Course ED 4343 001 Science Methods Grades EC-6

Professor Barbara Curry, MAT

Term Spring 2009
Meetings WF 9:00am – 10:15am, CBW 1.206

Professor’s Contact Information

Office Phone 972-883-4008
Other Phone -
Office Location Founders North 3.308B
Email Address barbc@utdallas.edu
Tuesday 12:30-3:30
Wednesday 11:00-3:00
Office Hours
Thursday 1:00-5:00
Other times by appointment.

General Course Information

Pre-requisites, Co-
requisites, & other As prescribed by the Teacher Development Office
restrictions

Science content and science methodologies, including all levels of inquiry

based instruction, appropriate for the EC-6 classroom, based on the
Course Description
Science TEKS and the National Science Standards. Hands-on activities
are integrated into the coursework.

*Students will demonstrate the application of science process skills in

both written and performance activities with 80% accuracy.
*Students will be able to evaluate science content and apply it to the
Learning Outcomes correct learning environment, developing and presenting an appropriate
lesson without content errors.
*Students will demonstrate pedagogical content knowledge evaluated
through a grading rubric with 80% proficiency or better.

-TEKS Elementary Science Chart, Region 4 ESC, Houston, Tx

-TEKS Elementary Science Chart, 6-12, Region 4 ESC, Houston, TX
Required Materials
-Composition Book
-2g SD card with USB reader

Elementary Science Methods: A Constructivist Approach, Fourth Edition,

Suggested Texts, David Jerner Martin
Readings, & Sciencesaurus: A Student Handbook, GreatSource Education Group
Materials Science Notebooks: Writing About Inquiry, Campbell and Fulton
Science Is….., Susan Bosak
Assignments & Academic Calendar
[Topics, Assignments, Due Dates, Exam Dates]
Introduction, Pre-test, What is Science?
January 14
Assign: Science Autobiography
January 16 Cooperation and Collaboration in Science, Science Notebooking/Journaling
Nature of Science
January 21 Assign: Elementary Science Textbook Review
Due: Science Autobiography (through WebCT Assignment Dropbox)
January 23 Nature of Science
Science Process Skills
January 28
Assign: Power Point Presentation
Science Process Skills
January 30
Due: Elementary Science Textbook Review (hard copy, in class)
Tools in the Science Classroom
February 4
Assign: Science Content Paper
February 6 Science in the Schools: The TEKS, TAKS, and vertical teaming
February 11 Science Content: Misconceptions - How they affect your teaching.
Science Content: how do you know it’s right?
February 13
Due: Power Point® (through WebCT Assignment Dropbox)
February 18 Inquiry-based Instruction
Inquiry-based Instruction, The Inquiry Continuum
February 20
Due: Science Content Paper (through WebCT Assignment Dropbox)
Mid-Term Exam
February 25
Assign: Science Lesson Video Observation
February 27 No Class - Conferences
March 4 Formative Assessment
March 6 Alternative Assessment
Creating Standard Assessments
March 11
Due: Science Lesson Video Observation
March 13 Kit-based Science Instruction - FOSS
March 25 Kit-based Science Instruction - GEMS
Learner Differences/Learning Styles
March 27
Due: Life Science Lesson Plan (through WebCT Assignment Dropbox)
Learner Differences/lesson Adaptations
April 1
Due: Physical Science Lesson Plan (through WebCT Assignment Dropbox)
April 3 Using Nature to teach Science
Life Science Presentations
April 8
Due: Earth Science Lesson Plan (through WebCT Assignment Dropbox)
April 10 Life Science Presentations
April 15 Physical Science Presentations
April 17 Physical Science Presentations
April 22 Earth Science Presentations
April 24 Earth Science Presentations
Your Science Classroom
April 29
How are you going to do it?
May 1 Your Science Classroom
The “Ick” Factor

Week of May 4 Final Exam

 Requirements
All of the following requirements must be completed in order to pass this class.
Designated assignments will be turned in through WebCT.

