ERIC Number: EJ1272396
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Mar
Pages: 6
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-8148
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Available Date: N/A
The Roadster Challenge: A Model Eliciting Activity for Second Graders
Parks, Melissa
Science and Children, v57 n7 p22-27 Mar 2020
Model Eliciting Activities (MEAs) are pedagogical approaches that allow teachers to integrate multiple subjects into creative multi-day learning experiences that captivate students' curiosity and engage them in real-life problem solving. MEAs are known in the fields of mathematics and engineering (Gilat and Amit 2014), but despite their ability to integrate mathematics, ELA, science content, and process skills, are a relatively novel idea in elementary schools. The ability to tailor MEAs by pairing teacher-selected ELA and mathematics skills with science content to meet the needs of the class makes them a worthwhile primary grade instructional strategy. This MEA was allotted two 45-minute classroom periods over two consecutive days. The teacher heterogeneously grouped students into teams of three. Teams worked cooperatively to reach consensus on all points of the activity. The MEA was completed as a culminating experience to a second-grade unit on force and motion. Students were informally assessed as the teacher spoke with each team and more formally assessed using a performance rubric that reflected task completion and allowed space for individualized feedback.
Descriptors: Elementary School Students, Grade 2, Teaching Methods, Learning Activities, Problem Based Learning, Science Education, Science Activities, Heterogeneous Grouping, Cooperative Learning, Motion, Mathematics Education, Science Process Skills, Mathematics Skills
National Science Teaching Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: https://www.nsta.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education; Early Childhood Education; Grade 2; Primary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A