| Description |
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Learning science is an active process! This unit immerses students in their topic (weather, natural disasters or plants) as they build science understanding through reading, writing, experimenting and discussing! Students experience the benefits of reading science books about their chosen topic while simultaneously designing and conducting a related inquiry-based experiment. Along the way students engage in purposeful peer discussions to build conceptual understanding and they write to their adult pen pals to communicate the ideas they’ve developed. These sessions help teach students the strategies they need to comprehend and evaluate informational science books including:
- understanding key elements of the nonfiction genre
- activating background knowledge
- building context and vocabulary and
- coding text, taking notes or monitoring graphic aids.
These sessions also introduce students to strategies involved in scientific inquiry including:
- asking questions and searching for evidence to answer them
- planning and conducting simple investigations
- employing tools and techniques to gather data from a variety of sources
- using data to construct reasonable explanations, and
- communicating and defending conclusions and explanations.
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| Genre |
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Nonfiction- Informational Texts |
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| Topics |
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- Weather
- Natural Disasters
- Plants
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| Essential Questions |
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- How do informational texts support my understanding of science topics?
- What is the scientific inquiry process?
- What is the scientific method?
- How can reading, writing, speaking and listening be used to help a scientific investigation?
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| Supporting Unit Questions |
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- How do I form and test a hypothesis?
- How do scientists use the discoveries of other scientists in planning their investigations?
- Why is science always changing?
- How do scientific discoveries impact our world?
- Why are observation skills important?
- In what ways do scientists communicate their findings?
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| Standards and Objectives |
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IRA/NCTE Standards
ALA Standards
ISTE NETS Standards
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| Plan for Assessment |
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Overview of In2Books Assessment
Understanding and Interpreting the In2Books Rubric
In2Books Rubric
Assessment Chart
5-Lesson Unit Assessment Checklist
12-Lesson Unit Assessment Checklist
Student Self-Checklist
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| Culminating Unit Activities |
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Science Report and Science Unit Pen Pal Letter |
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