How to Prioritize Evidence

This article provides a template for modifying science lessons. Do you have an existing science lesson that is lacking in any of those essential features described by the National Research ... See More

This article provides a template for modifying science lessons. Do you have an existing science lesson that is lacking in any of those essential features described by the National Research Council (NRC) as important in order to promote inquiry-based learning (through active engagement in the practices of science)? If so, you can use the featured template to determine where the lesson might be tweaked. For example, if the lesson has no data collection component, the article addresses that by explaining how to incorporate one. The authors take a sample lesson on magnets and tweak it to make it more inquiry-based. Readers can then use the strategies modeled to enhance a different lesson. I especially appreciated the inclusion of ways to formulate evidence-based, scientific explanations. Sample student responses are included.