This unit is designed to hone a student's core science skills as well as provide a foundation for the practices used throughout the year. Therefore, it is suggested that this unit be implemented at the start of the year, especially taking weather conditions into account. Teachers may find it quite engaging to implement this unit as the leaves begin to change color, as this obvious indicator of the change in season can be a phenomenon that creates many opportunities for reflection and inquiry. While this unit is specifically designed to meet the learning objectives of high school science standards, it can easily be modified or implemented as is to middle school classes and even upper elementary classes. In list form, the objectives in this unit are as follows:
Students will be able to:
- Identify patterns in surroundings to form questions, observations, and connections.
- Engage with the first steps of the scientific practice.
- Recognize journaling as a valuable tool for science and mindfulness.
These objectives are, in a sense, the overarching theme for the unit and every lesson addresses the objectives above. Each lesson also contains objectives that are specific to it. Used sequentially, the lessons in this unit guide the student through a process which hones their observation skills in order to provide for a meaningful introduction to the inquiry and investigation experience. Previously, I have discussed what it means to create a “good” observation and the different levels of quality each one possess. The overall goal to this unit is for the students to create a high quality observation that leads to a driving question. In the activity titled “Sit Spot” one should notice that it lead by student choice and gives the student freedom to record in their nature journal in whatever way inspires them. As a mode of formative assessment for this unit, students will be asked at the end of the sit spot activity “In your nature journal or at your sit spot, if you had to investigate one of your observations, what would it be? What would be the first step in your investigation?” By answering this question, students are displaying that their observation is of high quality, as it also produces a driving question.
