-headlights look and dig into lessons focused on forensics, snow, fruit flies, and Down syndrome. The protocols, rubrics, and examples can help you work with students in this critical inquiry process. I’ve [...]
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Interpreting evidence

Our students may be used to using evidence to answer questions, but in Elk Habitat: A Case Study of Scientific Inquiry, the authors describe an activity in which students ask questions, examine evidence, ask new questions, and design potential research studies. If elk studies are not relevant for your students, look at the resources of [...]
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Data collection, display, and analysis

Cockroaches, fast food, roadkill, rainfall — the articles in this issue of Science Scope show that middle level science students and teachers can use inquiry skills in studying almost any topic. Collecting, organizing, and analyzing data are important components of inquiry activities and these articles have great teacher-tested examples of how students can organize their [...]
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Research in science classrooms

Wow — students doing real research! This adds a different dimension to the “labs” that students do. There is certainly a time and place for replication or follow-the-directions activities (for example, to learn how to use various equipment or to practice skills such as observation and data collection). But the research projects described in this [...]
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The resourceful teacher

In the ideal world, every school would have whatever materials it takes to provide quality learning experiences. But our world is not ideal and we teachers have learned to be quite ingenious. Although the activity in the article Discovery Bottles is written for K-2, this could be adapted into a neat idea for the first [...]
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