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How do I differentiate for a GATE class in a science lesson?
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Ashlee,
Is your GATE class a "gifted and talented education" class? If so, maybe you can add some additional hands-on activities to differentiate the lesson. You can also add stations to supplement and reinforce the lesson concepts. What is the specific lesson that you are teaching?
Maureen
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Here are some ideas for the classroom when you are using differentiation in science:
•Create a tic-tac-toe board that lists different activities at different ability levels. When students aren't involved in direct instruction with you, they can work on activities from their tic-tac-toe board. These boards have nine squares, like a tic-tac-toe board; and each square lists an activity that corresponds with the science unit. For example, one solar system activity for advanced science students might be to create a power point presentation about eclipses. For beginning students, an activity might be to make a poster for one of the planets and include important data such as size, order from the sun, whether it has moons, and so on.
•Find websites on the current science unit that students can explore on their own.
•Allow students to work in small groups to create a project throughout the entire unit. For example, one group might create a solar system model to scale. Another group might write a play about the solar system. This is an activity these groups can work on while they are not working directly with you.
Differentiation in science gets students excited to learn because it challenges them to expand their knowledge and skills, instead of teaching the whole group concepts they have already mastered.
www.brighthubeducation.com
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Thank you! That was very helpful. I will definitely incorporate some of these ideas into my classroom.
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I enjoyed these ideas. I will soon be GT certified and need all the ideas I can get my hands on in order to give them the best opportunities.
Emily A.
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I like the tic tac toe board idea. It keeps students motivated. I think in every type of classroom you have to use differentiated instruction whether the students are gifted of general ed. I believe activities are an important part of keeping students motivated and engaged in science. Using activities also helps students with inquiry, observing and investigating science concepts.
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I discovered a NSTA journal article that discusses the Tic-Tac-Toe strategy and provides examples. Year after year, this activity proves to be one of my students' favorites!
Alyce
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A few Gifted & Talented Resources for Science Teachers:
1) NGSS for all Students (ebook or printed version) http://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/PKEB400X
Has a chapter on NGSS and GT students
2) NGSS standards - Appendix D: All Standards All Students http://www.nextgenscience.org/sites/ngss/files/Appendix%20D%20Diversity%20and%20Equity%206-14-13.pdf
and the Case Studies (one of which is a GT example) http://www.nextgenscience.org/sites/ngss/files/Appendix%20D%20Diversity%20and%20Equity%206-14-13.pdf
3) "Using the Next Generation Science Standards with Gifted & Advanced Learners" and "A Teacher's Guide to Using the NGSS with Gifted & Advanced Learners" both from Prufrock Press
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Additional GT or GATE resources found in the NSTA Learning Center:
1) Book chapter "Teaching Science to Students With Special Needs in Advance Classes" in the book "Team Teaching Science". http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781936137107.9
2) "Curriculum Compacting Teaching Science in a Heterogenuos Classroom" article http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/4/ss01_024_04_22
3) "A Learning Cycle for All Students" article http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/4/tst11_078_03_56
4) "Science Fairs for All" article http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/4/sc00_038_02_14
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