Teaching Science: Grades 4-6
Learn how to increase your effectiveness as a science teacher for the middle grades. This course will equip you with engaging experiments, practical worksheets, winning lesson plans, and direct instruction methods you can use immediately in your own classroom.
Teaching Science: Grades 4-6
Details + Objectives
Course code: sci
Want to increase your effectiveness as a science teacher for the middle grades? Come learn about the nature and history of science as well as how to help students in this age group grasp the scientific method. You'll receive lots of worksheets and specific examples of some great experiments you can use in your own classroom. You will discover the principles of direct instruction and many different learning and organizational tools that will benefit your students. You'll even learn how you can use science class to improve the emotional climate in your classroom!
All through the course, you will discover worksheets and checklists you and your students can put to immediate use. You'll see how helpful they are in the lessons on the scientific method, writing a research paper, and producing a science fair. You will cover foundational content in both physical science and life science. You will learn how to use a study of the earth's atmosphere to teach students how to make and interpret a variety of graphs—an important skill for standardized testing. You will learn about some of the best websites available. By the end of this course, you will have many new skills that will benefit both you and your students.
What you will learn
- Learn the different types of scientific research
- Learn how to use the scientific method to design great experiments
- Learn the differences between models, theories, and laws
- Discover some special projects to use in your classroom
- Learn what direct instruction involves and how it lays a strong foundation for higher-level thinking skills
- Discover a valuable concept call the Zone of Proximal Development
- Discover successful steps for students to follow when they learn new information
- Gain a helpful guide to help your students write successful research papers
- Discover how to create a positive emotional climate in your classroom
- Explore the different roles of organ systems and gain activities to use to teach these concepts
- Learn to teach the essential concept of homeostasis
- Gain ways to help your students master the ability to read and interpret graphs
- Learn how to put on a successful science fair by giving students worksheets and checklists to guide them every step of the way
How you will benefit
- Increase your effectiveness as a science teacher for the middle grades
- Gain worksheet and specific examples for experiments to use in your classroom
- Improve the emotional climate in your classroom
- Gain knowledge about both science and teaching methods
How the course is taught
- Instructor-Moderated or Self-Guided online course
- 6 Weeks or 3 Months access
- 24 course hours
Instructors & Support
Holly Trimble
Holly Trimble earned a bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Colorado, a master's degree in Pediatric Physical Therapy from Boston University, a master's degree in Biology from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and a doctoral degree in Physical Therapy from Arcadia University. After working as a physical therapist for many years, Dr. Trimble transitioned into teaching. She has lectured on health-related topics to all age groups and has taught middle and high school science courses in both private and public school settings. She currently teaches Anatomy and Physiology for a local community college system, where she has taught for the past 15 years. Holly received the Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award both of the years she was nominated and is the author of the eBook, "College Success Now!"
Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.
Requirements
Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites to take this course.
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 8 or later.
- Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.