Class Attendance Each Class Meeting*

Quizzes Weekly*
Reflection Questions Weekly*
Science in the News Presentation Due: Assigned Date
Science Autobiography Due: January 21
Elementary Science Textbook Review Due: January 30
Power Point® Due: February 13
Science Lesson Content Paper Due: February 20
Mid-Term Exam Given: February 25
Conferences Individually Scheduled
between February 26 and March 12
Video Lesson Observation Due: March 11
Lesson Development and Presentation Due: Assigned Date
Final Exam Given: Week of May 4

* Required as noted below

Course Policies
Daily Quiz – 5% 50 points
A quiz will be administered during the Tuesday class each week. It will consist of two
questions in the TExES format. The quiz will be given at the beginning of the class time
and will cover material from the previous class. Make-up quizzes for tardiness or
absence will not be given.
Science Autobiography – 2.5% 25 points
In an essay format, describe your experiences with science. What were your experiences
in school, with family, or on your own? Positive and negative experiences need to be
discussed. Spelling and grammar will be graded.
Science in the News – 2.5% 25 points
There are important science events in the news everyday. Learning and understanding
these events helps us to become a more scientifically literate society. This assignment will
be a "group" effort. You will select a presentation date and a partner on the first day of
class. Two presentations will be given at the beginning of each designated class period.
Guidelines and grading rubric will be provided. Articles can be obtained through the
newspaper, science magazines and internet sites. One article must be from a printed source.
Grading (credit) The other should be electronic (from the internet). See guidelines for further information.
Criteria Spelling and grammar will be graded.
Science Lesson Content Paper - 5% 50 points
In order to teach science accurately, one must have a working knowledge of the content.
This exercise will help you understand the content behind the lesson you will develop for
this class. Guidelines will be given. Papers will be submitted to turnitin.com to be
screened for academic integrity. Spelling and grammar will be graded.
Reflection Questions – 15% 150 points
Reflective questioning is an important component of the science education process. You
will be given a question each week through WebCT. Responses must be submitted no later
than class the following week.

Review of Elementary Science Text – 5% 50 points

You will be provided with the Elementary Science Textbook that is currently being used in
elementary classrooms. A form will be provided with a checklist. You will also write an
essay about your opinion of the text. It should be typed, double spaced, and a minimum of
one page in length. Be sure to justify reasons for your opinions. Both the checklist and
essay will be turned in. Spelling and grammar will be graded.
 Power Point® Presentation - 10% 100 points
You will create a Power Point® presentation covering a topic different from your lesson
presentation and content paper. Present one concept only in an area of your choice. This
is not to be an entire unit and must be turned in electronically through WebCT - no
exceptions. Guidelines and a grading rubric will be provided.
Science Lesson Video - 10% 100 points
You will have an opportunity to observe a video of an elementary science lesson. You will
record your observations and write about them in an essay format. Guidelines will be
provided. Spelling and grammar will be graded.
Lesson Development and Presentation - 15% 150 points
You will be assigned one of the three basic science areas from which to develop a lesson.
One third of the class will present lessons in physical science, one third in life science, and
one third in earth science. Your lesson content will be assigned according to the
TEKS. All copies of your lessons will be submitted electronically through the WebCT.
Lessons will be done in Word format following the outline and sample lessons provided.
All lessons, upon completion, will be posted on WebCT. You will be responsible for the
content presented by your peers. You will be videotaped during your presentation and
required to complete a self-evaluation, due a week after your presentation. Your grade will
be based on the following: written lesson (40%), instructor assessment of presentation
(35%), self-assessment of presentation (15%), and peer assessment of presentation (10%).
Lessons will be submitted to turnitin.com to be screened for academic integrity

Mid-Term Exam - 15% 150 points

The mid-term will cover everything during the semester up to this point. The exam will
consist of three sections: a hands-on portion, an objective portion, and an essay portion.
The essay portion will consist of application-type questions and will be a "take-home."
Final Exam - 15% 150 points
Content from the entire semester will be covered in the same format as the mid-term exam.
The essay portion will be handed out as a "take-home" during the class prior to the final
exam.
Total 1000 points

