Modeling Science Practices

Modeling Science Practices

Staff and volunteers will facilitate opportunities for youth to apply science practices including investigating questions, using data, and developing explanations.

As a result of ongoing, consistent professional development efforts, staff and volunteers will be able to:

  • Describe the practices of science in terms youth can understand.
  • Facilitate science investigations: including opportunities for youth to ask questions, define problems, collect data and construct explanations.
  • Facilitate methodical problem solving: including defining problems, generating and evaluating solutions, and developing models or prototypes.

 


Resources

Yellow and green seashell

Using the Crosscutting Concepts – Patterns

Looking for, identifying, and using patterns is a vital concept in science and engineering

Learn More

Getting the Most Out of NGSS: Using the Crosscutting Concepts

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Crosscutting Concepts provide us with a great way to help youth bridge science learning across various contexts.

Learn More

Digging Deeper

Participants will expand an upcoming lesson to learn to engage youth in conceptual STEM learning.

View Guide

Developing and Expanding Youth Explanations

Participants will learn how to support youth to engage in science practices through an Exploring Soil Ecology activity.

View Guide

Expanding Explanations

Participants will watch the Preparing to Present Findings Professionally Video-Based Learning Module and create SMART Goals to support youth in science practices.

View Guide

Explore the Concept

Participants will reflect on two styles of instruction in order to emphasize conceptual development.

View Guide

Finding Out Together

Participants will reflect on the Encouraging Youth to Communicate Ideas Video-Based Learning Module to learn to engage youth with explanations of local science.

View Guide

Inquiry

Participants will conduct the Wonderwise Nutty Investigation to learn how to support youth to engage in science practices.

View Guide

Prompting Questions

Participants will identify prompting questions to learn how to support youth in explaining scientific thinking.

View Guide