The Owls and the Snakes (1)

by: Daniel Levin, David Hammer, Andrew Elby, and Janet Coffey

This chapter presents the first in a pair of cases about classes on the same topic—a question developed by Izzy Kovach, one of the more experienced teachers. She found an article about a "novel commensalism" wherein live, blind snakes live unharmed in screech owls' nests, and used it to create a question for student inquiry. This case study is in the next chapter. In the case study presented in this chapter, Sarah Henson—her first year as a full-time teacher—was very interested in involving students in scientific argumentation, and, as part of that goal, in helping them learn to listen and respond to each other’s ideas. She heard about how Izzy had been using this question to do just that sort of thing, and decided to try it herself at the beginning of the school year. This case study shows students discussing the question when it was first introduced.

Details

Type Book ChapterPub Date 11/15/2012Stock # PB323X_4

NSTA Press produces classroom-ready activities, hands-on approaches to inquiry, relevant professional development, the latest scientific education news and research, assessment and standards-based instruction.

Learn More