EDUA 5355 Engaging Elem Science Instruction
CRAFTING ENGAGING ELEMENTARY SCIENCE INSTRUCTION WITH STORIES
When students engage in scientific inquiry they pose questions and seek answers about the world around them. Scientific inquiry satisfies students’ natural curiosity while building their understanding of science concepts. When coupled with captivating picture books and stories, it can also enhance literacy skills, interest in science, and engagement in authentic learning experiences that connect to problem-solving in the real world.
This course is designed to provide the teacher with practical methods for using children’s literature, reinforced with hands-on, inquiry-based investigations, to build scientific literacy. By incorporating the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), and the 5E Instructional Model into the design of student-centered inquiries based on stories, teachers will engage students in lessons they will both love and remember. After finishing the course, teachers will be able to integrate science and reading in a natural way, using children’s literature to guide inquiry in a manner that motivates and excites students, supports science comprehension, and creates a lifelong interest in science.