Sample Science Lesson
Help:
Getting Started
Every assessed indicator within grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10th have two instructional lessons. To locate a specific lesson, click on the appropriate grade level. Every lesson has five main frameworks: Contextual, Teaching, Lesson, Application, and Extension. These frameworks contain the materials and instructional guides to teach the lesson without having to locate outside resources.
Locating a lesson
To locate a lesson, click on the appropriate grade level. There are two ways to identify the indicator that you would like to locate a lesson for. First, select the standard that you are interested in locating a lesson for by clicking the appropriate tab at the top of the page. Then, locate the lesson by identifying the benchmark and indicator number (ex. Indicator 1.4.K6cd). The second way of identifying the indicator specific to the lesson you are interested in is to select the standard as mentioned above. Then scan the indicators bold words, which have been identified as key words of the indicator, to locate an indicator that closely matches the skills you are interested in teaching in your class. Once, you have located the indicator that you are interested in you can view a lesson by clicking on either Lesson 1 or Lesson 2.
Navigating wihtin the lesson
There are two basic navigation paths within the lesson. The navigation panel and the linear navigation.
Viewing definitions of the vocabulary words
Vocabulary words or terms that appear in the text body are underlined. Click the underlined glossary item to see the definition. While viewing the glossary definition, click "Full Glossary" at the top left of the definition window to view the entire glossary.
Printing a lesson
You have two options for printing a lesson. The first option allows you to print the frameworks individually. For example, if you would like to print only the Lesson Framework, you navigate to that framework. Then, click on Print Version of this page to print this framework alone. You may print any framework individually via these steps. Another option for printing the lesson is to click on the "Download/Tools" button under Resources. You will find a link here for downloading a lesson in pdf format that you can print all pages in a lesson.
Downloading a handout
You can download and print the entire handout for any lesson. To print the handout, click Download Handout located under the right hand corner of the Application Framework. Save the handout to your computer, and then open the handout in Microsoft Word to print.
Downloading the PowerPoint slides
You can download the PowerPoint slides to use in your classroom via a computer or projector. To download these slides click on the underlined Download PowerPoint Slides link, which is located in the Lesson Framework above the first slide.
Every assessed indicator within grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10th have two instructional lessons. To locate a specific lesson, click on the appropriate grade level. Every lesson has five main frameworks: Contextual, Teaching, Lesson, Application, and Extension. These frameworks contain the materials and instructional guides to teach the lesson without having to locate outside resources.
Locating a lesson
To locate a lesson, click on the appropriate grade level. There are two ways to identify the indicator that you would like to locate a lesson for. First, select the standard that you are interested in locating a lesson for by clicking the appropriate tab at the top of the page. Then, locate the lesson by identifying the benchmark and indicator number (ex. Indicator 1.4.K6cd). The second way of identifying the indicator specific to the lesson you are interested in is to select the standard as mentioned above. Then scan the indicators bold words, which have been identified as key words of the indicator, to locate an indicator that closely matches the skills you are interested in teaching in your class. Once, you have located the indicator that you are interested in you can view a lesson by clicking on either Lesson 1 or Lesson 2.
Navigating wihtin the lesson
There are two basic navigation paths within the lesson. The navigation panel and the linear navigation.
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The navigation panel is located on the left side of all pages. Its includes all paths to all of the frameworks as well as the resouces associated with each lesson. |
The linear navigation is located at the end of each page. The arrows allow you to navigate forward to the next page or return to the previous page on the list indicated in the navigation panel. |
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Vocabulary words or terms that appear in the text body are underlined. Click the underlined glossary item to see the definition. While viewing the glossary definition, click "Full Glossary" at the top left of the definition window to view the entire glossary.
Printing a lesson
You have two options for printing a lesson. The first option allows you to print the frameworks individually. For example, if you would like to print only the Lesson Framework, you navigate to that framework. Then, click on Print Version of this page to print this framework alone. You may print any framework individually via these steps. Another option for printing the lesson is to click on the "Download/Tools" button under Resources. You will find a link here for downloading a lesson in pdf format that you can print all pages in a lesson.
Downloading a handout
You can download and print the entire handout for any lesson. To print the handout, click Download Handout located under the right hand corner of the Application Framework. Save the handout to your computer, and then open the handout in Microsoft Word to print.
Downloading the PowerPoint slides
You can download the PowerPoint slides to use in your classroom via a computer or projector. To download these slides click on the underlined Download PowerPoint Slides link, which is located in the Lesson Framework above the first slide.
