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In this article, third grade students learn about interdependent relationships and ecosystems while behaving like scientists and learning the nature of science. An education professor and th... See More

In this article, third grade students learn about interdependent relationships and ecosystems while behaving like scientists and learning the nature of science. An education professor and third grade teacher wanted to integrate nature of science into a third grade life science unit. Students were learning standard 3-LS4-3: Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. In this particular lesson, students used colored paper “organism” models to demonstrate how different levels of camouflage can benefit differently in populaitions. During this lesson, the professor and third grade teaher emphasized to students to act like scientist, specifically thinking about how and why scientists use models. They related this to nature of science by explaining that scientists collect empirical data by making observations and inferences and use models to represent natural phenomena. The school this lesson took place at emphasized CER framework, claims, evidence, and reasoning when supporting students’ data explanation. For this lesson, the goal was to scaffold the CER framework so that students could generate individual explanations. In this lesson, students were given different colored “organisms” to live in an environment. Students were to hide their “organisms” throughout the environment and allow other groups to try and be the predators and find organisms placed by the other team. This activity was accompanied with discussion as well. The questions asked were questions that connected students back to the nature of science. Using this lesson, students were able to understand the natural world but also recognize components of the nature of science and why models are important. I really enjoyed this article and found it helpful.

Common Core Lesson

This is a great lesson that really engages students in routine writing, analyzing data, using data to make claims, using evidence to support their claims, and then making justifications thro... See More

This is a great lesson that really engages students in routine writing, analyzing data, using data to make claims, using evidence to support their claims, and then making justifications through reasoning. What I like most about this lesson is that it is designed for grade 3 and to imagine 3rd graders doing this is great. Can't wait to share this lesson with other teachers.

Nature of Science

This is a great way for students to get involved and understand the nature of science and what being a scientist is. I would use this with K-1. It could be a springboard for more detailed ... See More

This is a great way for students to get involved and understand the nature of science and what being a scientist is. I would use this with K-1. It could be a springboard for more detailed and in-depth lessons.

Nature of Science

This is a great way for students to get involved and understand the nature of science and what being a scientist is. I would use this with K-1. It could be a springboard for more detailed ... See More

This is a great way for students to get involved and understand the nature of science and what being a scientist is. I would use this with K-1. It could be a springboard for more detailed and in-depth lessons.