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Instructional Sequence Matters

 

By: Patrick Brown

The books in the Instructional Sequence Matters series will give you both the rationale and real-life examples to restructure the hands-on approaches you are now using.

These books discuss two popular approaches for structuring your lessons: POE (Predict, Observe, and Explain) and 5E (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate). Simple shifts in the way you arrange and combine activities will help young students construct firsthand knowledge, while allowing you to put the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) into practice.

The books are designed as complete self-guided tours to help both novice teachers and classroom veterans to understand

  • Why sequence matters. A concise review of developmental psychology, neurosciences, cognitive science, and science education research explains why the order in which you structure your lessons is so critical.
  • What you need to do. An overview of important planning considerations covers becoming an "explore-before-explain" teacher and designing 5E and POE instructional models.
  • How to do it. Ready-to-teach lessons use either a POE or 5E sequence to cover a variety of science topics. Detailed examples show how specific aspects of all three dimensions of the NGSS can translate into your classroom.
  • What to do next. Reflection questions will spark thinking throughout the sequencing process and help you develop the knowledge to adapt these concepts to your students' needs.

The result will be a sequence for science instruction that promotes long-lasting understanding for your students.

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