You will accrue a maximum of 1000 points for the semester. Grades will be assigned as
follows:

970-1000: A+ 870-899: B+ 770-799: C+

930-969: A 830-869: B 730-769: C
900-929: A- 800-829: B- 700-729: C-

Grammar and spelling will be considered in the grading of all written work. One point will
be deducted for each spelling/grammar error. Be aware that Spell Check does not catch
everything. It is advisable to have someone proofread any papers before they are handed
in.
Make-up exams will only be allowed under extenuating circumstances. Students must
Make-up Exams
contact the instructor prior to the exam to qualify.
Opportunities for extra credit may become available throughout the semester. These
opportunities usually involve attending workshops or working in a science classroom.
Students may complete one extra credit opportunity during the semester for a maximum of
Extra Credit 10 points. A one-page write-up of the experience is required and must be turned in one
week after the experience has been completed. Further, any errors in grammar and spelling
found in work passed out by the instructor will result in one extra point for each error
found.
Late work will be accepted with a 10% deduction in the grade for each day an assignment
Late Work
is late. This begins at the time the class ends on the assignment due date.
Regular attendance is critical to the collaborative learning environment and to your
comprehension of the material being presented. If you have an emergency and cannot
attend class, notify me prior to class. When you have five (5) absences, 10% of the total
Class Attendance possible points will be deducted. That is, if you have points that total the equivalent of an
"A", you will make a "B". If you have points that total to an equivalent of a "B", you will
 make a "C". If you exceed three (3) absences, you will receive an F or an I, at the
discretion of the instructor. Two tardies (or leaving early) will be counted as one absence.
Activities done during class will be included in questions on your exams and quizzes. If
you miss a class, you will need to get any handouts and other pertinent information from
your class "buddy".
Classroom Students are expected to present themselves as professionals and work in a cooperative
Citizenship learning environment.
Field Trip
N/A
Policies
The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and
regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of
each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and
regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on student
conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is
provided to all registered students each academic year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of
recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules
Student Conduct and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI,
and Discipline Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the university’s
Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to
students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist
students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of
citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the
Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to
discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off
campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty.
Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work
done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high
standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related
Academic to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own
Integrity work or material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves
one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic
records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary
proceedings.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from
any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on
plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course will use the resources of
turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective.
All email communication for this class should be done through WebCT.
The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication
between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises
some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange.
The university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a
student’s U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email from students
Email Use
official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to
maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the
security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email
account that is to be used in all communication with university personnel. The Department
of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T.
Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level
Class courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog.
Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle
 withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any
student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final grade
of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled.

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities, of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other

fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a
serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or
committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”).
Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and
Student evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted
Grievance in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent’s School Dean. If the matter is
Procedures not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, the student may submit a
written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the School Dean’s
decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate
Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The
decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic appeals
process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of
Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations.
As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably
missed at the semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An
Incomplete incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the
Grades subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove the
incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is
changed automatically to a grade of F.
The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational
opportunities equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in
room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to
6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30
p.m.
The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:
The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable
Disability adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example,
Services it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in
the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment
requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral presentation
for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with mobility
impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or university
may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or mobility
assistance.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an
accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty
members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals
requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or during office
hours.
The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required
activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose
Religious Holy places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas
Days Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible
 regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused,
will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after
the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A
student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not
be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment
within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.

If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose
of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the
student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or
examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief
executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief executive officer or
designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student
and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief executive officer or designee.
Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law and
Off-Campus University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information
Instruction and regarding these rules and regulations may be found at
Course Activities http://www.utdallas.edu/BusinessAffairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm.
Additional information is available from the office of the school dean.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.