Question: How can we review or test science content knowledge – like vocabulary and concepts – while better engaging our students’ scientific skills – like analysis, which is found in the NGSS and BC curriculum? One way I’m doing this is by using science riddles. Each riddle refers to a science concept or term. And,…
Category Archive for: Critical Thinking
Are you looking for a quick, fun way to have students practice critical and creative thinking in science class? Perhaps you’re looking for some science bell ringers that will engage students while you check homework or take attendance too? Some teachers will have students answer review or preview questions or have students write in their…
#53 – The Science Movie You can Show on your First Week (hint: it helps teach the scientific method)
What topic do science teachers most likely start teaching in their first week (or two)? The scientific method, of course. And what do most science teachers not do in their first week (or two)? Show science movies. That’s too bad because good science movies can really get students excited about science. Unfortunately, not showing a…
Looking for an April Fools Day science lesson? How about an April Fools Day science lesson that also utilizes critical thinking and generates debate? Sure, there are some science lessons out there that fulfill the list. Many of these April Fools Day science lessons have students observe a discrepant event. Unfortunately, this also requires lab…
What do teachers do with their class on the first day? If I was a betting man, I would say a lot of teachers run icebreakers to learn names and build a strong class culture. I run icebreakers too with my classes for the same reasons. One year, for our first day science activity, I…
Are we teaching students how to be great at doing science or at memorizing science? Of course, we all want students to be good at doing science. This why we do labs, find engaging activities, and have students practice important science skills. This is why we take students on field trips. But, is there a…
Does the development of new curriculum – where skills like analysis, critical thinking and collaboration are valued – mean that unit or chapter tests are obsolete? Absolutely not. However, teachers do need to make improvements to their tests. Especially if tests are important to both students and teachers. For teachers, chapter or unit tests help…
Should you start using interactive notebooks in your class? In theory, interactive notebooks are supposed to welcome creative thinking into the classroom and accommodate the multiple ways of learning can be observed in our classrooms. They’re supposed to help students organize their notes and assignments as well as give students the opportunity to express their…
Can teachers use multiple choice to test critical and scientific thinking in the new science curriculum? The short answer is, yes, teachers can use multiple choice to test critical and scientific thinking in the new science curriculum. However, this requires some modifications to how teachers write their multiple choice questions. In our previous post,…
Does the development of new science curriculum like the Next Generation Science Standards mean multiple choice questions are no longer acceptable? Does it mean that short answer or essay/written responses are the only responses that assess critical thinking? The short answer is no. Written responses are not the only way to assess critical thinking. Multiple…
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