Miss Hanson's

4th Grade Mission

H ow an d W hy I Teach
Sci en ce

Science is a way
of thinking.
-C. Sagan

W h y do Stu den ts Need to Lear n Scien ce?

Science is something that is all
around us, no matter where we
are. It is important for students to
be able to explore the world they
live in. Learning science helps
feed the natural curiosity that
students have, and allows them to
build themselves with valuable
concepts, knowledge, and life skills. Learning science can also help students
become more aware of their environment and economy, creating a better
future for everyone. Science gives students the opportunity to be equipped
to succeed in today's everchanging, technology-rich world.

H ow Do Stu den ts Best Lear n Scien ce?

Since students are naturally curious when it comes to our
world, it is important for them to be hands-on when exploring
their own questions and ideas. T he science program I provide
for my students is a hands-on,
minds-on approach. T his means that
students are allowed and encouraged to
question, observe, describe, test,
problem-solve, explain, and
communicate with others. An example
of an authentic, hands-on activity
could be having students work in
groups to develop a "roller coaster"
based on criteria predetermined by the
teacher. T he students will work
together to develop a successful roller
coaster, allowing students to take
control of the experiment and develop a sense of responsibility
for themselves and their group members.

21st Cen tu r y Sk il l s
O ur world is always changing and
demands for new skills are on the
rise. Schools are going the distance
to enhance student learning, not
only in the classroom, but outside
it as well. 21st Century Skills are
skills that will help students become
well rounded, responsible
individuals. 21st Century Skills are
broken into 3 categories that fit
into our science classroom. T hese skills are employability, health literacy,
and technology literacy. Employability aims to help students become
collaborative, productive, and caring citizens. In our classroom, we aim to
meet this goal by having students work together in groups, allowing them
to get to know one another and collaborate on the task at hand. T he
purpose of H ealth Literacy aims to help students become more aware of
their own bodies and the importance of nutrition and physical exercise. In
our science classroom, we plan to meet this goal by learning about the body
systems, the effects physical exercise has on the body, and nutritional values
of food. Finally, the purpose of technology literacy aims to help students
learn more about technology skills. Technology is the most rapidly growing
industry in our world. Staying on top of technology can benefit students
with their future careers. In our clasroom, we plan to use technology as
much as possible to enhance our lessons, whether it be by using
simulations, making online portfolios, or using and creating videos.

Br in gin g Scien ce to M y Cl assr oom

It is my goal, as an educator, to bring
the best science program I can to my
students. In my classroom, we will
be hands-on and active, meaning we
will be moving around, doing
experiments, and exploring the
world around us. It is important to
know that not all students learn the
same way, so bringing in different
types of lessons and assessments is
essential in building a positive learning environment. Allowing students
this right will give them a sense of motivation and independence in their
own learning. In my classroom we will explore a wide range of activities,
from counting the drops of water that can fit on a penny, to playing
detective and figuring out different mystery powder mixtures, and to
making the world's best whirligigs (trust me, it's exciting!). I also plan to give
students the opportunity to ask questions, answer questions, engage in
experiments, and collect their own data. Students will learn what it means
to properly question, to test, to experiment, and to collaborate with one
another. I plan to incorporate the 21st Century Skills as much as possible,
especially with technology. We will also work hard to incorporate all
aspects of learning, including math, literacy, and even some social studies
skills.

For more inform ation about m y science program , feel free to visit
m y website:
www.teaching-elementary-science.weebly.com

RESOURCES
All images from Flikr, creative commons
Try Science (2015). T he parent page. Try Science. Retrieved April 19th, 2015 from
http://www.tryscience.org/parents/wsm_main.html
Iowa Core Curriculum, https://iowacore.gov/

N STA Position Statement, Elementary School Science,

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jN ER Z p-AzgM GtoR 6ih0N Lg8sckN TAj_qBt7hzDX w2z

Wetzel, D. (2013) Six tips for teaching elementary school science, retrieved April 19th, 2015
from
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13qxR 9N F_gQ in9EohcYYIuS6X aLWD8YkKrM 5h9O im