Contextual Framework
This framework provides basic information drawn from the state standard, benchmark, and indicator specific to this lesson.
Teaching Framework
Teachers must have a clear and comprehensive understanding of the state math indicators they are responsible for in their classroom. Therefore, at the initiation of each lesson you are provided with a clear overview depicting the concepts, skills, essential vocabulary, and application pertaining to the lesson.
Lesson Framework
Prior knowledge plays a critical role in helping students� cognitively prepare for new information and vocabulary that will be presented during the lesson. This increases learning potential, as students are able to make connections between their current knowledge base and the new information being presented. Therefore, in the lesson framework you are provided with detailed review of the essential prior knowledge skills related to the indicator. Next, it is important to provide examples of previous life experience to aid students in accessing prior knowledge that is related to the upcoming lesson therefore, the lesson contains an example this type of experience for you to use in your instruction. It is critical for students to experience modeling and interpretation of the new skill(s) through concrete examples. This assists the student in developing a conceptual understanding of the new skill, before they begin to learn or apply the skill in an abstract fashion. Therefore, the lesson describes the steps of modeling the new concept. Once, students participate in a modeling activity it is critical to demonstrate the new skill(s) in a step-by-step manner. This demonstration includes responses from students to measure their grasp of the new subject.
Application Framework
This framework provides you with several ways of measuring students´ understanding of the new concept. First, guided practice problems provide you with step-by-step directions that can be used to guide students through the application of concepts learned during the lesson. Independent practice then provides students with the opportunity to apply the newly acquired skills and knowledge independently. Next, there are several options for validating student knowledge. First, the validation statement provides you with information that the student should be able to communicate to you at the end of the lesson. It´s purpose is to provide you with an informal assessment that can be used to determine if students have mastered concepts taught during the lesson. In addition, re-teaching activities are provided that can be used if students do not demonstrate mastery. These activities include additional examples, guiding questions, and review of essential vocabulary terms. Finally, an open-ended response item is provided, which serves as another assessment tool that can be used to determine if students have mastered the concepts taught during the lesson. A rubric provides you with criteria on which to objectively analyze and assess whether a student has mastered concepts introduced during the lesson.
Extension Framework
The first set of activities is identified for students in need of enrichment. These activities are designed to provide teachers with additional resources for students who have mastered the lesson content. Although these activities are relate to concepts being taught during the lesson, the difficulty of the activity is above the concrete examples provided during the lesson. Next, a set of activities is identified for students in need of additional instruction. These activities are designed to provide additional support to students who struggled during the lesson.
This framework provides basic information drawn from the state standard, benchmark, and indicator specific to this lesson.
Teaching Framework
Teachers must have a clear and comprehensive understanding of the state math indicators they are responsible for in their classroom. Therefore, at the initiation of each lesson you are provided with a clear overview depicting the concepts, skills, essential vocabulary, and application pertaining to the lesson.
Lesson Framework
Prior knowledge plays a critical role in helping students� cognitively prepare for new information and vocabulary that will be presented during the lesson. This increases learning potential, as students are able to make connections between their current knowledge base and the new information being presented. Therefore, in the lesson framework you are provided with detailed review of the essential prior knowledge skills related to the indicator. Next, it is important to provide examples of previous life experience to aid students in accessing prior knowledge that is related to the upcoming lesson therefore, the lesson contains an example this type of experience for you to use in your instruction. It is critical for students to experience modeling and interpretation of the new skill(s) through concrete examples. This assists the student in developing a conceptual understanding of the new skill, before they begin to learn or apply the skill in an abstract fashion. Therefore, the lesson describes the steps of modeling the new concept. Once, students participate in a modeling activity it is critical to demonstrate the new skill(s) in a step-by-step manner. This demonstration includes responses from students to measure their grasp of the new subject.
Application Framework
This framework provides you with several ways of measuring students´ understanding of the new concept. First, guided practice problems provide you with step-by-step directions that can be used to guide students through the application of concepts learned during the lesson. Independent practice then provides students with the opportunity to apply the newly acquired skills and knowledge independently. Next, there are several options for validating student knowledge. First, the validation statement provides you with information that the student should be able to communicate to you at the end of the lesson. It´s purpose is to provide you with an informal assessment that can be used to determine if students have mastered concepts taught during the lesson. In addition, re-teaching activities are provided that can be used if students do not demonstrate mastery. These activities include additional examples, guiding questions, and review of essential vocabulary terms. Finally, an open-ended response item is provided, which serves as another assessment tool that can be used to determine if students have mastered the concepts taught during the lesson. A rubric provides you with criteria on which to objectively analyze and assess whether a student has mastered concepts introduced during the lesson.
