TEACHER STEP 2

STEP 1

Professional Learning & Preparation

STEP 2

Phase 1 – High Direction

STEP 3

Phase 2 – Mentored Exploration

STEP 4

Phase 3 – Independence

STEP 5

Presentation & Celebration

Goals for STEP 2

Select Mentor/MySTic DATES and TIMES (90 minutes/session) for the three school visits, and Science Fair, and communicate these to mentors and the school community
Select a CLASS THEME for student investigations and communicate this to mentors
Form STUDENT GROUPS in pairs or threes
Provide each student with a LOG BOOK
Explain the MYSCIENCE PROCESS to students
Conduct a CLASS BRAINSTORM on your theme
Conduct SCAFFOLDED, HANDS-ON scientific investigations WITH STUDENTS related to the class theme
Facilitate TOPIC SELECTION and RESEARCH with student groups
Test your KNOWLEDGE before moving on to STEP 3

Scroll down for more information.

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STEP 2 – Plan Ahead

DATES & TIMES: select & communicate to Mentors/MySTics for school visits & Science Fair
THEME: select & communicate to Mentors/MySTics
STUDENT GROUPS: select
LOGBOOKS: for each student
MYSCIENCE PROCESS: explain to students
BRAINSTORM: theme with class
PRACTICE: investigations related to theme
TOPICS: selection by groups from brainstorm
TOPICS: research by groups
FOCUS/TESTABLE QUESTION: students begin** to narrow down

** NOTE: Selection of each group’s final question occurs during Mentor Visit #1 in STEP 3

STEP 2 covers WEEKS 1 & 2 of Implementation

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STEP 2 – Information

Steps in Planning MyScience Investigations

WATCH the PPT presentation via Resource Button 2.1 for information about ‘Planning MyScience Investigations’.

The STEPS include:

Choosing a THEME
Brainstorming TOPICS within the theme
Generating TESTABLE questions for investigation
Working with Mentors/MySTics to identify one FOCUS QUESTION
Equipment and Chemical SAFETY

Themes

The class THEME is used to conduct a class BRAINSTORM from which a number of TOPICS arise. Each student group selects a TOPIC AREA and then generates TESTABLE QUESTIONS.

‘2.1 Planning MyScience Investigations’ has THEME information on SLIDES 1-4.
‘2.2 Theme Ideas’ presents a list of TEACHING THEMES that are broad enough to accommodate a wide range of student interest areas and to address most school teaching programs. Successful themes that have been used in MyScience include: Change, Communication, Energy, Environment, Global Issues, the Human Body, Transport, Mythbusters and Weather.
‘2.3 Mythbuster Theme’ presents benefits for having a theme.
‘2.4 Themes > Topics > Questions’ has some examples of Themes, Topics and Questions that would be suitable to use as a foundation for Stage 3 (Years 5-6) students.

Student groups

Students learn more, think more deeply and are more engaged when they work in groups.
Justifying ideas to others requires evidence – not just an opinion.
Student groupings can be formed by teacher selection (ability, age, gender), student selection (often based on friendship) or a mixture of both considering, for instance, areas of interest.
Use the following Resource Buttons for information:
‘2.5 Tips on Using Role Badges’
‘2.6 Tips on Working in a Team’

Logbooks

Students use their logbook to record their thoughts, ideas, results of their scaffolded investigations and their MyScience investigation progress – particularly any ideas provided by mentors.
Submission of a Logbook as well as a Report is required by many Award Schemes.
‘2.7 Logbook Example’ demonstrates what Year 6 students may produce.

MyScience Process (for students to know about)

Students need to know where the next few weeks are heading and they particularly need to aware of their ROLES and RESPONSIBILITIES, which are detailed in Teacher Step 1: Resource ‘1.1 Participants’ Roles & Responsibilities’.
A STUDENT WEEKLY SEQUENCE at Resource Button ‘2.8 Student Weekly Sequence’ lets students know that there will be MENTORS/MySTics coming to school to work with them, and that they need to ultimately present their findings to others at a SCIENCE FAIR.

Brainstorm

The class theme is the basis for the class BRAINSTORM from which a number of TOPICS arise.

For BRAINSTORM information go to:

‘2.1 Planning MyScience Investigations’ SLIDES 5-10
‘2.9 Brainstorming a Theme’
TAKE A PHOTO of the completed brainstorm, which needs to be retrieved for STEP 5. Even better – print a copy for each student’s logbook.

Topics

TOPICS arise from the class Brainstorm. Each student group selects ONE TOPIC AREA and then generates TESTABLE QUESTIONS.

‘2.10 Topic Research Issues’ presents students describing their experiences of using the internet to research their topic.
Revisit ‘2.4 Themes > Topics > Questions’ for some STAGE 3 EXAMPLES of links between Themes, Topics and Questions.

Testable Questions

TESTABLE QUESTIONS, based on each group’s selected Topic, are quite ‘tricky’ for students to generate.

For now you only need to assist students to narrow down some focus questions because the FIRST SCHOOL VISIT is where each group’s ‘Testable Question’ is finalised through interactions with the Mentors/MySTics.

As the teacher, you need to know about Testable Questions. Use the links below to expand your knowledge and understanding:

‘2.1 Planning MyScience Investigations’ SLIDES 11-18 = TESTABLE QUESTION information.
‘2.4 Themes > Topics > Questions’ = EXAMPLES of STAGE 3 Questions derived from Topics and Themes.
‘2.11 Testable Questions’ = CRITERIA within MyScience
‘2.12 Mythbuster Testable Question’ = How students chose their question.