What sparks our curiosity? What causes us to stop and wonder, to spend hours digging (sometimes literally), or to devote our lives to exploration? Science is driven by the urge to understand the world around us, and those curious events that grab and hold us are phenomena. Phenomena range from the simple every day things that infiltrate our daily experience, to the rule breaking seemingly inexplicable events that defy our understanding.
Why use phenomena in your classroom? Because real science means real purpose. Scientific inquiry does not arise from the urge to answer a question in a textbook, but rather from a desire to figure out the marvelous, beautiful world that surrounds us.
Why use phenomena in your classroom? Because real science means real purpose. Scientific inquiry does not arise from the urge to answer a question in a textbook, but rather from a desire to figure out the marvelous, beautiful world that surrounds us.
Wondering where to get started? Work with your professional network to determine a bundle of Performance Expectations that you're going to teach. Once you've determined your focus for instruction, start looking for a phenomenon that will spark questions, compelling your students to explore and explain how it works. Choose a phenomenon that (as students figure out, model, and explain) will help students deepen their understanding around the important scientific concepts that you're exploring. Prepare experiences that will help your students focus on the most instructionally productive aspects of the phenomenon, and continually peel back layers to build deep understanding.
Check out the resources below to learn more about integrating phenomena into your instruction-so that the students in your class can do science, instead of just learning about others that have done it.
Check out the resources below to learn more about integrating phenomena into your instruction-so that the students in your class can do science, instead of just learning about others that have done it.
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Next Gen Storylines Project
Visit the Next Gen Storylines site to learn more about how to use phenomena to drive coherent learning! |
STEM Teaching Tool #28: Qualities of a good anchoring phenomenon
Visit the STEM Teaching Tools site for an overview of the characteristics of a good anchoring phenomenon! |
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Next Gen Science
Visit the Next Gen Science Standards site for more information about the WHY and the HOW of using phenomena to drive your instruction! |
NGSS@NSTA Resource Hub
Visit the NGSS@NSTA Resource Hub site for a quick checklist when evaluating potential phenomena with your professional network! |
