Elementary Science: Content, Curriculum, and Instruction

This course will present a variety of investigative approaches to teaching science in the elementary school. The course design rests on the theoretical view that children learn science when they participate, actively, in relevant science thinking and experimentation. In the course, you will be given opportunities to practice methods of inquiry as adult learners of science content as well as opportunities to design and implement inquiry-based lessons for elementary school children. The course will assist you in the development of criteria to guide the selection of science activities to achieve specified learning goals in a curriculum. Explicit connections will be made between various science lessons, curricular goals and both Missouri State and National Standards. In addition, the course is designed to develop effective teaching strategies and approaches to curriculum development in science as well as in the areas of health and physical education. Addresses components of effective curriculum that are aligned to learning experiences and outcomes using academic language of the sciences. Incorporates strategies for individual student needs based on diverse backgrounds, prior experiences, and language to deliver differentiated instruction and teaches students to set learning goals. Develop strategies to engage students in the methods of inquiry and research with interdisciplinary approaches where appropriate. Learn researched-based models of critical thinking and problem-solving, including various instructional strategies and technology to support student engagement in higher level thinking skills. Use formal and informal assessments to design instruction and improve learning activities followed by assessment analysis to determine effect of class instruction on individual and whole class learning. Understand strategies to communicate confidential student data and progress following ethical and legal protocols. Prerequisite: Admission to the Teacher Education Program. Enr
Course Attributes: FA NSM; AR NSM; AS NSM

Elementary Science: Content, Curriculum, and Instruction

EDUCATION 6741

Section 01