"All of our students enjoy the ScienceStart! curriculum. Students with a variety of disabilities all participate, and it's evident that the science process teaches problem solving and expands their thinking. Throughout the curriculum and classroom setting they make observations, ask questions, and discuss ideas."
"Using the ScienceStart! curriculum has been the best experience I have had, and it has changed the way I approach teaching in other areas."
Lynne
Pre-K ESE
Bunnell Elementary
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Each ScienceStart! activity is structured around a simple cycle of scientific reasoning:
- Reflect and Ask
- Plan and Predict
- Act and Observe
- Report and Reflect
As teachers work through the science cycle with children, they model and support the children's use of sophisticated discourse forms.
The Cycle in Action
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Reflect
and
Ask |
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- Introduce the topic with a book
- Elicit from the children what they already know about this topic
- Ask new questions: what else do you want to know?
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Plan
and
Predict |
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- Plan activities designed to answer the questions
- Make predictions: what will happen if...?
- Record these predictions
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Act
and
Observe |
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- Allow the children to do the activity and observe with them
- Listen to their observations and add your own
- Extend their observations by asking more questions
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Report
and
Reflect |
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- Create a representation of what happened and compare this to the predictions
- Reflect on what was learned and use this to ask further questions
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