Extension Framework
The first set of activities is identified for students in need of enrichment. These activities are designed to provide teachers with additional resources for students who have mastered the lesson content. Although these activities are relate to concepts being taught during the lesson, the difficulty of the activity is above the concrete examples provided during the lesson. Next, a set of activities is identified for students in need of additional instruction. These activities are designed to provide additional support to students who struggled during the lesson.
All that is needed to use the lessons is a basic web browser that is javascript enabled (this is the default when you install most browsers). Also, popup blockers should be turned off (see "Popup Blockers" section below for more information). We recommend use of Version 4 or greater of Internet Explorer. Your lesson should also work in other popular browsers such as Netscape, AOL, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Opera.
You can tune-up your browser to best use these lessons by personalizing your preferences. To customize your browser, choose Edit and select the Preferences option under the toolbar menus for Netscape users. For Internet Explorer users, you can find these options by choosing Tools and selecting the Internet Options option under the toolbar menus.
Javascript
Most pages in your lesson are simple HTML but a few also use javascript to allow for user interaction. Certain information pages displayed in popup windows also use javascript. If your browser does not support javascript or if javascripting has been turned off, you will see a warning at the top of the page along with a non-interactive version of the page and popup windows will not be available.
The most likely reason javascripting might not work in your browser is because it has been turned off. Most browsers have an option/preference setting that allows javascript to be enabled or disabled. Refer to your browser documentation to find out the precise method used for enabling javascript.
If a browser does not support javascript at all, generally it is because the browser is too old. Downloading a newer browser should solve this problem.
Popup Blockers
Some interactive features in this lesson use popup windows. Images, PowerPoint slides, glossary words and information popups will fail to appear if popup blockers are in use. You will NOT receive a warning that a page has failed to popup. If you press click a button or link and nothing happens, it is usually the case that a popup window has failed to launch; usually because it has been blocked. It is highly recommended that you disable popup blockers while viewing a lesson.
Newer browsers will have these blockers built in, while other blockers are installed separately. Popular downloads like browser toolbars (i.e. Yahoo toolbar, Google toolbar, etc.), spyware, and adware programs also install popup blockers.
Printing a page
To Print a page in the lesson, choose File menu, then select Print. The current page will then print on your printer.
Font Size
Your browser may offer several features which you may find helpful in using the lesson. For example, you can enlarge or decrease the font size of your browser. Different browsers and different versions of the same browser place this option in different places.
For Internet Explorer
- Under the View menu, click on Text Size. Then select your preferred size.
For Netscape
- Under the View menu, click on Increase Font or Decrease Font.
For Other Browsers
- Consult the Help section of the browser to find a command that can increase or decrease the font size.
Most pages in your lesson are simple HTML but a few also use javascript to allow for user interaction. Certain information pages displayed in popup windows also use javascript. If your browser does not support javascript or if javascripting has been turned off, you will see a warning at the top of the page along with a non-interactive version of the page and popup windows will not be available.
The most likely reason javascripting might not work in your browser is because it has been turned off. Most browsers have an option/preference setting that allows javascript to be enabled or disabled. Refer to your browser documentation to find out the precise method used for enabling javascript.
If a browser does not support javascript at all, generally it is because the browser is too old. Downloading a newer browser should solve this problem.
Popup Blockers
Some interactive features in this lesson use popup windows. Images, PowerPoint slides, glossary words and information popups will fail to appear if popup blockers are in use. You will NOT receive a warning that a page has failed to popup. If you press click a button or link and nothing happens, it is usually the case that a popup window has failed to launch; usually because it has been blocked. It is highly recommended that you disable popup blockers while viewing a lesson.
Newer browsers will have these blockers built in, while other blockers are installed separately. Popular downloads like browser toolbars (i.e. Yahoo toolbar, Google toolbar, etc.), spyware, and adware programs also install popup blockers.
Printing a page
To Print a page in the lesson, choose File menu, then select Print. The current page will then print on your printer.
Font Size
Your browser may offer several features which you may find helpful in using the lesson. For example, you can enlarge or decrease the font size of your browser. Different browsers and different versions of the same browser place this option in different places.
For Internet Explorer
- Under the View menu, click on Text Size. Then select your preferred size.
For Netscape
- Under the View menu, click on Increase Font or Decrease Font.
For Other Browsers
- Consult the Help section of the browser to find a command that can increase or decrease the font size.