Ignite Curiosity with Phenomena-based Science (NGSS)
Phenomena-based Science The word phenomenon is something that can be observed to happen or exist. So in science we get to draw upon the natural world around you and connect your students. If you have children or worked with young children you likely remember the question stage. Why this? Why is ...
Putting CER to Work
This post is the 5th and final post in the CER framework series. To read any of the previous posts in this series click on those below: Introductionto the CER Framework Claim in the CER Framework Evidence in the CER Framework Reasoning in the CER Framework The final part of the Claim – ...
Reasoning & the CER Framework
This post is the 4th post in the CER framework series. To read any of the previous posts in this series click on those below: Introduction to the CER Framework Claim in the CER Framework Evidence in the CER Framework The third part of the Claim – Evidence – Reasoning (CER) ...
Evidence & the CER Framework
This post is the 3rd post in the Claim – Evidence – Reasoning (CER) framework series. To read the first post called: Introduction to the CER framework, click here. To examine the 2nd post: Claim in the CER framework, click here. In this post we examine Evidence. The second part ...
CLAIMS & the CER Framework
This post is the 2nd post in the CER framework series. To read the first post called: Introduction to the CER framework, click here. The Claim – Evidence – Reasoning (CER) framework begins with the “CLAIM.” A claim in general terms is the answer to the question being explored. ...
Introduction to the CER Framework
This is the first blog post of an ongoing series to support integrating the CER framework into your classroom for students. In this introduction you will examine what the CER framework is. The following posts will dive deeper into each part of the CER framework and what it looks like in the, ...
Why I don’t teach the scientific method and what I do instead!
While there are tons of teachers out there teaching the traditional scientific method, it does not define science. This was a controversy I faced in my early years of teaching. Nearly all beginning of the year units and textbook companies emphasize this in their first units. Why the controversy, ...
How I Introduce Body Systems
Students love learning about the human body and I love teaching it. Whether you teach high school Anatomy & Physiology or a unit on the Human Body Systems in middle school, you will love starting out with this fun interactive activity that can also be used as a pre-assessment of what your ...
Designing An NGSS Aligned Curriculum Map
As crazy as it sounds, one of my favorite things to do when summer break arrives is to reflect on the year. Although I have been using NGSS standards to drive my classroom for years, Colorado only officially adopted the standards this past year. With this adoption, our school district revamped all ...