Mixed feelings about these 5E activities

The authors review two books and provide sample lessons for each. The K-3 lesson where students learn that even when you cannot see wildlife it leaves clues is an interesting lesson. I am no... See More

The authors review two books and provide sample lessons for each. The K-3 lesson where students learn that even when you cannot see wildlife it leaves clues is an interesting lesson. I am not sure the assessment measures anything and I would change it a little such that the students maybe answered at least two of their questions but it was a fine formative assessment as it is for K-1. The second book and lesson provided mixed messages. I see no problem with having two goals for a lesson, but I am not sure the lesson assessed what was actually being taught. The engage and evaluate activities were both about why and what kinds of people do science, specifically an environmental scientist in the book they read. The explore, explain, and elaborate activities are all about organisms and clues to them in the woods. It just doesn't seem fair to emphasize that aspect and evaluate something else. This is one of those situations where you need to go through the learning cycle twice, one for on