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

	Reflect and Ask		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?
	Plan and Predict		Plan activities designed to answer the questions Make predictions: what will happen if...? Record these predictions
	Act and Observe		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
	Report and Reflect		Create a representation of what happened and compare this to the predictions Reflect on what was learned and use this to ask further questions